A Canadian mining
company said Wednesday that an illegal miner was killed in a clash with guards
at the firms silver mine in central Mexico.
Vancouver-based Great
Panther Silver Ltd. said in a statement the confrontation occurred Tuesday
night at its mine in Guanajuato, capital of the central Mexico state of the
same name.
The company said
illegal miners have been entering the mine by force and with weapons, such
that we have had to hire an armed security force.
Thieves and illegal
miners steal small quantities of rich ore, but also put the mines employees
and themselves at risk in the underground labyrinth of tunnels, it said.
The Guanajuato state
prosecutors office confirmed a man had been reported killed at the mine, but
said tests were continuing to determine the cause of death.
Guanajuato is next to
Michoacan state, where drug cartels have moved into illegal mining, but there
was no immediate indication of any cartel involvement in the Guanajuato
incident.
Great Panther Silver
is focused on the mining of precious and base metals from its wholly owned
properties in Mexico.
