Greek dilemma: Are new jobs created by gold mine worth the ecological risk?

Stories of reinvented coal mining regions, regenerated communities and rebuilt ecosystems are told in a new book published this month.

Hedge funds and other large speculators boosted their net-long position in gold.

Over two-thirds of today’s junior miners are essentially worthless, says resource speculator Rick Rule. 

The decision will hit artisanal miners of metals such as gold and tin hard, as they are the region's dominant producers.