![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
![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)