scholarly journals The Importance of Mineralogical Knowledge in the Sustainability of Artisanal Gold Mining: A Mid-South Peru Case

Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pura Alfonso ◽  
Hernan Anticoi ◽  
Teresa Yubero ◽  
Marc Bascompta ◽  
Laura Henao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Extraction Methods ◽  
Cyanide Solution ◽  
Gold Extraction ◽  
Gold Processing ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
San Luis ◽  
Previously Treated ◽  
Processing Techniques

Mineralogy and gold processing techniques from several mining areas of the Nazca-Ocoña gold belt, Mid-South Peru, were investigated to assess the efficiency of gold extraction methods in relation to their mineralogy. The deposits from this belt are intrusion gold related to mineralization in quartz veins. Native gold occurs as micrometric grains encapsulated in pyrite and in minor amounts in other sulfides and quartz. Electrum is found mainly in fractures of pyrite and attains up to 35 wt. % Ag. In addition to these occurrences, gold tellurides also occur and they are abundant in San Luis. Gold processing is carried out by amalgamation with mercury and/or cyanidation. The comparison of the gold grade in the mineralizations and in the residual tailings indicates that a significant amount of gold is not recovered using the mercury amalgamation process and also, in the case of the gold recovery by cyanidation, except when cement was added to the cyanide solution. This was due to an increase in the pH that favours the dissolution of the gold matrix. In the cyanidation process carried out in tailings previously treated with mercury, part of the mercury retained in them is released to the atmosphere or to the cyanidation fluids.

scholarly journals Penurunan Logam Hg dalam Air Menggunakan Sistem Sub-Surface Flow Constructed Wetland: Studi Efektivitas

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Rikhanatul Firdausy Puspitasari ◽  
Agus Prasetya ◽  
Edia Rahayuningsih
Keyword(s):  
Constructed Wetland ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Extraction Process ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Mercury Contamination ◽  
Gold Extraction ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
The Media ◽  
Gold Bearing

A B S T R A C THigh amount of Mercury contamination is commonly found in traditional gold mining areas. This problem might occur due to the use of amalgamation process in traditional gold extraction process by dissolving the gold-bearing rocks with mercury (Hg). The utilization of mercury in gold mining activity has contaminated the water with Hg which might lead to serious health problems. This research was carried out by discharging the Hg-contaminated wastewater to enter a system called the Sub-Surface Flow Constructed Wetland (SSF-SW). The system employed a mixture of soil and the fibers of water hyacinth as the media on which Echinodorus palaefolius L. was planted. The wastewater containing HgCl2 at 8.59 mg/L was flown. The flow rate and pH were set to 6.3 L/hour and 6-7 pH at room temperature. Samples were collected at 0; 3.5; 7; 10.5 hours every day. The SSF-CW system was continually run for 10.5 hours and 13.5hour batch. The result of this research showed that the efficiency of Hg removal reached 92.79%. The results showed that the SSF-CW offers a stable system to reduce the mercury levels as shown in the growth of the plant and the total Hg removal efficiency. Plants with Hg exposure have distinct patterns of chlorosis. Some leaves turning yellow and die, others start with new growth. In addition, the growth of Echinodorus palaefolius L. was also influenced by the amount of nutrients in the soil.Keywords: Echinodorus palaefolius L., mercury, sub-surface flow constructed wetland A B S T R A KPencemaran merkuri banyak ditemukan pada penambangan emas tradisional. Pada umumnya proses yang diterapkan dalam penambangan emas tradisional dalam ekstraksi emas adalah proses amalgamasi, yaitu dengan cara mencampur bijih emas dengan merkuri (Hg). Aktivitas penambangan dengan memanfaatkan Hg menyebabkan tercemarnya air dengan Hg yang dapat membahayakan kesehatan. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan cara mengalirkan air limbah Hg ke dalam sistem Sub-Surface Flow Constructed Wetland (SSF-CW). Media yang digunakan berupa campuran tanah dan serat eceng gondok serta ditanami dengan Echinodorus palaefolius L. Penelitian dilakukan dengan mengalirkan air limbah HgCl2 berkonsentrasi 8,59 mg/L. Percobaan menggunakan laju alir 6,3 L/jam dengan pH sekitar 6-7 pada suhu ruangan. Pengambilan sampel dilakukan pada jam ke 0; 3,5; 7 dan 10,5 pada setiap harinya. Operasi sistem SSF-CW dijalankan 10,5 jam kontinu dan 13,5 jam batch. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan efisiensi penurunan Hg sebesar 92,79%. Penelitian menunjukkan bahwa sistem SSF-CW cukup stabil. Kestabilan sistem SSF-CW dalam menurunkan kadar Hg dapat dilihat dari pertumbuhan tanaman dan total penurunan yang diperoleh. Tanaman yang terpapar Hg terlihat bercak klorosis. Beberapa daun menguning dan mati, sebagian lain tumbuh tunas baru. Pertumbuhaan Echinodorus palaefolius L. tidak lepas dari pengaruh unsur hara yang terdapat di dalam tanah.Kata kunci: Echinodorus palaefolius L., merkuri, sub-surface flow constructed wetland

scholarly journals Analysis of the Mercury Distribution in Blood as a Potential Tool for Exposure Assessment — Results from Two Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Areas in Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Maria Wahl ◽  
Stephan Bose-O’Reilly ◽  
Viola Mambrey ◽  
James P. K. Rooney ◽  
Dennis Shoko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Exposure Assessment ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Sulfate Solution ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Sufficient Information ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Gold Extraction ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Distribution In Blood

