LEADVILLE, Colo. – Rust-colored piles of mine waste and sun-bleached wooden derricks stand as reminders of Leadville’s storied past, where gold and silver mining left lasting environmental impacts on the Arkansas River basin. As the town grapples with its mining legacy, a new company, CJK Milling, is proposing to “remine” these waste piles to extract gold from ore that was dismissed as unworthy decades ago.
CJK Milling aims to transport the waste to a local mill, where it would be crushed and treated with cyanide to recover trace amounts of precious metals. This move comes amid a global trend focused on reprocessing waste materials, especially those containing minerals now considered valuable, including those essential for renewable energy technology.
Proponents of the project argue that it presents an opportunity to expedite long-stalled cleanup efforts, thus contributing to a “circular economy” in mining. However, some community members express concern that reviving the mining industry and disturbing old waste could evoke memories of pollution, recalling a time when the Arkansas River was dangerously contaminated.
Local resident Brice Karsh, who owns a fishing ranch, voiced his apprehensions: “Why go backward? Why risk it?” Concerns are shared across the community of approximately 2,600 people, who have seen their surroundings affected by heavy metal contamination from historic mining operations.
Nick Michael, a 38-year veteran of the mining industry and the driving force behind CJK Milling, believes the project serves a social purpose as well. He asserts that the waste contains gold concentrations higher than many active mines, presenting an economically viable opportunity. “We’re just cleaning up these small piles and moving on to the next one,” Michael stated.
City Council member Christian Luna-Leal stresses the importance of addressing community fears over potential environmental hazards. Past industry practices have disadvantaged local communities, and a revival of mining waste processing could jeopardize years of cleanup progress.
Critics highlight that while the milling process aims to extract gold, it does not eliminate waste. For every ton of ore processed, a ton of waste remains, leading to questions about the long-term environmental implications of such operations.
Despite some skeptics, there are those who see potential benefits in CJK Milling’s plans. Water District Manager Greg Teter views the initiative as a possible solution to ongoing water quality issues linked to mine waste runoff. “As it stands now, all the mine dumps are in my watershed, and if they remove them, that’s going to be below my watershed,” Teter explained.
The environmental stakes are significant, with federal records indicating that contaminated mine water continues to flow from Leadville’s Superfund site at an alarming rate. The EPA suggests that the project might enhance existing cleanup efforts by mitigating future sources of pollution.
As gold prices soar and interest in critical minerals rises, CJK Milling’s proposal represents a notable shift in how communities affected by mining approach their past. The potential for profitability and environmental cleanup presents a dual narrative that Leadville must navigate thoughtfully.
