Bellavista is an open-pit gold mine, and uses a method known as "cyanide heap-leaching" -- in which huge piles of crushed ore are soaked with cyanide solution to extract gold. According to Glencairn, heavy rainfall in May led to significant earth movements that disturbed these massive heaps of cyanide-tainted wastes as well as other waste rock piles at the mine. Experts familiar with the mine fear that such conditions could lead to pollution of water and soil with cyanide and other contaminants due to a rupture in the leach-pad lining. Glencairn has said that it first noticed cracks in two corners of the leach pad in May, but the company continued to operate the mine and apply cyanide until July 25.
http://www.earthworksaction.org/media/detail/costa_rican_gold_mine_suspended_due_to_pollution_risks?PR_Bellavista.cfm
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