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Gold of the Conquistadors

Tom Heap investigates the mining boom in South and Central America.

Five hundred years ago the Spanish Conquistadors enslaved the population of South America in their desperate efforts to squeeze more gold and silver from the mines of Peru and Chile.

Today the industry is booming again, driven by the global demand for copper and the rising price of precious metals. New technology has made the industry safer for workers but the sensitive environment of the Andes is under threat from the water demands of the mining process.

30 minutes

Last on

Thu 13 Oct 2011 13:30

Broadcast

  • Thu 13 Oct 2011 13:30

What has happened to the world's coral?

What has happened to the world's coral?

In 2016 reefs around the world the size of city blocks died. Here we explore why.

Podcast