Mill leaching: a viable substitute for mercury amalgamation in the artisanal gold mining sector?

Artisanal small-scale gold miners (ASM) occasionally employ whole ore amalgamation by adding mercury into ball mills to recover gold. In this process, 25–30% of the mercury added is lost to the environment. It is also inefficient less than 30% of gold is recovered. Amalgamation, followed by cyanidation, has been observed at many artisanal mining sites. This combination poses additional environmental and health consequences. Tests with ore samples from Talawaan, North Sulawesi, Indonesia indicate the possibility of replacing mercury by cyanidation in the ball mill, reaching gold extraction of 93% in 6 h of leaching. The gold in the Indonesian ore sample is fine and less than 8% of gold recovery was obtained with gravity concentration of the ore ground 80% below 0.25 mm, which is a reasonably fine grain size for artisanal gold operations. Replacing mercury addition with cyanidation in ball mills was implemented in one artisanal gold mining operation in Portovelo, Ecuador, achieving 95% of gold extraction in 8 h of mill leaching. This technique demonstrated a drastic improvement in gold recovery. It was found to be a simple, inexpensive technique well accepted by local miners. The results from laboratory and field tests are promising; however a thorough investigation into the socio-economic and environmental aspects of this presented alternative must be conducted prior to introduction.     

A matter of approach: the retort's potential to reduce mercury consumption within small-scale gold mining settlements in Tanzania

The mercury-based gold extraction processes prevalent within small-scale mining are both efficient and harmful. While ensuring relatively high levels of gold recovery, they cause environmental and health problems for people living within mining settlements. This mercury consumption can be minimized by using a simple mercury recycling device known as a retort. While mining legislation in Tanzania dictates the use of retorts for gold recovery, virtually no miners use them, indicating the inadequacy of previous introduction attempts. During action research, retorts were introduced in two mining settlements through a thorough and participatory approach. Twenty miners were given retorts and their attitudes and receptiveness to them were studied. Of the recipients, 18 used the retorts over a period of five months, recycling 10 kilos of mercury. Less mercury was spilled into the environment and miners saved money normally spent on purchasing mercury. The findings have implications for the strategies of development interventions targeting mercury-instigated problems within small-scale gold mining.     

Origin and consumption of mercury in small-scale gold mining

Mercury (Hg) is used by small-scale gold miners in more than 50 developing countries, where the accompanied releases affect human health and the environment. The objectives of this paper are to summarize present use of Hg in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) worldwide, reveal the origin of part of the Hg used by the gold miners, and propose appropriate actions to reduce the resulting Hg emissions. Significant releases of mercury are associated with inefficient amalgamation techniques. Releases are estimated to range from 800 to 1000 tonne/annum. Of this total, approximately 200–250 tonne of Hg are released in China, 100–150 tonne in Indonesia, and 10–30 tonne each in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Philippines, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. Mercury usually enters these countries legally – typically imported from countries in the European Union – although in some cases and in some years (e.g., Indonesia, Venezuela, etc.), the reported imports of Hg are far below estimated consumption. Meanwhile, the EU, while gradually replacing Hg products and processes with more environmentally benign alternatives, paradoxically continues to produce virgin Hg at government-owned mines, further exacerbating a general global oversupply of Hg – evident from its historically low market price. Political leadership is needed to avoid the transfer of excess Hg, and related health and environmental risks from the EU to third countries. Otherwise, the present situation will continue or even worsen, with no oversight or control of the global Hg trade in which the transfer of excess EU Hg to artisanal miners is favoured by low Hg prices relative to gold prices.     

Clean artisanal gold mining: a utopian approach?

