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Chile’s Supreme Court Clears Robinson Crusoe Treasure Hunt Under Strict Environmental Rules

The ruling conditions any dig on a final park permit under strict no‑machinery limits.

Overview

  • Chile’s top court authorized treasure hunter Bernard Keiser to resume excavations on Robinson Crusoe Island, pending a final administrative permit expected before June.
  • Any excavation must use only manual labor with no heavy machinery, and work is capped at six months inside the national park.
  • The mayor of Juan Fernández urged minimal impact, saying the hunt should proceed only with low‑intrusion methods.
  • Keiser says 2025 geophysical surveys flagged metal concentrations at Puerto Inglés, and he plans an October campaign if the permit arrives.
  • If a cache is found, Chilean law assigns 75% of the value to the state and 25% to Keiser and his partners.