Treasures in the Clouds at Indonesia's Grasberg Mine

摘要

Most consumers either take the gold-and other metals they use-for granted. None probably realize how much rock must be mined and moved to provide the gold for a ring. The grade of gold mined today can be as low as 2 grams per metric ton of "ore"-worth less than $23 per metric ton. And more than one ton of rock often must be moved to uncover a ton of ore. That gold wedding ring or necklace or watch body may come from New Orleans-based Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Co.'s Grasberg copper and gold mine.