Cristinas

Mr. Ramírez said the government is looking to further develop the Las Cristinas and Las Brisas mines.

Venezuela Bans Gold Exports; State To Hold 55% In Mining Ventures Kejal Vyas 2011

That said, the two mines (Brisas and Las Cristinas) might have been in production years ago and enjoying peak gold prices rather than being Johnny-come-latelys to the scene.

Maul Scale | SciFi, Fantasy & Horror Collectibles 2009

In February, Canada's Crystallex International Corp. had its contract to develop the Las Cristinas gold fields terminated by the government.

Venezuela Moves to Take Over Gold Sector Kejal Vyas 2011

He adds that the Las Cristinas project, which has about 31 million ounces of proven gold, valued at about US$33 billion, can get internal financing and that the companies that have been involved in their operation have continuously been quoted on (North American) stock exchanges based on the nation's gold resources.

Diamond mines at Guaniamo and gold reserves at Las Cristinas will be taken under Venezuelan sovereign state control 2009

"The Company has not received a response from the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources (" MinAmb ") to its June 16, 2008 appeal of the Director General of the Administrative Office of Permits at MinAmb denying its request for the Permit for the Las Cristinas project."

Diane Francis: Venezuela's Moscow Maneuvers 2009

So the Minister (Sanz) was talking about the whole of the mining sector rather than a specific area like Las Cristinas/Las Brisas?

Rusoro: They've been good to us all along ... we're very comfortable in Venezuela and the future looks good!" 2008

Rusoro's non-metallic Venezuelan interests are in the domestic extraction of kaolinite (china clay), which he says is very high quality, and -- interestingly enough -- to be found in a huge quantities between Crystallex 'Las Cristinas contract and Gold Reserve's claim of a concession at Las Brisas de Cuyuni in the very much larger mining district of Kilometer 88 in southern Bolivar State.

Rusoro: They've been good to us all along ... we're very comfortable in Venezuela and the future looks good!" 2008

Leaving therefore aside the dilemma that faces Gold Reserve and its claim on Las Brisas del Cuyuni until its inevitable demise under the new Mining Act, Sanz is forced (also as supreme head of the CVG) to consider what to do about Las Cristinas ... already believed to be the largest untapped gold reserve in South America if not the world!

At the risk of repeating ourselves we ask: where in Venezuelan politics did logic ever count for anything? 2008

Sources at Venezuela's Military Intelligence Directorate (DIM) have told VHeadline that there is little likelihood that Crystallex will get carte blanche to proceed with Las Cristinas despite its 100% ownership by the Venezuelan Guayana Corporation (CVG) and a 40-year mine operating contract signed several years ago by recently re-elected Bolivar State Governor Francisco Rangel Gomez, who was then president of the State-owned heavy industry conglomerate, CVG.

Guillermo Adrian: "Not a cat in hell's chance that Crystallex will get the final approval!" 2008

So ... getting back to the 'infamous' local radio broadcast: Minister Sanz said that the nation's gold industry, in particular the massive Las Cristinas goldfields, had been recovered to State ownership.

Phew! Another sweaty day in Caracas, Venezuela! What tremors will Friday bring... 2008