The Supreme Court of Chile upheld an appeal filed by the indigenous Diaguita community, ordering a halt to the development of the El Morro gold and copper mine in northern Chile.  The ruling orders the Canadian conglomerate Goldcorp to consult with indigenous communities.

“The Diaguita people are happy that justice is on the side of the humble, of those who defend Mother Earth, our water resources and our indigenous land,” said Diaguita leader Maglene Campilley.

Goldcorp plowed ahead with the mine, worth more than A$4 Billion, despite the Diaguita claim that it could pollute a local river.  A fresh environmental impact study will have to be completed before the government issues a permit to allow mining to take place.  It’s the third time Goldcorp has had to suspend work on the mine.

Chile mines nearly 6 million tons of copper every year, making it the world’s biggest copper producer.  But it also has huge untapped gold reserves – the fourth largest untapped gold reserves in the world.