1872 Mining Law: Millersville University Art Professor Calls it Blood Gold

Published on Mar 27, 2008 - 8:03:02 AM

By: Millersville University of Pennsylvania

MILLERSVILLE, PA, March 27, 2008 - In the past 136 years, most U.S. industries have changed dramatically. One exception is the mining industry which still operates under legislation signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872.

The antiquated 1872 Mining Law is scheduled to undergo massive reform. H.R. 2262: Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act passed in November 2007 and is now awaiting action in the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, metal mining continues to emit more toxic pollutants than any other industry, polluting an estimated 40% of the headwaters of western U.S. watersheds, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Christina Miller, art professor at Millersville University of Pennsylvania, believes that studio jewelers and metalsmiths can play an important role in bringing about change to the mining industry and its adverse impact on the environment.

"80% of gold mined internationally is used by the jewelry industry. Therefore, it becomes our responsibility to create a demand for clean gold and persuade the mining industry that there is a market for change," said Miller who is also the co-founder of Ethical Metalsmiths, a non-profit organization which encourages needed mining reform. "Working with artists, jewelers, suppliers, refiners and miners, we collaborate to generate change," said Miller.

The 1872 Mining Law helped to develop and settle the American West. And, it worked by encouraging individuals or corporations (including foreign-owned companies) to file claims on federal land for prospecting gold, silver, copper, uranium and other hardrock minerals. The cost to file a claim in 1872 and 2008 is less than $5 an acre. Meanwhile, mining companies are extracting minerals valued at millions of dollars without paying any royalties.

"Most people don't know where the metal in their jewelry comes from," said Miller. "In reality, hardrock mining happens in remote areas of the country generally hidden from our eyes. It consumes excessive amounts of water and energy, creates mountains of waste rock and fills acres of ponds with chemicals such as cyanide which is used universally in metal mining.

"In the end, we hope to push irresponsible companies in the mining industry to change," said Miller. "As makers of jewelry we cannot continue to let our work be tarnished by bad practices."

One innovative approach is "Radical Jewelry Makeover" -- a community mining and re-use project initiated by Ethical Metalsmiths. It accepts donations of unwanted jewelry and collaborates with students and professionals to transform the donations into new jewelry.

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