Residents of the Cajamarca province of Peru recently blocked a major highway to protest against water supplies contamination by toxic mercury from Latin America's largest gold mine, Yanacocha. The residents demanded that the mining activity be stopped till a probe is conducted into the leakage. "Our protest is against environmental contamination due to the activities of Yanacocha,' said Jorge Malca, a student leader from the province. However, Jaime Quijandria, the country's energy and mines minister, denied the allegations. He said it was impossible for any contamination to take place as water quality was tested regularly.