Had workers on strike, they would have affected the construction a the water management system, which is the main condition imposed by Chilean authorities to allow Barrick restart work at the mine.
Exploration companies operating in the Asian nation have become collateral damage in a criminal case involving former senior government employees at Mongolia's mining regulator.
"Potential points of discussion include how financial-industry regulators will watch over investment in the new currencies and how virtual currencies might impede tax collection or facilitate trade in illegal products out of the sight of law enforcement."