Is ethical gold possible? The example from fluvial gold placer in Lepaguare mining district (Honduras, Central America)

The mineral assemblage of the gold placer mining of Murcielago in the Lepaguare valley (Central Honduras) has been studied using electron microscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques.In this mine an environmental sustainibile project is developed by Eucantera and a chemical free technologies are used to extract gold from the deposit.Gold is the principal ore mineral and nuggets are present as rounded grains, wires and sheets. Rare pyrite and cinnabar crystals were found in the concentrated material. Heavy minerals are magnetite and haematite, rutile, ilmenite, zircon. Among gangue minerals quartz is the most abundant phase. However Ca-amphiboles, pyroxenes, epidotes, tourmalines, andradite garnets are also present. Monazite with low to absent thorium concentration and minor xenotime have been recognised. The presence of gold-bearing quartz veins mineralizations (Canaan deposit) located in the Lapaguare mining district is a possible primary source of the gold found in the placer.