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toroteman
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open pit goldmine
I heard that Paredones amarillos has changed their name and trying to push through their mining venture in the Sierra de la laguna biosphere. Has
anyone got any news about this?
gracias
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El Jefe
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Here is the email going around. Might be a little over-stated.
I have to wonder what the real science is on this subject.
Date: Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 3:49 PM
Subject: Update from the the Mine experts...this is SEROUS!!
To: MLS members <intramls@flexmail.flexmls.co
I attended the meeting today that discussed the proposed mine in
Sierra de La Laguna biosphere reserve. This mine proposal is
closer to an approval than the public is aware. I also do not
believe that anyone is aware of just how detrimental this will be
to our community. Here are a few facts taken from the meeting:
-50-80 tons of explosives will be used EVERY DAY. = dust in the
air, spreading dangerous chemicals over the 200 km radius of the
site which includes all of Los Cabos. (Cabo San Lucas is 80 kms
away from the proposed site). The dangerous chemicals include
the following: Cyanide, Arsenic, Heavy Metals and Radioactive
Molecules. So we start with the air we breathe (and our animals,
livestock and plants.)
-The explosives will also cause tremors which will mimic
earthquakes on a regular basis. Think that might scare a few
tourists away?
-The explosives will also cause dust clouds that will effect our
weather. Not so many sunny days around here.
-The treatments and chemicals used (listed above) will flow
downhill, as the site is approx. 200 meters above sea level. It
will contaminate every aquifer/water table, well, and in turn
eventually trickle into all of our bays, including Cabo san Lucas
Bay.
-These heavy metals, arsenic, cyanide and radioactive molecules
will be present in our drinking water and air. Marine life will
also be effected and shore fishing will become fishing for
poisoned food.
-The organic community of Todos Santos where most of our organic
food comes from will IMMEDIATELY lose it's organic certification,
the food will become poisonous and all these farms will be shut
down. This will result in up to 10,000 jobs lost. In turn these
people who were making a clean healthy living will have to turn
to the mine, and work with poisonous chemicals and in dangerous
conditions instead. What an alternative!!
-The cases of cancer in this area will increase 50-fold. Yes, 50x
more cases of cancer!! As well as cardiovascular disease, birth
defects, liver and kidney failure etc.
-Tourism will decrease
-Property values will decrease
-OUR OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE WILL DECREASE!
In truth, they might as well start nuclear testing in the area at
the same time, the effects here are going to be the same. That
is not a joke.
What will be our alternative for food, air and water if
everything in our area is polluted with strong poisons. We will
all be effected by this if it is approved of. Don't wake up once
the damage is done and it is too late!! This is the most
important issue facing us in all of Los Cabos' history. Pass
this message on to everyone, we need to band together as a
community and make our voices heard. Everyone is asleep at the
moment and the powers (that are the only ones that stand to gain)
are making moves to get this mine approved and NOBODY even knows
about it. This is serious people and there is no reversing this
if it happens.
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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wessongroup
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| Quote: | Originally posted by toroteman
I heard that Paredones amarillos has changed their name and trying to push through their mining venture in the Sierra de la laguna biosphere. Has
anyone got any news about this?
gracias |
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=44413&pag...
[Edited on 12-19-2010 by wessongroup]
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john68
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Concordia mine
Vista Gold, the operator of the proposed Concordia mine, has a world-wide reputation as a first-class company. Vista has mines in Australia, Idaho,
California and elsewhere. None of these mines has a history of environmental problems.
The mine will employ about 200 locals and the local economy badly needs these jobs. Vista has brought broadband internet to El Triunfo and San
Antonio to enable it to communicate with its employees who live there; the broadband is available to all the residents at no cost.
Vista's environmental and water studies indicate that the mine can be operated responsibly, with no harm to the environment.
The local Mexican community overwhelmingly supports this mine. I hope the gringo community will consider the mine carefully and give it a fair
hearing.
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by john68
Vista Gold, the operator of the proposed Concordia mine, has a world-wide reputation as a first-class company. Vista has mines in Australia, Idaho,
California and elsewhere. None of these mines has a history of environmental problems.
The mine will employ about 200 locals and the local economy badly needs these jobs. Vista has brought broadband internet to El Triunfo and San
Antonio to enable it to communicate with its employees who live there; the broadband is available to all the residents at no cost.
Vista's environmental and water studies indicate that the mine can be operated responsibly, with no harm to the environment.
The local Mexican community overwhelmingly supports this mine. I hope the gringo community will consider the mine carefully and give it a fair
hearing. |
Awesome to hear, thanks John!
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
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Déjà vu
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
| Quote: | Originally posted by john68
Vista Gold, the operator of the proposed Concordia mine, has a world-wide reputation as a first-class company. Vista has mines in Australia, Idaho,
California and elsewhere. None of these mines has a history of environmental problems.