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) provides an important source of livelihood for rural communities throughout the world. These activities are frequently accompanied by extensive environmental degradation and deplorable socio-economic conditions, both during operations and well after mining activities have ceased. As gold is easily sold and not influenced by the instability of local governments, it is the main mineral extracted by artisanal miners. Mercury (Hg) amalgamation is the preferred gold recovery method employed by artisanal gold miners and its misuse can result in serious health hazards for miners involved in gold extraction, as well as for surrounding community inhabitants, who may be exposed to mercury via the food chain. The rudimentary techniques characteristic of ASM result in a number of occupational hazards, other although most risks are primarily attributed to machinery accidents and ground failure, such as landslides and shaft collapses.Several technologies and methods commonly utilized by large-scale mining operations can be downsized to smaller scale operations. However, the likelihood that miners will adopt these large-scale methods, or those developed specifically for ASM, depends upon some key factors. For an artisanal miner, these factors include: (1) increased or comparable simplicity, (2) quick recovery of the economic mineral, and (3) demonstrated financial gain. Other practical aspects, such as the availability of materials (chemicals, steel rods, piping, generators, etc), capital and operating cost requirements and access to technical support, also influence acceptance of new techniques.This article will review four inter-related areas: first, the limitations and benefits, for ASM, of a number of specific technologies; second, the role of Processing Centers in education, information dissemination and provision of “clean” services; third, benefits and challenges associated with formalization of ASM activities; and fourth, the contribution of ASM to the development of sustainability of communities, primarily through diversification of livelihoods. The appropriate application of technologies, particularly given the diversity of ASM communities around the world, will also be explored.     

Mercury balance in amalgamation in artisanal and small-scale gold mining: identifying strategies for reducing environmental pollution in Portovelo-Zaruma,Ecuador

The gold ore mined by artisanal and small-scale miners in Portovelo-Zaruma, Ecuador, is processed in custom mills. Miners can choose between Chilean-mill processing centers, where the ore is ground, concentrated and amalgamated, or “Chancha” Centers, where the whole ore is amalgamated. By weighing mercury before and after all unit operations involved in the amalgamation process, it was possible to determine mercury losses. Analyses in eight centers indicated that 51–59% of mercury introduced into the amalgamation process is recovered when miners squeeze the excess mercury. Around 29% of total mercury is lost when miners burn amalgam and gold is melted, and 15% is lost with the tailings. When only gravity concentrates are amalgamated, 1.4% of mercury entering the process is lost with tailings, whereas 29.5% is lost when the whole ore is amalgamated. Approximately 1.5 tonnes/annum of mercury is released in Portovelo-Zaruma, from which 70% is evaporated and 30% is released with tailings. Mercury-contaminated tailings are leached with cyanide in agitated tanks. A large majority of the processing centers dispose the final tailings with mercury and cyanide into the Calera River and Amarillo River. Mercury dissolved with cyanide likely becomes more bioavailable than metallic mercury. A campaign for reducing mercury emissions must focus on the use of individual retorts – mercury pollution control devices – and the elimination of whole ore amalgamation.     

Reducing mercury pollution from artisanal gold mining in Munhena,Mozambique

Artisanal small-scale mining (ASM) is responsible for over 90% of gold production in Mozambique. In 2005, a 15-day pilot training project was held in the village of Munhena, a gold mining community. This intervention aimed at raising awareness related to the environmental and health impacts of mercury amalgamation and introduced alternative practices to reduce mercury release and exposure. In 2007, a 9-day evaluation of the pilot campaign was accomplished and knowledge in regards to mining methods, and the ASM government–community operating relations in Munhena were updated. Miners in Munhena are organized in an association of over 3000 members, work on a 25 year Government granted 143 ha concession and generate a substantial income (producing over 5 kg of gold per month). There remain, however, serious barriers towards sustainable community development. ASM associated environmental and health costs are high, as mercury continues to be used and lost to the environment, and cyanide will be introduced soon. The Government of Mozambique has laid the foundation for supporting this sector; however, resources are limited, and thus restrict ability to fully address these issues. Importantly, malaria and HIV/AIDS are not diagnosed and/or treated effectively within the community, and basic necessities are absent. This paper concludes with recommendations focused on enhancing the ASM sector in Mozambique, and overcoming barriers to sustainability in the community of Munhena.     

