The diminutive and rare Juliana's golden mole, which is found only in South Africa, has taken centre stage in an environmental drama raging in the Bronberg mountains, east of Pretoria.
There are three known populations of this mole in South Africa, which are restricted to areas in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Juliana's golden mole is a critically endangered species and is registered on the IUCN's Red Data List.
Zwavelpoort residents say a quarry on the northern slopes of the Bronberg is threatening to destroy the mole's habitat.
"The Bronberg is an ecologically sensitive area and the mining activities at the quarry seriously threaten the mole population," says resident Louise Muller.
She also said that the blasting at the quarry, known as Willow Quarries, disrupts the mole's movements and could possibly prevent them from breeding.
Various ecological studies indicate that the quarry could have a negative impact on the mole. But the studies do not all reach the same conclusion.
"A study by the department of agriculture, conservation, environment and land affairs concluded that habitat disturbance will have a serious impact on Juliana's golden mole," said Muller.
She said despite this, the quarry is still permitted to continue mining the Bronberg.
Professor Nigel Bennet of Pretoria University and IUCN member of the specialist group for the golden mole, says the Bronberg is an extremely important region for the distribution and conservation of Juliana's golden mole.
"The golden mole is a restricted range species and the population is confined to this geographical region," he said.
Bennet said that by bisecting the Bronberg with a mining operation, the flow of genes between the mole population will be interrupted.
"The bisection of the ridge due to mining presents a serious threat to the species," he said.
Willow Quarries spokesperson Tobie Wiese said they had submitted their own environmental report to the department of minerals and energy in compliance with the law.
The report, which the Pretoria News has seen, states that the quarry's impact on the mole in the long term is not significant.
"All the environmental reports indicate the mole is allegedly present along the entire Bronberg range and is not restricted to the immediate vicinity of the quarry as some people imply," he said.
Wiese said the mountain range is about 20km long and the quarry's impact on the environment is therefore not of great significance.
"The quarry is restricted to a length of 250m and contrary to what people believe, the quarry does not and will not, bisect the Bronberg," he said.
Henk Bloem, who lives in close proximity to the quarry, disagrees with Wiese, saying that although rare, he had seen the Juliana's golden mole in the Bronberg.
"Sightings of the mole have been recorded and the quarry will impact on their habitat," Bloem said.
He stressed that only a small fraction of the Bronberg consists of a specific soil type that allows the mole population to migrate along the mountain range.
"The quarry has already destroyed a large portion of this corridor which, if completely destroyed, will mean the end of an already critically endangered species," he said.
According to Professor Bennet, mining in the Bronberg, which has destroyed a large portion of already limited habitat, will have serious implications for the Juliana's golden mole.
The northern slope and sandy soils of the Bronberg are crucial habitat for the mole.
"Juliana's golden mole is a particularly endangered species because it has a restricted range distribution and is confined to the sandy soils of the Lynnwood Ridge and Zwavelpoort regions," he said.