It’s been labeled “blood gold,” a jarring phrase that ties one of the world’s most valuable metals with brutal mining practices and illicit profits that legitimate miners and refiners are rushing to end. With miners facing increasing pressure to guarantee the provenance of gold, the group that oversees the world’s largest bullion market is seeking new ways to securely track each step from the mine to the jewelry store. The goal: Stop the metal’s use as a convenient financing tool for South American guerrillas, armed African rebels and drug traffickers.