Mercury consumption and contamination of environment in gold mining in China

1　ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＴｈｅｇｏｌｄｉｎｄｕｓｔｒｙｉｎＣｈｉｎａｇｒｏｗｓｕｐｑｕｉｃｋｌｙｗｉｔｈｔｈｅｇｒｏｗｔｈｒａｔｅｏｆａｂｏｕｔ 10 %ｓｉｎｃｅ 90’ｓ.Ｉｎ 1995,ｔｈｅｐｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎｏｆｇｏｌｄｗａｓｏｖｅｒ10 0ｔｏｎｓ/ａ,ａｎｄｉｎ 1996ｒｅａｃｈｅｄ 12 0ｔｏｎｓ/ａ .Ｉｔｉｓｒａｎｋｅｄｓｉｘｔｈｉｎｔｈｅｗｏｒｌｄ(Ｃｈａｎｇ ,1995) .Ｔｈｅｉｒｍａｉｎｐｒｏｃｅｄｕｒｅｓｏｆｇｏｌｄｅｘｔｒａｃｔｉｏｎａｒｅ :(1)ｃｙａｎｉｚａｔｉｏｎｉｎｔｏｔａｌｏｒｅ ｃａｒｂｏ…     

汞的环境地球化学研究进展

介绍了目前对环境样品中总汞及其各形态未的分析方法以及大气和水生生态系统中汞的研究进展，并指出，燃煤、汞齐法采金和人造水库等引起的环境汞污染问题以及汞在热带地区水生生态系统中的迁移转化规律等是目前的研究热点。     

世界汞矿地区汞污染研究进展

汞是一种人体非必需的有毒重金属元素。近年来,随着全球环境的不断恶化以及人们对汞的毒性的深入认识,世界上不同国家和地区的大型汞矿陆续停产、闭坑。但是,长期的汞矿山开采和冶炼活动,改变和破坏了矿区地表生态系统,对矿区的生态环境造成了严重的汞污染。本文综述了世界范围的汞矿分布和开采冶炼历史以及汞矿开采冶炼的环境影响,主要表现为固体废弃物的排放、水体汞污染、大气汞污染及汞矿活动的大气汞排放、土壤汞污染和食物汞污染。     

Strategies for reducing the environmental impact of reprocessing mercury-contaminated tailings in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector: insights from Tapajos River Basin,Brazil

Worldwide, the environmental impacts of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) are extensive. Annual losses from mercury, which is used to amalgamate gold, are in the range of 1000 tonnes, and at advanced sites, there is the additional threat of cyanide contamination.Recent developments in The Brazilian Amazon, an area populated by 200,000 small-scale gold miners, have the potential to reduce these impacts considerably. In the locality of Garimpo Ouro Roxo, miners are presently using amalgamation and cyanidation in vat-leaching. Each cycle typically recovers 50% of the gold and lasts 20 days (per tank), consuming around 3300 kg NaCN/month. A new process has been developed and implemented in a pilot plant in this area, involving gravity concentration followed by cyanidation in a ball mill. Concentrate leaching is conducted with a PVC capsule filled with activated carbon inserted in the cyanide solution in the mill. The cycle takes less than 24 h and recovers up to 98% of the gold in the concentrate. The main advantages of wide adoption of this method, apart from a reduced gold recovery cycle and improved recovery, include possible phase out of amalgamation altogether, and marked reductions in cyanide consumption (from current 22,000 kg–980 kg annually).     

