UNESCO names Romanian ancient gold mine settlement a world heritage site

FILE PHOTO: A general view of an old quarry is seen near Rosia Montana, central Romania, March 24, 2014. REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - UNESCO added the ancient Roman gold mining area of Rosia Montana in western Romania to its list of world heritage sites on Tuesday, throwing the town a lifeline and further complicating a long-stalled mine project.

Canada's Gabriel Resources, which had planned to build Europe's largest open cast gold mine in Rosia Montana, is currently seeking $4.4 billion in damages from Romania for losses related to its stalled project at the World Bank's International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.