The mine will employ about 200 locals and the local economy badly needs these jobs. Vista has brought broadband internet to El Triunfo and San
Antonio to enable it to communicate with its employees who live there; the broadband is available to all the residents at no cost.
Vista's environmental and water studies indicate that the mine can be operated responsibly, with no harm to the environment.
The local Mexican community overwhelmingly supports this mine. I hope the gringo community will consider the mine carefully and give it a fair
hearing. |
Awesome to hear, thanks John! |
Is this Déjà vu... we just went through this whole thing this year earlier... for three pages...
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=44413&pag...
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monoloco
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Location: Pescadero BCS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by john68
Vista Gold, the operator of the proposed Concordia mine, has a world-wide reputation as a first-class company. Vista has mines in Australia, Idaho,
California and elsewhere. None of these mines has a history of environmental problems.
The mine will employ about 200 locals and the local economy badly needs these jobs. Vista has brought broadband internet to El Triunfo and San
Antonio to enable it to communicate with its employees who live there; the broadband is available to all the residents at no cost.
Vista's environmental and water studies indicate that the mine can be operated responsibly, with no harm to the environment.
The local Mexican community overwhelmingly supports this mine. I hope the gringo community will consider the mine carefully and give it a fair
hearing. |
Is anyone surprised that Vista's studies show that it can be operated responsibly? I would
question what happens to their open leach pits when that basin gets 16-20 inches of rain like they did during hurricane Juliette. The area in question
has more surface water than any other spot in southern Baja and charges the aquifer for a large population.
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john68
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It's my understanding that the aquifier underlying the Concordia mine is not the same as that supplying water for Todos Santos. I can't speak for the
aquifier for Pescadero, but it should be fairly easy to determine.
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BajaBruno
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As Jesse reported in February, apparently the mine permit was denied. But, I did a LexisNexis legal search and did not find a single California
lawsuit against Vista Gold.
Christopher Bruno, Elk Grove, CA.
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
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February 19, 2010
Vista Gold announced the receipt of notice from the Mexican Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources has dismissed, on administrative grounds,
the application for the Change of Forest Land Use Permit for the Paredones Amarillos gold project in Baja California Sur, Mexico.
July 19, 2010
Vista Gold announced an update on the Paredones Amarillos gold project, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The update discusses the status of the Change of
Forest Land Use permit application, technical programs in progress, and a general overview of the development of the project.
September 7, 2010, Vista Gold announced that it has changed the name of its wholly-owned Paredones Amarillos gold project in Baja California Sur,
Mexico to the Concordia gold project.
Thus far, all that has happened, the permit was denied denial was based on:
• SEMARNAT’s refusal to recognize the validity of the Temporary Occupation Permits granted to MPA by the Mexican General Direction of Mines, which are
a pre-requisite to filing for a CUSF, on the basis that the project is located in an environmentally protected area over which the Mexican General
Direction of
Mines does not have jurisdiction;
• The National Commission for Biodiversity objects to the project on environmental grounds; and
• MPA’s failure to obtain an official communication from the Mexican Natural Protected Areas Commission (“CONANP”) acknowledging CONANP’s conformity
with MPA’s application for the CUSF.
The entity making application, Minera Paredones Amarillos S.A. de C.V. ("MPA")
on July 19 2010 made available "The update discusses the status of the Change of Forest Land Use ("CUSF") permit application, technical programs in
progress, and a general overview of the development of the Project. The entity has hired new consultants and legal representation for the new
submission of the application for the permit. And is addressing shortcomings in the previous environmental investigation into the gold mining
operation...
9/7/2010 Vista Gold announces a name change from Paredones Amarillos gold
project to the Concordia gold project
http://www.infomine.com/index/properties/PAREDONES_AMARILLOS...
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monoloco
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| Quote: | Originally posted by john68
It's my understanding that the aquifier underlying the Concordia mine is not the same as that supplying water for Todos Santos. I can't speak for the
aquifier for Pescadero, but it should be fairly easy to determine. |
I don't know if it charges the aquifer
for Todos Santos either, but with all the surface water in that area I guarantee that it's charging someones aquifer. The water in San Antonio and El
Triumfo is already heavily polluted from previous mining operations, it's hard to see how a new mine won't add to the problem.
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john68
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It's my understanding that water in El Triunfo and San Antonio was polluted by French mining operations 90 years ago. Vista shouldn't be tarred with
the same brush. Technology and standards of conduct have changed and Vista has a history of responsible conduct.
The Concordia mine should be judged on its merits and on the positive effects it will have on Mexican employment, not on innuendo and the actions of
other irresponsible parties.
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BFS
Senior Nomad
Posts: 520
Registered: 9-28-2006
Location: Todos Santos
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Employment is only positive and a merit if it adds to the quality of life of those employed and their families. It is not beneficial in any way
however, if their employment leads to the decimation of natural resources, a blight on the landscape, contamination and a degrading of an enviable
quality of life.
