Gold in Guyana

Gold and other minerals have been extracted from Guyana for centuries, leaving behind telltale signs of human impacts from landscape disruptions and chemical pollution.  Of particular concern in today's modern gold rush is mercury.  This liquid metal is used as an amalgam in gold mining.  In professional gold mining operations, the mercury is usually handled carefully to try to avoid environmental contamination.  However, in gold rush conditions when many informal gold mining operations are underway, the mercury use is largely uncontrolled.  Pollution issues occur.
http://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2014/01/gold-in-guyana.html