Yanacocha
Peru gold mine / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Yanacocha (Cajamarca Quechua: yana = "black, dark", qucha = "lake, puddle, pond, lagoon")[1] is a gold mine in the Cajamarca region of the Northern Highlands of Peru.[2] Considered to be the fourth largest gold mine in the world, it produced 0.97 million ounces of gold in 2014.[3] The 251-square kilometer open pit mine is situated about 30 kilometers (14 km straight line) north of Cajamarca, in high pampa, straddling the watershed. The operation is a joint venture between Newmont Goldcorp (51.35% ownership), Compañia de Minas Buenaventura (43.65%) and the International Finance Corporation (5%).[4]
Mercury spilled by the mining company has poisoned hundreds of people living near the mine and contaminated local water sources. Thousands of local residents have protested the mine in an environmental conflict that also includes ongoing lawsuits against the mining companies. Environmental defenders opposing the mine have been killed and others have received death threats.