the Honda stream

The RESTAURANDO project, originally named Better Without Mercury, was an initiative started by our mine’s working group. Its main goal was to move mercury-laden tailings from past mining activities in Quebrada Honda to a safe, technically managed site, regenerating the affected biodiversity.

The project also aims to transform the area into an exemplary environmental site, with a remediation plan that not only restores the ecosystem but also serves as an educational model for future generations.

The support of friends, allies, and neighboring communities has been essential for carrying out the Restaurando project. Today, we continue working to amplify its pedagogical impact.

Restaurando in images

Before

During

After

What is Restaurando?

In 2014, we designed the Better Without Mercury project (now called Restaurando), with the goal of decontaminating the banks of the Honda stream, which runs through the mining zone where mercury tailings from previous mining processes were deposited.

In 2018, the Association was honored to welcome Fairmined licensed jewelers from several countries, including England, Germany, France, and the United States, thanks to an invitation from ARM. Christina Miller, a prominent consultant in responsible jewelry, was particularly excited about the project’s goal of eliminating mercury tailings. During the visit, the action plan was presented, and later, the proposal was highlighted during the Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference. With support from Christina and Ethical Metalsmiths, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to fund the project.

Project Stages

Heavy machinery work to remove mercury tailings
Community work (mingas) with the participation of nearby communities
Soil restoration using fertile soil
Reforestation to recreate lost habitats
Development of an in-person educational component for visitors
Development of the Pedagogical Component for virtual visits

Join Our Cause

To continue advancing the educational component of our project, we still need to build the shelter and equip it with a projector, microphone, and speaker to make educational visits more effective.

Additionally, we need to complete Phase 4: the Design and Development of the Virtual Pedagogical Component.

We are just beginning this phase, aiming to create a dedicated educational space on our website to share our learnings. This would allow miners in remote regions access to our modest insights. Students and others interested could also learn virtually about responsible and regenerative mining.

You can join us to Restore together!

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Restaurando in images

our allies

Throughout our journey toward responsible mining, we have relied on the support of many friends and allies who have supported our path toward responsible mining.

We are also grateful for the donors who have supported and co-financed the Restaurando Project to decontaminate the Honda stream.

We are deeply grateful to all of them.

old and new friends

We also thank the community of Los Andes Sotomayor and neighboring populations for countless hours of volunteer work.

In addition, we are grateful to old and new friends whose support made the Restaurando project possible.

Join us, we can’t do it without you!

Socios del Proyecto - Viejos Amigos

Together, we met Rolberto Álvarez in 2018, who introduced us to his project "Better Without Mercury" (now called "Restaurando"). From that moment, we committed to helping him eliminate mercury contamination at the Gualconda Mine. This first group of fundraisers are the project partners. They recognize that gold is better without mercury.

Hoover & Strong – United States – Special thanks to Hoover & Strong for supporting the pre-fundraiser scientific review of the project plans including mercury testing, plan analysis, and storage area engineering.
Linhaus – United States
Moda Elan – Colombia
Paulette à Bicyclette – France
Made Line Jewelry – United States
Vipaka – United States
Fair Alloy – Colombia
Elena Elovainio – Finland
Ethical Jewels – Italy
WWAKE – United States
Susan Wheeler Design – United States
This Is Ian – Scotland
The Precious Metals Workshop – Scotland
TRAID Gold – Germany

Donantes - Nuevos Amigos

John Richmond – United States
Christina T. Miller – United States
Kathleen Lynagh – United States
Michelle Michael – United States
Wendy Woldenberg – United States
Ethical Jewels – Italy
Linhardt Design – United States
Saskia Shutt – Belgium
Bario Neal – United States
Lara Crampe – United States
Judy Geib – United States
Thesis Gems & Jewelry – United States
BY Jewellery – Zuzanna Bytomsk - Poland
WWAKE – United States
Emily Chelsea Jewelry – United States
TAP by Todd Pownell – United States
Susan Wheeler Design – United States
Seaworthy – United States
Utopian Creations – Australia
NK Jewel Art – United States
Sharon Z Jewelry – United States
East Fourth Street – United States
Sabrina Jewell – United States
Jessica Hudson – United States
Dana Bronfman – United States
Mercurius Jewelry – United States
D’amadeo – United States
Megan Coghill – United States
Lisa Koenigsberg – United States
Truss and Ore – United States
Tiffany Stevens – United States
Jai Hui Chung – Singapore

The MINERS OF THE LA FORTALEZA ASSOCIATION have also contributed over USD 12,000 of our own resources, in addition to our labor, to make the project a reality.

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New friends who donated resources for the construction of our website

Recent Blog Post

“The true wealth of mining lies in knowing we are part of a sustainable and responsible economy”

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