Ron, FYI:
(don't know why this article is all in caps)
IRIAN JAYA, INDONESIA'S EASTERNMOST PROVINCE, WHAT MANY CALL THE LAST GREAT WILDERNESS OF THE ASIA PACIFIC, AND WHAT IS TURNING INTO ONE OF THE LAST FRONTIERS OF COPPER AND GOLD EXPLORATION.
"MANY HERE SAY IRIAN JAYA IS A GEOLOGIST'S PARADISE, WHERE THE EARTH'S SHIFTING PLATES HAVE PUSHED UP MINERALS USUALLY ONLY FOUND DEEP BENEATH THE EARTH'S SURFACE."
ONE OF THE FIRST EXPLORERS, THE U.S.-BASED MINING COMPANY FREEPORT MCMORAN COPPER AND GOLD. SITES WERE SO ISOLATED GEOLOGISTS HAD TO BE LOWERED INTO THE JUNGLE BY HELICOPTER.
"YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND ON THE GROUND. THAT'S WHAT'S FUN. EVERY PLACE WE GO, WE FEEL LIKE A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT HAVE EVER BEEN THERE AS GEOLOGISTS."
LIKE THE PROSPECTORS OF THE OLD WEST, THE GEOLOGISTS EXAMINE THE ROCKS, AND USING PANS, SIFT THROUGH THE RIVER SEDIMENT.
"THE WHITE MINERAL IS A LEAD CARBONATE. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS AREA'S NOT VERY GOLD-RICH, SO THERE ISN'T ANY GOLD IN THIS PAN."
USING MODERN TECHNOLOGY, WHAT THEY COLLECT IS FLOWN OUT, EXAMINED AND JUXTAPOSED AGAINST MAPS OF THE AREA TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS ENOUGH TO WARRANT COMMERCIAL MINING.
THIS IS GURU EAST, SEVERAL THOUSAND FEET BELOW AUSTRALASIA'S HIGHEST PEAK, PUNCAK JAYA. THIS IS ONE OF THE LAST STAGES OF EXPLORATION.
A DIAMOND DRILL WAS FLOWN IN AND ASSEMBLED IN THIS REMOTE LOCATION.
"WE CAME ACROSS AN AREA THAT HAD FAVORABLE SURFACE GEOLOGY THAT LOOKED LIKE THERE COULD BE A BURIED ORE DEPOSIT, AND SO IT TOOK US ABOUT TWO YEARS TO GET OVER HERE TO START A DRILLING PROGRAM."
FREEPORT HAS 600 PEOPLE SPENDING 40-MILLION U.S. DOLLARS A YEAR TO EXPLORE. IT'S PAID OFF FOR THE COMPANY. FREEPORT HAS NEARLY TWO-BILLION TONS OF PROVEN ORE RESERVES, GIVING IT THE LARGEST GOLD RESERVES IN THE WORLD.
BUT NOT ALL ARE HAPPY.
TRIBAL VILLAGERS IN IRIAN JAYA CLAIM FREEPORT HAS DRIVEN THEM OFF TRADITIONAL LANDS. AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ARE WARNING OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE FROM MINING.
"THE RESULT OF THEIR DUMPING IS OBVIOUS IF YOU GO THERE. BEFORE YOU LAND YOU CAN SEE THE RIVER IS IN A VERY BAD SITUATION. A LOT OF TREES DIED."
BALANCING THEIR CONCERNS WITH DEVELOPING AND TAPPING THE REGION'S NATURAL RESOURCES IS THE CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE.
MARIA RESSA, CNN, IRIAN JAYA, INDONESIA. |
