Gold ring = 20 tons of waste!

[lab rat]

I heard on the news Tiffany's jewelers took out a full-page ad against a mining company that's trying to open a silver/ gold mine under a National Park. One of the facts that came out is that for a single gold ring, something like 20 tons of waste is generated to produce it! Presumably that comes from cyanide leaching, mercury processing, and the like. So keep recycling those gold rings!

 

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[Marc]

Good for Tiffany's.

 

[bakergeol]

We get environmental propaganda stories like this in the media all the time usually from or supported by land preservation groups. The last big bogus story was "Mining for gold near Yellowstone". Even President Clinton was duped into believing that one.

The objective of preservationists is the elimination of mining and the restriction of the public's right to use public lands.

We must support mining in this country-for our economy, jobs and the health of our planet. The 20 tons of "waste" is simply rock material. Under enviromental laws this waste will be reclaimed and has in the past reclaimed land has become everything from golf courses to land for housing development. Elimination of mining in this country will result in environmental nightmares in the Third World where environmental regulation is non- existent.(Or do you believe we will stop using raw material when mining is eliminated in this country?)

As every person in this country is responsible for 30000 lbs of raw material every year,do you really think recycing 20 lbs of soda pop cans or a few gold rings every year is going to make a difference?

We must remember that these same people are trying to remove or severely restrict the public's use(yes metal detectorists) of public lands.

George

 

[bakergeol]

The 30000 lb of raw material per person is quite correct.It is what each person uses or is responsible for in this country every year. It was taken from the California Mining Journal. I could see your objection if you interpreted raw material as "waste material".

How much raw material is in your home, car, appliances, PC, how much fuel, food? How much is used for your roads, public buildings, new schools? Again the cost is 30000 lb of raw material per person every year.
Hermits who live in caves and grow their own food and make their own clothes are exempt.

George

 

[Gold Digger]

Hermits who live in caves and grow their own food and make their own clothes are exempt.

Anyone know of any caves for rent in a good neighborhood? I think I'll do my part and move.....

 

[Lowbatts]

What I find interesting is Tiffany's position. Where do they get the precious metals and gems they use in their very high-end line? Did anyone else see or hear about the way gems and metals are being produced in Africa these days? The sheer human cost in the mining wars going on over there is incredible.

I wonder what Tiffany's stand on the current situation in Sierra Leone is? I wonder if Tiffany's is buying it's stock from the Europeans who deal with blood diamond and metal merchants? Kind of like a lot of the "internationalists" who are out there now in the political arena. You've got to follow the money trail!

 

[lab rat]

Yeah, Lowbatts-- None of the 3rd World countries have laws like we do, to protect nature. They rape the land all they want for quick wealth until its gone and the land is destroyed. But if you want the goodies, that's why they go there instead of here. Same with Columbia, where starving beggers paw through the valley for emeralds. They sell them for almost enough money to keep their kids from starving; then the big businessman ships them here to charge us a fortune for them. Doesn't seem right.

 

[Lowbatts]

My point being exactly that. With our laws in place including land reclamation just think what would happen if the US actually ENFORCED it's position against the blood diamond market. Places like Tiffany's would be forced to certify the origin of their jewelry material. That might hurt their mark-up because they would have to deal with some of the U.S. refiners. That's why I do not find it at all odd they take out a page in opposition to mining in the U.S.

The links between the European and Asian dealers and the blood markets are well established. So many one-armed kids in West Africa now it's incredibly gruesome. Oh well, maybe the U.N. will step in.... and if you believe that, I've got a platinum mine in S. Africa to sell you.

 

[Lasivian]

I am in favor of protecting the land in the USA.

there are plenty of other industries that aren't nearly as destructive and unregulated

 

[OldBillinUT]

Unregulated ?

Have you filed a mining claim recently ? Mining is a rigidly regulated and very costly enterprise in the US due to the many regulations involved.