Defending Futaleufu and Patagonia from Mining Attacks

U.S. based Geocom Resources and Canadian Kinross Gold Corporation formed an exploration venture on March 21st, 2006 due to the attractive initial exploration results conducted on the Lakes Region of Chile. A region that depends heavily on tourism and agriculture production, the Lakes Region and, more specifically, the Palena Province, are directly threatened from proposed gold mining projects in 5 environmentally pristine areas.

Geocom Resources acquired a total of 36 square kilometers (14 square miles) of mining claims in the Espolon Valley of the Palena Province in the Lakes Region of Chile. Additionally, Geocom Resources, with financial support from Kinross Gold Corporation, have staked out 5 other mining claims in the Lakes Region, with a total of 3 in the Futaleufu Valley, a claim adjacent to the Chaiten Volcano, another claim in the Palena Valley, and the largest claim close to the town of La Junta, bordering the Aysen Region. The total area claimed by the venture between Geocom Resources and Kinross Gold Corporation is more than 1590 square kilometers (614 square miles). The area to be explored and proposed as a mine would have the following negative impacts:

decrease the production capacity of the Gulf of Corcovado's Salmon Industry, a $2 billion dollar industry.
damage the water quality of the Espolon, Futaleufu and Yelcho rivers and lakes, which generates more than $2 million dollars from fly-fishing.
degrade the environmental quality and tourism potential of the Futaleufu River Valley that generates more than $5 million dollars from whitewater and other outdoor tourism activities.
destroy the real-estate industry of the region that averages $6000 dollars per hectare for local landowners.
devastate more than 11 major river systems, including the Futaleufu, Palena, Yelcho, Michimahuida, Azul, Espolon, and Tigre Rivers.
threatens Patagonia's endangered species, which include the huemul and condor (Chile's emblem species), the puma, pudu, darwin frog, huillin, and 14 other species that are only endemic in the tenth region of Patagonia.

Geocom Resources holds approximately 318 exploration concessions in the Lakes Region, with each concession measuring 5 square kilometers (1.93 square miles) each. The exploration process for future gold mines includes a massive drilling process that leaves gapping drill holes and creates excessive soil erosion in an area that is considered to be the last terrestrial frontier of Chile and a major international tourism destination.

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