The Return of Mining Faces Resistance in the West
May 7 | CS Monitor
An increase in the number of mines is facing some resistance in the western United States. Lots of new people have been attracted to these states, primarily motivated by the environment. After they arrive they are not happy when a new mine is proposed.
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China to Build Peru’s Largest Smelting Plant
May 7 | AFP News
China is investing a lot more in South America. Aluminum Corporation of China is spending $2.15 billion on the Toromocho Copper Project. This site has an estimated 1.526 millon tons in copper reserves and will host a new smelter to yield 250,000 tons per year.
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Geologist Salaries at All Time Highs
April 8 | Geology.com
It’s a Great Time to Be a Geologist! Starting salaries for geologists in the petroleum and mineral sectors are over $80,000 and there are far more positions than qualified people to fill them.
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Rushing to Find South American Copper
April 4 | Wall Street Journal
An interesting article from the Wall Street Journal about a geologist searching for copper in the Peruvian Andes. The goal is to capture reserves quickly.
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Field Photos from the South American Copper Rush
April 4 | Wall Street Journal
A collection of photos that trace some of the activities of geologist, Torsten Danne, who searches for copper in Peru for the Rio Tinto Group.
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Geologist Salaries at Record Levels
March 15 | Bloomberg.com
Don’t get an MBA to make the big bucks. Instead get a degree in geology with an emphasis on minerals and fossil fuels. New geology grads who go to work in exploration and extraction are fetching record salaries.
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The Consumer Gold Rush
March 15 | MSNBC
Gold is at a record high of $1000 and a new “Gold Rush” is underway. The new rush is people who have unwanted jewelry and other gold articles taking them to the pawnshops to convert them into cash.
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Exploring for Germanium in Mexico
March 6 | Sympatico MSN
The world produces about 100 tons of germanium per year. The high demand for high tech gadgets and defense technology pushed the price of germanium to an all time high of about $1300/kilogram. Prospectors are searching northern Mexico to find new sources for this rare metal.
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Gold Breaks $900/ounce
January 11 | MSN News
Gold briefly exceeded $900 per ounce today. This price level was triggered slightly by demand for the metal but the most important factor was uncertainty about the United States economy. This is the first time the price of gold has ever been over $900.
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Placer Gold Production is Rising in the Yukon
December 31 | Petroleum News
The value of placer gold production is up in the Yukon. Production efforts now, ahead of stiffer environmental regulations might account for some of the recent rise. Lots of the small mines are being purchased by larger operators.
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Elements in Colored Glass
December 20 | Geology.com
Stained glass and colored glass are produced by mixing small amounts of metal oxides, sulfides and other metal compounds into the glass melt. Metal compounds of cobalt, gold, nickel and copper impart specific colors to the glass. Other metal compounds such as manganese dioxide and sodium nitrate act as decoloring agents and neutralize the color effects of impurities.
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Gold Price Closes At $808 - Highest Since 1980
November 4 | Market Watch
Gold closed at $808.50 in New York on Friday after hitting an intraday high of $810.70. These are the highest price levels seen since 1980. Speculation of a weak dollar and uncertainties in the financial system are given for the recent surge in gold prices. The all time high for gold is $875 in 1980.
Related: The Many Uses of Gold.
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Bre-X Gold Scam Trial
October 2 | GEOTIMES
GEOTIMES has a news note about the results of the Bre-X gold scam trial. This was a case about a geologist who was accused of salting core samples with gold to make them look higher in grade. The trial ended in an acquittal.
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Mercury Lost During the Gold Rush is Still Recovered From Streams
September 25 | Environment News Service
Early miners often used mercury to recover gold from stream sediments. They would pour it into their sluice boxes and lots of that mercury was spill, leaked or discarded. Today a lot of that mercury is still in the streams. Read here how the Washington Department of Ecology and some of today’s miners are helping to clean it up. Their recent efforts recovered 127 pounds!
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Gold and Copper Prospecting In Haiti
July 28 | The Star
Gold and copper prospecting companies are working in Haiti, some returning to prospects that they started a decade ago. Political violence and social problems still discourage exploration but reports of promising properties are rekindling interest.
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Free High Resolution Satellite Images - Google Earth
Promotion | Geology.com
Google Earth is a free download that will allow you to view recent satellite images of Earth in 3D. Worldwide coverage. Fly over landscapes and cities, or zoom in on your house! This is the same program used by national news networks to give you great satellite images. Free download.
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