Global increases in demand for minerals such as gold has led to renewed interest in the US state of Colorado, it has been claimed.
Stuart Sanderson, president of the Colorado Mining Association, stated that requests for new exploration and prospecting permits have risen in the area, reported by Fort Collins Now.
Mineral extraction is worth approximately $3 billion (£1.7 billion) in terms of sales to the state’s economy, he told the news provider.
And it amounts to billions more in benefits to communities and taxes, he added.
“We may not be the biggest state in terms of mineral production, but I think Colorado can probably lay claim to being among the most diverse,” he remarked.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the discovery of gold in the state’s Rocky Mountains.
Nevada – another US state that is a major gold producer – hosts the Carlin Trend, which is the western hemisphere’s most prolific gold field, according to InfoMine.
