Glacier national park has yet another worry this year (aside from the melting glaciers). Canadian company, Max Resource Corp has been drilling samples near the headwaters to the Canadian side of the park and has found high concentrations of gold. According the the company, they found concentrations as high as 50.26 grams per ton (as opposed to 2 to 3 grams per ton in a normal operating gold mine) and they are looking to open a mine. The company plans to continue samples into 2010 and invest as much as $1 million by 2013.
This comes on the heels of UNESCO’s visit to the park less than 3 months ago to decide whether to declare the park a threatened world heritage site or not. Previously this was due to the threat of an open coal mine in the area that may have devastating effects on the wildlife downstream from the mine.
While the mines aren’t an imminent threat, there is reason for concern. According to Will Hammerquist of the National Parks Conservation Association, the Canadian provincial government gives mining priority over anything else. “whether it’s water quality, wildlife, recreation, you name it. We think that’s inappropriate, especially when you consider the legacy of protection to the south, in Montana, and to the east, in Waterton Lakes National Park”, Hammerquist said.
Somewhat surprisingly, the mining company seems to be fairly civil about the situation. According to a spokesperson from Max Resource, “If they decide they don’t want us to drill there, we won’t drill there; It’s as simple as that.”
