Gary Knippa, owner of CJK Milling, opens a gate leading to the Leadville Mill he owns in Leadville, Colorado, on May 9, 2024. CJK Milling at the time wanted to remove acid-generating mine waste and use a cyanide process in the mill to extract gold and silver from mine waste piles. from piles of decades-old mining waste outside Leadville no longer plans to use cyanide in its processes after hearing concerns from locals about the toxic chemical.
CJK Milling leaders hope that doing so will help return the hills outside Leadville to a more natural state. “It’s dangerous, but there are a lot more dangerous reagents than cyanide. But cyanide is a trigger word,” Michael said. “It’s a poison, you can die — I’m not belittling that.”could be used at their mill. Other companies in Colorado are also testing the technique, Michael said. The process uses“We just got the results that this works, and we’re confident enough to adopt this into our process,” he said.
Abandoning the plan to use cyanide means CJK Milling must rethink their processes, reconfigure parts of the facility and resubmit paperwork to state regulators for approval. If all goes well, the mill could begin operating in late 2025. Keeler: Broncos' Bo Nix, Sean Payton only getting started, New Orleans Saints legends say. "You're fortunate. Just you wait."Denver designates 36 beloved spots -- from Horseshoe Lounge to Bonnie Brae Ice Cream -- as legacy businesses