![A man walks past a monument to mining near Las Cristinas, southern Bolivar State, January 30, 2009. Four centuries after the lure of Venezuelan gold brought ruin to English explorer Sir Walter A man walks past a monument to mining near Las Cristinas, southern Bolivar State, January 30, 2009. Four centuries after the lure of Venezuelan gold brought ruin to English explorer Sir Walter](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2CRJP9T/a-man-walks-past-a-monument-to-mining-near-las-cristinas-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-turmoil-picture-taken-january-30-2009-to-match-feature-venezuela-gol-2CRJP9T.jpg)
A man walks past a monument to mining near Las Cristinas, southern Bolivar State, January 30, 2009. Four centuries after the lure of Venezuelan gold brought ruin to English explorer Sir Walter
![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 ... 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 ...](https://l450v.alamy.com/450v/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. Four centuries after the lure of Venezuelan gold brought ruin to English explorer Sir ...
![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)