Small Scale Gold Mining And Heavy Metal Pollution: Assessment of Drinking Water Sources In Datuku In The Talensi-Nabdam District.

With regards to gold mining in Datuku in the
Upper East region of Ghana, gold bearing ore is ground
thoroughly and mixed with mercury to form an amalgam. The
gold amalgam is roasted to release mercury and to
concentrate the gold. Excess mercury in the mine tailings is
discarded onto the environment which ends up in water bodies
through run off. Methylmercury in water and mercury oxides in
air that result from gold amalgam finds itself in humans
through inhalation or ingestion of water or mercurycontaminated fish or food [12]. Weathering of rocks and
heaped waste materials in mining sites also result in the
release of toxic chemicals into the environment especially, into
aquatic bodies [3]
http://www.ijstr.org/final-print/jan2013/Small-Scale-Gold-Mining-And-Heavy-Metal-Pollution-Assessment-Of-Drinking-Water-Sources-In-Datuku-In-The-Talensi-nabdam-District..pdf