For the record the local Mexican community in my neighborhood of Todos Santos is overwhelmingly against the mine.
And I sincerely hope that the community, gringo or otherwise, fights tooth and nail to stop it.
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wessongroup
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| Quote: | Originally posted by n
It's my understanding that water in El Triunfo and San Antonio was polluted by French mining operations 90 years ago. Vista shouldn't be tarred with
the same brush. Technology and standards of conduct have changed and Vista has a history of responsible conduct.
The Concordia mine should be judged on its merits and on the positive effects it will have on Mexican employment, not on innuendo and the actions of
other irresponsible parties. |
Thats fine... then establish base line levels on all contaminates.. Which are "left over from previous operations"... then after mining for "gold"...
restore and/or maintain those levels, going forward at baseline. And one would have expected in the previous submitted report ... that disclosure of
"historical" pollution would have been fully investigated and documented.
As for Vista being "tarred".. They know the rules.. or should.. and the rejection of their permit to operate were based on the previous reports
overall deficiencies... along issuance of an improper permit by another agency, which was also ruled on in the denial process on the first permit
application ....
Vista Gold has every right to mine gold in Mexico, IF they comply with all applicable environmental and health requirements for the proposed
operations... which can impact the Mexican people and their natural resources in a negative manner
Thus far all has not been based on innuendo, rather on a report which was submitted .... as for other irresponsible parties.. not sure, is this
referring to the French.... if so, would imagine the French would like to be made aware of any potential liability they may have on any previous
"mining" operations in the area...
[Edited on 12-20-2010 by wessongroup]
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mulegemichael
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...there were sooooo many people that lost their lives as a result of el triunfos mine/smelter in the past...too bad we have to open that sore
again...talk to the folks there and you'll know the pain; all of them have lost relatives in the past connected to the mining operations...just
because that damn chimney was so tall doesn't mean it saved the town. ....it would be terrible if they started that whole operation up again...the
locals WILL NOT benefit from it!
dyslexia is never having to say you\'re yrros.
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David K
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Chicken or the egg???
| Quote: | Originally posted by mulegemichael
...there were sooooo many people that lost their lives as a result of el triunfos mine/smelter in the past...too bad we have to open that sore
again...talk to the folks there and you'll know the pain; all of them have lost relatives in the past connected to the mining operations...just
because that damn chimney was so tall doesn't mean it saved the town. ....it would be terrible if they started that whole operation up again...the
locals WILL NOT benefit from it! |
Sadly people do die working, everyday... a fact of life... heck some people die in their sleep! Jobs do feed families and grow the economy, so people
will chose jobs over doing nothing if they need an income.
What came first, the El Triunfo silver mines or the town of El Triunfo that grew from them???
The mines are the original reason for establishing the population centers up there. No mine, no people.
When the silver became less profitable, the mines closed... most people left... some stayed... If others later move there, it is by choice knowing it
was a mine area... right?
Now, with modern technology, gold may be extracted from this region... an old mining region... What is the problem?
I would think there would be some joy that the technology exists to better extract the metal (that people want) and be FAR kinder to the enviroment
COMPARED to 1740-1910 mining!?
You can hug a tree all day and it wont's give you an ounce of gold or silver, afterall! 
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Geo_Skip
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David K,
You can hug a gold or silver bar all day and it wont give you an ounce of breathable air or drinkable water, afterall!
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monoloco
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Yes DK, the technology exists to more efficiently extract, 200 people can now do as much damage to the environment as took 20000 in the 19th century.
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David K
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I am just trying to put some logic to the emotional hysteria always put forward by some.
If people don't want gold or silver, then there would be no market for it and no mines. I guess people do want it?
A mine involves digging, so how do you propose getting to the ore?
Do you have a reason to not trust this Canadian company or do you just oppose all mines? Have you ever bought anything containing gold or silver? Do
you think that gold and silver grows on trees? Do you think Mexico has the right to extract metal from their country?
On a personal note, it is pretty clear that I love Baja and would like to preserve it for selfish reasons, but paving roads and mining gold are things
that will happen as time goes on... If the sea levels ever do rise, I won't be able to enjoy camping on Shell Island anymore... but, as humans we
adapt and find new places... that is just the nature of things. I am fortunate that sea levels are not rising since I have been going to Baja (anymore
than the length of a cigarette lol) and that there still are many dirt roads and open country in Baja.
Would you even be in Todos Santos is pavement ended 72 miles south of Ensenada, like it did on my first trip on Mex. 1? Progress happens and I am sure
the Canadians are enviromentally concerned to keep any harm to a minimum, not at all like the mining of the 19th Century.
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monoloco
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I am opposed because I have spent a lot of time in the area of the proposed mine and it is one of the most heavily forested areas of southern Baja
with a lot of surface water. I have seen it rain 20+ inches in 24 hours and I can't see how they can guarantee that their cyanide leach pits won't be
overwhelmed during such an event.
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