AbstractPeople in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) areas are frequently exposed to high levels of mercury (Hg). Hg analyses in urine and whole blood are the gold standard of biomonitoring, although this may not provide sufficient information about the source of exposure, e.g., due to the use of Hg for gold extraction or due to nutrition. To evaluate, whether the pharmacokinetic properties of individual Hg species may be useful for exposure assessment, we determined the Hg levels in different blood components from 199 participants. Therefore, whole blood was centrifuged on-site to yield erythrocytes and plasma. Globin was isolated from the erythrocytes by precipitation with ethyl acetate. Albumin was isolated from plasma by gradual precipitation with saturated ammonium sulfate solution. Hg levels in all samples were determined by using a direct Hg analyzer. Median Hg levels for whole blood, erythrocytes, and plasma were 2.7, 3.7, and 1.3 μg/l, respectively. In globin and albumin, median Hg levels were 10.3 and 7.9 μg/kg, respectively. The distribution of Hg was strongly correlated with whole blood Hg levels (p < 0.01) and the time between the last use of Hg and the date of the participation (p < 0.01). The results suggest that the distribution of Hg in blood is substantially affected by the extent and the frequency of the exposure to elemental Hg. Therefore, the analysis of Hg in erythrocytes and plasma may be a valuable tool for Hg exposure assessment in ASGM areas.

scholarly journals Biomonitoring of arsenic, cadmium and lead in two artisanal and small-scale gold mining areas in Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Rakete ◽  
Given Moonga ◽  
Anna-Maria Wahl ◽  
Viola Mambrey ◽  
Dennis Shoko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxic Metals ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Internal Exposure ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Gold Extraction ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mining Areas

AbstractPeople living and working in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) areas are frequently exposed to elemental mercury (Hg), which is used for gold extraction. However, additional exposure to other toxic metals such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) may result from mining-related activities and could be ingested via dust, water or food. In these areas, only limited biomonitoring data is available for toxic metals other than Hg. In particular, data about the exposure to As, Cd and Pb is unavailable for the Zimbabwean population. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study in two ASGM areas in Zimbabwe to evaluate the internal exposure to these metals. In total, urine and blood samples from 207 people that identified themselves as miners were collected and analysed for As and Cd in urine as well as Pb in blood by GF-AAS. Median levels (interquartile ranges in μg/l) of As and Pb were 9.7 μg/l (4.0, 18.5) and 19.7 μg/l (12.5, 34.5), respectively. The 25th percentile and the median for Cd were below the limit of detection (0.5 μg/l); the 75th percentile was at 0.9 μg/l. The results were compared to reference values found for the general population in the USA and Germany, and a significant number of participants exceeded these values (As, 33 %; Cd, 27 %; Pb, 32 %), indicating a relevant exposure to toxic metals. Although not representative for the Zimbabwean population, our results demonstrate that the exposure to toxic metals is relevant for the public health in Zimbabwe and requires further investigation.

scholarly journals The outbreak of illegal gold mining in the Brazilian Amazon boosts deforestation

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Siqueira-Gay ◽  
Luis E. Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Political Pressure ◽  
Deforestation Rate ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Mineral Supply ◽  
Regional Policies ◽  
Illegal Mining ◽  
Conservation Of Biodiversity

AbstractIncreased prices and political pressure are boosting illegal gold mining in the Brazilian Amazon, threatening forests, indigenous people, and conservation of biodiversity in protected areas. The rate of illegal mining deforestation increased more than 90% from 2017 to 2020, reaching 101.7 km2 annually in 2020 compared to 52.9 km2 annually in 2017. In that period, illegal mining deforestation rate grew more than the rate of clearing within mining leases. While formal mining is required to comply with environmental regulations, most small-scale or artisanal mining and especially illegal mining areas are abandoned after reserves are exhausted, without proper rehabilitation. Deforestation due to illegal mining is likely to increase in the next years, calling for coordination between local and regional policies as well as for strengthening and expanding international mechanisms to increase traceability of mineral supply chains with certification schemes to help to curb illegal mining.

scholarly journals Underground Multiculturalism: Contentious Cultural Politics in Gold-Mining Regions in Chocó, Colombia

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Jesse Jonkman
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Politics ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
Unique Form ◽  
Gold Extraction ◽  
Mining Regions ◽  
Instrumental Role ◽  
Community Councils

Abstract This article maps the contentious forms of political life that emerge when multicultural rights and non-formal gold extraction coincide. Specifically, it shows how, in the Colombian department of Chocó, Afro-descendant community councils have produced a unique form of mining governance that, while depending for its legitimacy on everyday uses of Afro-Colombian legislation, consists of the organisation, taxation and policing of mining activities that are in tension with official notions of extractive and multicultural law. In exploring such ‘underground’ cultural politics, the article highlights the limits of state-centric analyses of ‘neoliberal multiculturalism’ and, accordingly, underscores the instrumental role that governed subjects play in the on-the-ground unfolding of multicultural governance regimes.

