Iceland could have lots of gold mined without enviro damage. Gold found in in ormsdalur valley by Lake Hafravatn on the outskirts of Reykjavk this week measured 400 grams per ton of rock, the highest quantity found of the precious metal in Iceland.
“It can be mined, most samples look promising,” orsteinn said of the Icelandic gold. “But we must be certain that the geothermal heat system in ormsdalur delivers high enough quantities overall before any operations can be undertaken.”
orsteinn stated that the gold is also cleaner in Iceland than in many mining areas abroad. “The geothermal water has washed it out without trace elements as in other places. It is therefore cleaner and this could become a more environmentally-friendly project here than in many locations overseas.”
Environmentalists have criticized gold mining as high quantities of quicksilver are used to separate the precious metal from the rock and the chemical is often washed out into the environment.