Editorial photo #2126894 Human Interest

Protests against gold mining in Cajamarca

Indigenous populations protest the proposed Conga Gold Mine in Cajamarca, Peru. The mine is a project of the Denver-based Newmont Mining Co. Photo taken 9 March 2012.Cajamarca, Peru, is home to the Yanacocha gold and copper mine, one of the largest open pit mines in the world. In 2012, the mine's operator, US-based Newmont Mining Co. proposed expanding the mine by opening a new project called the Conga Mine. This proposal was met with intense resistance from the local and indigenous population, who felt more mining activity would further contaminate water supplies in the region. Photos taken in March 2012. (Photo by Diego Cupolo/NurPhoto)