Mercury contamination in fish from gold mining areas in Indonesia and human health risk assessment

2006 ◽  
Vol 368 (1) ◽  
pp. 320-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zuleica C. Castilhos ◽  
Saulo Rodrigues-Filho ◽  
Ana Paula C. Rodrigues ◽  
Roberto C. Villas-Bôas ◽  
Shefa Siegel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Health Risk Assessment ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Human Health Risk ◽  
Human Health Risk Assessment ◽  
Mercury Contamination ◽  
Mining Areas

Geochemical characterization of soil samples from gold mining areas using PIXE spectroscopy

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 4924-4937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Samuel Olise ◽  
Samuel Adedigba Adeojo ◽  
Oyediran Kayode Owoade ◽  
Oyebamiji Oyedele Oketayo ◽  
Solomon Adeniyi Adekola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Geochemical Characterization ◽  
Mining Areas

Mercury concentrations in inland waters of gold-mining areas in Rondônia, Brazil

1989 ◽  
Vol 87-88 ◽  
pp. 233-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang C. Pfeiffer ◽  
Luiz Drude de Lacerda ◽  
Olaf Malm ◽  
Cristina Maria M. Souza ◽  
Ene Gloria da Silveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Inland Waters ◽  
Mining Areas

PEMBINAAN DAN PENDAMPINGAN KEPADA PENAMBANG EMAS TANPA IJIN DI DESA NOELTOKO, KEC.MIOMAFFO BARAT, KAB.TTU

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 216-222
Author(s):  
Yusuf Rumbino ◽  
Fani Serangmo ◽  
Herry Zadrak Kotta ◽  
Woro Sundari ◽  
Ika Krisnasiwi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Service ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
River Flow ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Hazardous Materials ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Service Activity ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Gold Sand

Abstract   Exploitation of natural resources through unlicensed gold mining (PETI) is not in accordance with mining operational standards occurring along the Noeltoko River, West Miomaffo Subdistrict, Timor Tengah Utara Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province resulting in damage and environmental degradation. Changes and environmental damage include the formation of dug holes around the river flow, turbidity of water, changes in river flow. Other problems that arise are conflicts between these PETI workers and with other communities. This community service activity aims to provide an understanding to the community about the importance of maintaining and caring for rivers from excavation in the river walls that can cause debris / landslides explaining the impact of the use of hazardous materials such as mercury / mercury and cyanide, socialization of regulations regarding the formation of People's Mining Areas (WPR) ), introducing "sluice box" equipment to help the process of separating gold sand from sand. This activity was supported by the UPT ESDM Atambua Branch and was followed by 40 people who used to mine on the Noeltoko river. It is expected that the guidance and assistance can raise public awareness to be able to mine but still preserve the environment   Keyword: PETI, Noeltoko, WPR, sluicebox,   Abstrak   Eksploitasi sumber daya alam melalui Penambangan Emas Tanpa Izin (PETI) tidak sesuai dengan standar operasional penambangan terjadi di sepanjang sungai Noeltoko-Kecamatan Miomaffo Barat, Kabupaten Timor Tengah Utara Propinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur yang mengakibatkan kerusakan dan penurunan kualitas lingkungan. Perubahan dan kerusakan lingkungan tersebut diantaranya terbentuk lubang-lubang galian di sekitar aliran sungai, kekeruhan air, berubahnya aliran sungai.. Permasalahan lain yang timbul adalah konflik antar pekerja PETI ini maupun dengan masyarakat lain. Kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini bertujuan untuk memberikan pemahaman kepada masyarakat mengenai pentingnya menjaga dan merawat sungai dari penggalian di dinding sungai yang dapat mengakibatkan runtuhan/longsoran menjelaskan dampak penggunaan bahan berbahaya seperti air raksa/merkuri dan sianida, sosialisasi peraturan tentang pembentukan Wilayah Pertambangan Rakyat (WPR), mengenalkan peralatan “sluice box” untuk membantu proses pemisahan buiran emas dari pasir.Kegiatan ini didukung oleh pihak UPT ESDM Cabang Atambua dan dikuti oleh 40 orang masyarakat yang biasa menambang di sungai Noeltoko. Diharapkan dengan adanya pembinaan dan pendampingan dapat menimbulkan kesadaran masyarakat untuk dapat menambang namun tetap menjaga kelestarian lingkungan   Kata kunci: PETI, Noeltoko, WPR, sluicebox

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document