国内外汞污染分布状况研究综述

汞污染在世界各地分布较广,美洲、欧洲、亚洲和非洲都出现了汞污染问题,甚至人迹稀少的北极也在受到汞污染的威胁。我国的汞污染主要集中于贵州、吉林、陕西、湖北、辽宁和重庆等地。目前国内外有关环境汞污染的研究主要是针对氯碱生产、金矿开采、燃煤电厂等汞污染源开展的,实际上汞污染源类型很多,因此环境汞污染状况十分令人堪忧。我国汞污染研究基本处于刚刚起步阶段,严重滞后于国际环境形势发展需要,今后除了应加强基础研究工作,还要对重要汞污染地区污染状况、机制、环境效应开展研究,以全面掌握我国汞污染的来源、汞污染源分布以及环境汞污染现状。     

Small-scale mining and cleaner production issues in Zambia

Small-scale mining (SSM) has had unprecedented growth in Zambia during the past decade. The sector now produces a variety of commodities, especially gemstones, building and industrial minerals. From a structural and technical perspective, SSM is conducted on a very rudimentary level using basic tools such as picks and shovel, and occasionally, mechanized equipment. The environmental degradation caused by SSM is also growing with the intensification of activities in the country. Meanwhile, institutions responsible for managing the environment are unable to effectively carry out regulatory and monitoring mandates due to inadequate resources. Although current legislation appears to be adequate in many respects, time has now come to amend the Mines and Minerals Act (1995) so that it becomes mandatory for all mining activities, including small-scale mines, to submit environmental impact assessment reports before a license to mine or explore can be granted. Strategies to eliminate illegal mining, enhancement of miners’ technical skills, and mine responsibly must also be placed high on the agenda. This paper focuses on the major issues affecting cleaner production in the Zambian SSM sector including, environmental complications, pertinent mining environmental legislation, and the institutions involved. It concludes by suggesting possible interventions to minimize environmental impacts in the sector.     

汞矿山废弃地土壤汞污染研究

中国是世界上第3大产汞国,而主要的供应源是汞开采,尽管多数矿山开采活动已经关闭,但大规模遗留下来的矿山废弃地会引发许多生态环境问题,尤其是矿山废弃地土壤中汞污染已经成为严重的环境问题之一.文章通过对矿山废弃地的环境污染特征、土壤汞污染途径、迁移方式进行系统综述,介绍了土壤汞污染修复技术,并在此基础上提出了存在的问题以及有待进一步研究的方向.     

不同污染类型沉积物中汞的形态分布

采用连续化学浸提法技术对不同污染类型沉积物中的汞形态进行分析,结果表明,化工汞污染类型河流沉积物中汞形态的分布规律基本一致,强有机质结合态占总汞的比例比较大,其次为碱溶态;万山汞矿区残渣态汞所占比例最高;锌冶炼汞污染沉积物碱溶态所占的比例较高。由此可见,不同排放源对汞形态影响比较大。     

Trends in the small-scale mining of precious minerals in Ghana: a perspective on its environmental impact

Small-scale mining in Ghana is defined to include both the exploitation of mineral deposits (1) using fairly rudimentary implements and/or (2) at low levels of production with minimal capital investment. While the large-scale mining—of particularly gold—has become predominant, small-scale mining, which predates such operations, has continued to be an important economic activity, particularly within the remote and poorer areas of the country. The environmental impacts of such small operations have, however, varied, depending on methods and the scale of operation. The factors that have contributed to aggravating these environmental impacts are economic, technical, legal, and operational in nature. Although mitigation efforts have had a limited impact, it is expected that the measures now being considered for adoption will improve the efficacy of the Government of Ghana’s drive towards improving environmental management in resident small-scale precious metal mining operations.This paper examines the environmental impacts of small-scale mining in Ghana—with particular emphasis on precious minerals and metals extraction—and outlines a series of initiatives for improving environmental performance in the industry.     

