Special Envoy to the Venezuelan Amazon
El Dorado, Tumeremo, Las Claritas, El Callao, in the state of Bolivar, in the heart of the Venezuelan Amazon rainforest, all traders are equipped with small precision scales.
Here, we pay in milligrams of gold, the
“punto”.
“Four beers for 1 punto
,” proclaims a poster.
With an expert hand, they shear the gold pebbles using small pliers then place the pieces in buckets to weigh them.
On the restaurant menu, three prices are indicated: the first in dollars, the second in milligrams of yellow gold, the third in milligrams of green gold, the latter being of less purity.
See also
The Venezuelan Amazon devastated by "blood gold"
The state of Bolivar became the fourth block of the Arco Minero del Orinoco, AMO, after the publication in January 2016 of a decree by President Nicolás Maduro.
The latter explained that he wanted to develop mining activity and better regulate it.
The region abounds in mineral resources: gold, silver, coltan or diamonds.
The decree allowed ...
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