GoldQuest Mining Corp. - Mining in the DR

Dominican Republic GoldQuest in the DR Mining in the DR Geology of the DR Pueblo Viejo Gold Deposit Dominican Photos
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Three major mining companies have an active presence in the Dominican Republic: Barrick and Xstrata, and Gold Corp.

Barrick and Gold Corp. are currently constructing the Pueblo Viejo Au-Ag-Zn mine.
Xstrata (Previously Falconbridge) has been successfully exploiting nickel laterites in the Dominican Republic for almost 25 years although the mine is curently on care and maintenance until there is an improvement in the nickel price.

Nickel used to be the most important mineral to the Dominican economy and the major source of foreign earnings from the mining sector. The only nickel producer is Falconbridge Dominicana, a subsidiary of Xstrata with minority equity position held by the Government of the Dominican Republic.

Production of gold and silver from the Pueblo Viejo mine, once of great importance to the Dominican economy, ceased in 1999. The state owned mine was auctioned by the Dominican government in 2001 which was won by Placer Dome which was later purchased by Barrick.

The Government agency responsible for administering the mining law is the Direccion General de Mineria, part of the Secretaria de Estado y Comercio.