Zinc mine near Al Gore's farm closes again

GORDONSVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 4 (UPI) -- A Tennessee zinc mine near Al Gore's farm, which reopened this year because of high prices has closed again because metal prices have dropped.

Strategic Resource Acquisition Co., a Canadian mining company, said the mine was shut down Oct. 9, six months after it had restarted, because it was no longer cost-effective, The (Nashville) Tennessean reported Tuesday. The company said it had invested about $150 million into the mine.

The mine in Smith County in north-central Tennessee previously had shut down in 2003. The Gores and several other people in the area had received royalty payments from previous operators, who had released tons of potentially toxic substances in the area.

Kalee Kreider, a Gore family spokeswoman, said the former vice president had not negotiated a new lease with the current operator of the mine. Gore had suggested the company work with Earthworks, an environmental consulting group, to limit pollution.

The company said it will continue to do basic maintenance at the mine, which could reopen if the price of zinc rises.