The process of artisan gold mining is in itself a disaster in waiting, the locals use mercury which they mix with water and powdered stones and stir it to the consistency of porridge before washing off the mercury to their farmyards.
The mercury clot with the gold particles and sinks to the bottom of the basin, as the villagers gently pour out excess water until only the mercury and gold remain.
This they sieve and the mercury is squeezed out with the gold remaining in the cloth oblivious of the danger of touching the chemical with bare hands.
http://www.coastweek.com/3550_33.htm“Who cares about the risk of touching mercury so long as he gets food on the table, there’s a saying here that if you want to get rich, go look for gold. If you want to get poor, go look for gold. And if you want to die, go look for gold; either you get rich or die trying,” John Odhiambo, one of the gold diggers told Xinhua on Wednesday.
No comments:
Post a Comment