A protest in Tibet that has been sustained for several months has ended with a Chinese firm agreeing not to develop a gold mine at a sacred site. The protest was sparked when local authorities approved plans by Chinese mining and lumbering firm Zhongkai Co. to excavate the area. Hundreds of Tibetans protested the mine’s planned expansion and blocked access to the area. Tibetans have historically worshiped at the site, called  Ser Ngul Lo (Year of Gold and Silver), conducting rituals there in times of drought.

On May 16, a contingent of police and security forces arrived, prompting as many as 500 Tibetans to block the road leading to the mine. The dispute was resolved on June 6 with a written agreement to stop the mine plan and also to clean up poisonous wastes from previous mining.

For further information, check out a web report from Radio Free Asia.