A federal judge has ruled Barrick Gold Corp. may proceed with plans for a massive gold mine at Mount Tenabo in Nevada, despite Western Shoshone objections on religious grounds.

U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks ruled that there is not enough evidence to force Barrick to postpone digging a 2,000-foot deep open pit at the Cortez Hills mine on Mount Tenabo, 250 miles east of Reno, until a trial is held.

“The effect of the proposed mining project is on the plaintiffs’ subjective, emotional experience. It is offensive to their sensibilities and in the mind of some will desecrate a sacred mountain,” Hicks said. “Nevertheless, the diminishment of that spirituality — as serious as it may be — under the Supreme Court’s holdings it is not a substantial burden on religious freedom,” he said.

Barrick — the largest gold mining company in the world — is planning to spend $640,000 a day for the next 15 months to develop the mine.

Read the Associated Press story.