![Local miner Ruben Castilo uses a water jet to hose down the earth as he hunts for gold near at the village of Las Cristinas, in southern Bolivar State, January 30, 2009. Local miner Ruben Castilo uses a water jet to hose down the earth as he hunts for gold near at the village of Las Cristinas, in southern Bolivar State, January 30, 2009.](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2CMAE8X/local-miner-ruben-castilo-uses-a-water-jet-to-hose-down-the-earth-as-he-hunts-for-gold-near-at-the-village-of-las-cristinas-in-southern-bolivar-state-january-30-2009-four-centuries-after-the-lure-of-venezuelan-gold-brought-ruin-to-english-explorer-sir-walter-raleigh-the-riches-at-one-giant-mine-some-say-is-cursed-still-haunt-treasure-hunters-from-across-the-globe-but-the-las-cristinas-saga-involving-a-ghost-town-environmental-devastation-and-fist-sized-nuggets-underlines-the-risks-of-business-in-venezuela-where-the-draw-of-natural-wealth-has-been-dulled-by-rule-changes-and-economic-t-2CMAE8X.jpg)
Local miner Ruben Castilo uses a water jet to hose down the earth as he hunts for gold near at the village of Las Cristinas, in southern Bolivar State, January 30, 2009.
![Crystallex awarded $1.386 billion for Las Cristinas gold mine expropriation by Venezuela - International Mining Crystallex awarded $1.386 billion for Las Cristinas gold mine expropriation by Venezuela - International Mining](https://im-mining.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Venezuela_Projects_Map_Aug05-352x260.jpg)
Crystallex awarded $1.386 billion for Las Cristinas gold mine expropriation by Venezuela - International Mining
![Caso mina de Oro Las Cristinas: Minera canadiense demanda a PDVSA por US$ 2.800 millones – Cuentas Claras Digital Caso mina de Oro Las Cristinas: Minera canadiense demanda a PDVSA por US$ 2.800 millones – Cuentas Claras Digital](http://www.cuentasclarasdigital.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/goldmine630.jpg)
Caso mina de Oro Las Cristinas: Minera canadiense demanda a PDVSA por US$ 2.800 millones – Cuentas Claras Digital
![An unlicensed Venezuelan miner uses a wooden bowl and mercury to pan for gold near the Las Cristinas concession, where Canadian miner Crystallex holds a contract, in southern Bolivar State, Venezuela September An unlicensed Venezuelan miner uses a wooden bowl and mercury to pan for gold near the Las Cristinas concession, where Canadian miner Crystallex holds a contract, in southern Bolivar State, Venezuela September](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D1WF6J/an-unlicensed-venezuelan-miner-uses-a-wooden-bowl-and-mercury-to-pan-for-gold-near-the-las-cristinas-concession-where-canadian-miner-crystallex-holds-a-contract-in-southern-bolivar-state-venezuela-september-29-2005-venezuelas-government-will-give-small-miners-all-contracts-and-concessions-it-rescinds-from-international-companies-as-part-of-an-overhaul-of-the-mining-sector-the-ministry-of-basic-industries-and-mines-said-on-thursday-photo-taken-on-september-29-2005-reuters-howard-yanes-2D1WF6J.jpg)
An unlicensed Venezuelan miner uses a wooden bowl and mercury to pan for gold near the Las Cristinas concession, where Canadian miner Crystallex holds a contract, in southern Bolivar State, Venezuela September
![Miners search for gold at the Isidora gold mine near the village Las Cristinas in southern Bolivar State, January 31, 2009. Located south of the Orinoco river and near a town bearing Miners search for gold at the Isidora gold mine near the village Las Cristinas in southern Bolivar State, January 31, 2009. Located south of the Orinoco river and near a town bearing](https://c8.alamy.com/compfr/2cj2tda/miners-search-for-gold-at-the-isidora-gold-mine-near-the-village-las-cristinas-in-southern-bolivar-state-january-31-2009-located-south-of-the-orinoco-river-and-near-a-town-bearing-the-name-of-the-mythical-golden-city-of-el-dorado-the-las-cristinas-deposit-captivates-miners-and-prospectors-even-though-no-ore-has-been-legally-dug-there-in-two-decades-to-match-feature-venezuela-gold-reuters-henry-romero-venezuela-environment-business-2cj2tda.jpg)
Miners search for gold at the Isidora gold mine near the village Las Cristinas in southern Bolivar State, January 31, 2009. Located south of the Orinoco river and near a town bearing
![A view of an unlicensed Venezuelan gold mine near the Las Cristinas concession where Canadian miner Crystallex holds a contract, in southern Bolivar State, Venezuela September 29, 2005. Venezuela's government will give A view of an unlicensed Venezuelan gold mine near the Las Cristinas concession where Canadian miner Crystallex holds a contract, in southern Bolivar State, Venezuela September 29, 2005. Venezuela's government will give](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2E6Y1KK/a-view-of-an-unlicensed-venezuelan-gold-mine-near-the-las-cristinas-concession-where-canadian-miner-crystallex-holds-a-contract-in-southern-bolivar-state-venezuela-september-29-2005-venezuelas-government-will-give-small-miners-all-contracts-and-concessions-it-rescinds-from-international-companies-as-part-of-an-overhaul-of-the-mining-sector-the-ministry-of-basic-industries-and-mines-said-on-thursday-reuters-howard-yanes-2E6Y1KK.jpg)
A view of an unlicensed Venezuelan gold mine near the Las Cristinas concession where Canadian miner Crystallex holds a contract, in southern Bolivar State, Venezuela September 29, 2005. Venezuela's government will give
![Crystallex inches forward in legal dispute with Venezuela over Las Cristinas project - BNN Bloomberg Crystallex inches forward in legal dispute with Venezuela over Las Cristinas project - BNN Bloomberg](http://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/polopoly_fs/1.559295!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/gold-mine.jpg)