Rust-colored mine waste and aged wooden derricks dominate the landscape of Leadville, Colorado, a town with a rich history of gold and silver mining. CJK Milling, a new company, aims to reprocess some of these waste piles to extract additional gold from ore discarded decades ago. The proposal is part of a growing global trend to re-process waste materials, especially those containing valuable minerals that have become more sought after over time.
Leadville’s residents and officials have mixed feelings about the project. While some see it as a way to revitalize the mining industry and repurpose leftover materials, others fear it may bring back environmental concerns from the past when the Arkansas River suffered from mine pollution.
Leadville, known for being the highest city in America, has become a hub for extreme athletes in recent years, with its scenic hillsides tainted by toxic metals leaching from abandoned mines. CJK Milling’s founder, Nick Michael, believes the project not only has economic potential but also a chance to contribute positively to society by extracting gold from smaller piles of waste.
However, some community members, like City Council member Christian Luna-Leal, worry about the impact of disturbing old mine waste. Luna-Leal emphasizes the historical pollution and its impact on disadvantaged communities, pointing out that the proposed project could undo years of cleanup efforts and threaten the well-being of residents, particularly Latinos living in the town.
The company plans to process the waste material by trucking it to a nearby mill, crushing it, and using cyanide to extract precious metals. This process will generate more waste, which the company intends to store behind the mill in a putty-like form as a precautionary measure against potential collapses.
While the company’s plan may aid in hastening cleanup efforts, concerns remain over the use of cyanide in the extraction process. The use of chemicals like cyanide raises alarms in the community, prompting calls for caution and thorough environmental assessments before proceeding. Nevertheless, some see this project as a potential solution to long-standing water quality issues in Leadville.
Despite the challenges and controversies surrounding the proposed project, there is hope that efficiently managing mine waste could mitigate environmental risks and contribute to cleaner waterways in Leadville.
