Alburnus Maior Association

Gold was extracted from the underground until 1970. After that, surface mining operations began. Underground production decreased, and between 1974 and 1989, mining was carried out on the surface, via open-pit mining.

After the fall of Communism Romania’s mining industry experienced a period of degradation, as did many industrial centers in Romania.  It was a difficult period that gave way to an external player or investor promising to revitalize mining in Rosia Montana with an uncertain future looming over the entire country, this project was met with mixed feelings, on one hand enthusiasm and on the other rejection. 

After 1990, state support for gold mining ceased, leading to a decline in technological infrastructure and production. In 1995, a Canadian company "Roșia Montană Gold Corporation" leased the mining perimeter and conducted exploration, estimating substantial gold and silver reserves. However, their large open cast mine proposal also involved cyanide extraction which due to its toxicity  raised concerns about environmental and social impacts. As the gold and silver was located right over Rosia Montana the project would have displaced the local community  and erased historical and cultural landmarks. Despite the promise of jobs, skepticism regarding the project's benefits and sustainability grew. Many questioned the need to sacrifice Roșia Montană's heritage for economic gain, advocating for its preservation as a national treasure. Academics, cultural figures, and institutions voiced opposition, emphasizing the irreversible loss of heritage and natural resources. The debate highlighted the clash between economic interests and the imperative to safeguard cultural and environmental legacies.

Against the backdrop of uncertainty and the increasingly aggressive presence of the foreign investor in the community,  resistance was born in the form of Alburnus Maior Association, a non-governmental organization consisting of local property owners. Rather than each fighting on his or her own, they ganged together and founded the association  in 2000. The name "Alburnus Maior" comes from the ancient Roman name of the locality Rosia Montana. Their purpose was to protect their properties and  the cultural and natural heritage of the area, against the controversial gold mining proposal aggressively promoted by the Canadian investor Gabriel Resources. The headquarters of the resistance, of the Alburnus Maior NGO was situated here, in the building with number 356 from the intersection on the right side. 

Over the years, the association organized various events, exhibitions, work camps, protests, cultural events and the yearly Fanfest: a large protest and music festival run entirely by volunteers to raise  awareness and involve the local community and the general public in their fight against Rosia Montana’s destruction. Several tens of thousands of mainly young people would hitchhike to Rosia Montana each year to learn about civil disobedience and listen to famous Romanian bands and musicians who all performed pro bono.  The Alburnus Maior Association also counts amongst Romania’s first NGOs that used litigation as a highly effective strategic tool to ensure the rule of law and protect citizens rights against the mine proposal.

You have listened to the content dedicated to Rosia Montana’s Alburnus Maior Association.

The UNESCO tour of Rosia Montana is a project implemented by the non-governmental organization ‘Rosia Montana in Patrimoniul Mondial’. The audio-tour is co-financed by Romania’s Administration for National Cultural Funds. We based our story telling on local anecdotes and the works listed on the bibliography on our website. We encourage you to follow the trail that we prepared for you via our website. This will ensure that you discover all objects and their stories of Rosia Montana. Have a pleasant journey and ‘drum bun’ as we say here.