Quicksilver for Quick Gold

The quickest, cheapest, and easiest method for extracting gold from ore is to mix crushed ore with mercury. The chemical adheres to the gold, forming an amalgam, which is then burned over a blowtorch or open fire to vaporize the mercury and isolate the gold. Women are generally responsible for this task because it requires more skill than strength; they breathe in the vapor, which infiltrates their reproductive systems. Once released into the atmosphere, mercury is carried throughout the world by wind and is deposited into waterways, where it bioaccumulates in fish (some of which end up in American markets). ASGM releases up to 1,000 tons of mercury every year, and once it is released, it remains in the environment for 2,000 years. Most miners have no concept of the damage they are inflicting on themselves and the ecosystem.
http://www.bu.edu/cas/magazine/fall13/gold/