The process of removing gold from rock with mercury is fairly simple. Fine pieces of ore bearing rock are mixed with liquid mercury, which separates them. Once the gold has been collected, it’s heated to burn off any residual mercury.
This technique is commonly used by small scale miners, and disposal from the chemicals is rarely ideal. Small milling operations often dump their used mercury directly into fresh water systems. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization estimates that one-third of all mercury pollution is caused by artisanal mining. Each gram of gold requires as much as five grams of mercury to process. To create a typical wedding ring can use anywhere from 56 to 140 grams (5 ounces) of mercury.
Mercury is a neurotoxin that can cause harm to the brain, nervous system, lungs and kidneys. Even in small quantities, it’s most harmful to pregnant women and children. Because in the large amounts of mercury present within the world’s water, many ecosystems experience lower birth rates, in addition to illness and death caused by mercury poisoning.
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