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El Oro is an abandoned hacienda near Las Gallinas just southwest of El Triunfo. Reportedly the hacienda of Manuel de Ocio (see previous thread on Real de Santa Ana) it is expansive and reeks of wealth. Part of the rancho surrounding the hacienda includes workings for processing gold, silver. Many layers of settlement are obvious, including mature mango trees etc. El Oro sits alongside a decent stream and hand-dug wells are always full of water. Many nearby ranchos benefit from the impounded water behing a very ancient dam. Las Gallinas has a more recent name: El Rosario.

Mas, El Oro

Jack:

I met some folks last week who tell me that there is renewed activity there at the ranch, presumably looking for gold. When was the last time you were there?

Not surprised, what with the price of gold. I do know of several locals mining near San Antonio (gold), a gringo who mines in Valle Perdido, and of course the controversial large commercial mining operation planned at the edge of the Biosphere protected area above Todos Santos. Hard rock mining requires much digging, hauling, crushers, and a means to separate the gold from the crushed rock. These chemical means usually involve toxic materials. A vibrating table works, but probably not efficient working large quantities of rock. This is all dry working of material in contrast to placer deposits where one finds free gold. Locals in the mountains to whom I have spoken are almost all in favor of the mining operations as it means jobs. Folks in La Paz are pretty much divided in their opinion.

I grew up in Sudbury which is in Northern Ontario.

Due to the methods used to extract the Nickel and smelter it the whole area ended up without vegetation.

The area was actually used at one point for training in the years leading up to the landing on the moon.

It is all changed now after the einvromentalists got involved 40 years ago, things are green again but there are still huge areas with no vegetation and will never have as all the soil has washed away leaving baren rock mountains.

I am not saying don't mine, what I am saying is.
"If the companies are not monitored and made accountable for their actions, there will be a huge risk for permanent damage to the area"

The big question is "Who can be trusted to monitor to the benefit of the enviroment and not the all-mighty $.$$"?