News

August 12, 2008

Mining Company Gets Involved In Re-establishment of Vicuñas In Peru

Good to know that AIM listed Minera IRL, the company which has just brought its Coriharmi gold mine in Peru into production, is getting involved in a positive way with the local community. Just recently it sponsored the annual Chaccu ceremony which accompanies the round-up, shearing and vaccination of the vicuñas owned by the Cushuro community and it attracted a lot of local support.

These lively animals produce small amounts of extremely fine wool, which is very expensive because the animal can only be shorn every 2-3 years. In fact when compared weight for weight with the gold Minera is mining, vicuña wool is more valuable. Vicuña wool is made into garmets which are very soft, warm and light. The nearest comparison is with cashmere which is produced by domestic cashmere goats in countries such as China, Mongolia, India and Australia. It is more plentiful than vicuña and...