Application of sustainable development concepts to an alluvial mineral extraction project in Lower Caroni River,Venezuela

The Caroni River, a tributary of the Orinoco River in the State of Bolivar, Venezuela, has been subjected to mining since the end of the last century. Until the 1990s, hundreds of artisanal miners operated along a 70 km stretch of the river using rudimentary suction dredges to extract gold and diamonds from sediments. Although artisanal miners created considerable wealth along the river, the local community has also been negatively impacted by the social and environmental effects that characterize this sector. The flooding of many parts of the Lower Caroni River, in conjunction with the development of a large hydroelectric-power complex, changed the conditions for dredging operations.A Canada-based company is proposing to open the recently-created hydro-electrical lakes to a Mineral Dredging Project. The early forecasting of potential socioeconomic and environmental impacts would be a valuable tool to build a sustainable business case that facilitates the integration of the project into a sensitive environment. These strategies, currently used in other economic sectors, would contribute to the identification of opportunities to negotiate mutually beneficial agreements with stakeholders of the Project, and reduce the risk of conflict, in this particular case, with the hydroelectric company (EDELCA), former small-scale miners and other stakeholders.This paper, based on the pre-feasibility study of the Project, assesses the applicability of such tools to the mineral dredging and to junior mining company projects in general.     

Overcoming environmental problems in the gold panning sector through legislation and education: the Zimbabwean experience

Although small-scale mining is often associated with ruinous effects on the natural environment, Zimbabwe’s experience in gold panning demonstrates that though that may be true, the sector, can, through appropriate measures, be encouraged or enticed to develop environmentally friendly methods for gold mining and recovery. A combination of legislation, education, and the promotion of appropriate technology has enhanced the environmental management within the ever-growing gold panning community in Zimbabwe. This paper evaluates the success of attempts to minimise the environmental impacts of gold panning in Zimbabwe through legislation, education and the promotion of appropriate technology.     

环境中汞的污染状况及监测

本文主要介绍环境中汞污染的来源；汞及其化合物的毒性，并且着重说明甲基汞对人类健康的损害状况；同时也介绍对环境中的无机汞和有机汞的监测分析方法，其中几种比较常用的甲基汞的分析方法。     

Improving the environmental management of small-scale gold mining in Ghana: a case study of Dumasi

In April 2000, a UNIDO study was carried out in Dumasi, Ghana, the purpose of which was to determine the environmental impacts of mercury prior to the introduction of (mercury) retorts. The sampling program was intended to identify mercury transfers to rivers, soil systems and groundwater. Results show a diffuse contamination of all environmental media in the village. Although there is no evidence of groundwater contamination, sediments are significantly contaminated, and most fish fillets have mercury contents exceeding the United States Food and Drug Agency (US-FDA) action level, and are therefore unfit for human consumption. Mercury losses mainly occur during amalgamation, and have resulted in widespread pollution of soils and sediments throughout the village. Transparent retorts have been introduced and environmental training is ongoing but these efforts have only partially addressed the mercury problem in Dumasi.     

北京市平谷区金矿区周边土壤砷、汞赋存形态特征及生态风险评价

以北京市平谷区金矿区周边土壤为研究对象,采集40个表层（0~20 cm）土壤样品,测定土壤中As、Hg总量及其各赋存形态含量,并采用基于重金属形态的次生相原生相分布比值法（ratio of secondary phase to primary phase,RSP）和风险评价编码法（risk assessment code,RAC）对土壤中As、Hg污染程度及生态风险进行评价。结果表明:各采样区土壤中As、Hg总量均超出北京市土壤背景值,分别超出3.94~13.24,11~41.33倍;土壤中As、Hg主要以残渣态存在,除残渣态外,As主要以铁锰氧化态存在,开采沟和尾矿库土壤中Hg主要以碳酸盐结合态存在,开采沟下游和尾矿库外土壤中Hg则主要以强有机态存在;污染程度和生态风险评价结果显示,开采沟及下游土壤As、Hg污染程度较低,研究区土壤中As、Hg整体表现较低风险,在开采沟、YZ尾矿库和JHH尾矿库存在Hg的高风险和极高风险点位,应予以重视。研究结果为治理金矿区周边土壤As、Hg污染提供参考。