Gold Prospectors Raise Stakes In Egypt

While the cyanide solution used in the heap-leach process degrades rapidly in sunlight and is poorly absorbed by soil, its deadly derivatives readily enter the atmosphere and poison groundwater. This is less of a concern at the Sukari Hill and Hamash gold concessions, which are located far from populated areas and freshwater sources, says Sharaky, “but the situation in Wadi Allaqi is very different because the mining operations will be in an [intermittent watercourse] that empties into Lake Nasser.”
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