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Friday, December 21, 2012

All that glitters can have a foul back side: Mercury and gold mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Most developing countries where gold is mined apply the method of mining gold by using mercury. Approximately 15 million people in 55 separate countries work as small-scale gold miners, and circa 80 to 100 million people depend on the incomes from this industry.(26) Gold is a much sought after metal and it exists in plentiful amounts in the DRC. Supposedly, this is a welcome contribution to one of the world’s most deprived countries. The soaring gold prices could be an advantage for the people who are working in the industry in the DRC, as well as the people who rely on the incomes from this sector.
http://www.consultancyafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1174:all-that-glitters-can-have-a-foul-back-side-mercury-and-gold-mining-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo&catid=92:enviro-africa&Itemid=297

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