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Team of exploration geologists drops into the gravel deposits of a waterfall near the Grasberg copper and gold mine to search for new deposits of ore. Grasberg is the largest gold deposit in the world, and the third largest copper deposit as well. Operated by U.S.-based Freeport-McMoRan, the open-pit mine straddles the lofty spine where the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates collide, a zone of great mineral wealth. Freeport has recently identified an additional 75 sites in the highlands for possible drilling. While a boon to the national economy, the mining giant has met fierce opposition from tribal groups who claim tailings have caused the flooding of their lands.

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STNMTZ_19930601_48B.TIF
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©1993 George Steinmetz
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4832x7232 / 100.0MB
www.georgesteinmetz.com
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Irian Jaya
Team of exploration geologists drops into the gravel deposits of a waterfall near the Grasberg copper and gold mine to search for new deposits of ore. Grasberg is the largest gold deposit in the world, and the third largest copper deposit as well. Operated by U.S.-based Freeport-McMoRan, the open-pit mine straddles the lofty spine where the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates collide, a zone of great mineral wealth. Freeport has recently identified an additional 75 sites in the highlands for possible drilling. While a boon to the national economy, the mining giant has met fierce opposition from tribal groups who claim tailings have caused the flooding of their lands.

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