Mercury contamination from artisanal gold mining in Antioquia, Colombia: The world's highest per capita mercury pollution

Cordy, Paul; Veiga, Marcello M.; Salih, Ibrahim; Al-Saadi, Sari; Console, Stephanie; García, Oseas; Mesa, Luis Alberto; Velásquez-López, Patricio C.; Roeser, Monika

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.09.006

Cited by 263 publications

(149 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…mgestlOn -RjDRjD Cordy et al, 2011), the annual Hg emissions/releases from ASGM in Colombia are approximately 75 tons for a gold output of 35 tons. Very often, Hg amalgamation is carried out on site by unprotected workers.…”

Section: Populatíon-related Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Probabilistic meta-analysis of risk from the exposure to Hg in artisanal gold mining communities in Colombia

et al. 2014

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HIGHLIGHTSo Data of Hg in air and in fish across Colombia are evaluated in terms of risk. o Probability distribution functions are fitted to exposure and concentration data. o lnhalation of Hg contributes more to the overall risk than ingestion of fish. o The risk for the residents of mining communities greatly exceeds the threshold of 1. o The risk for miner-smelters is 200 times higher than what is deemed acceptable. A B S T R A C TColombia is one of the largest per capita mercury polluters in the world as a consequence of its artisanal gold mining activities. The severity of this problem in terms of potential health effects was evaluated by means of a probabilistic risk assessment carried out in the twelve departments (or provinces) in Colombia with the largest gold production. The two exposure pathways included in the risk assessment were inhalation of elemental Hg vapors and ingestion of fish contaminated with methyl mercury. Exposure parameters for the adult population (especially rates of fish consumption) were obtained from nation-wide surveys and concentrations of Hg in air and of methyl-mercury in fish were gathered from previous scientific studies. Fish consumption varied between departments and ranged from O to 0.3 kg d 1. Average concentrations oftotal mercury in fish (70 data) ranged from 0.026 to 3.3 I-lg g 1. A total of 550 individual measurements of Hg in workshop air (ranging from

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Section: Populatíon-related Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Probabilistic meta-analysis of risk from the exposure to Hg in artisanal gold mining communities in Colombia

et al. 2014

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“…A nivel mundial este tipo de minería consume cerca de 1000 Ton/año de mercurio, lo cual es más del 30% del mercurio que se consume en el mundo [2]. Las emisiones de mercurio al medio ambiente debido a la minería artesanal de oro tienen graves implicaciones en la salud de las personas y en el medio ambiente; actualmente existen de 10 a 15 millones de mineros artesanales y pequeños mineros dedicados a la extracción del metal precioso en todo el mundo [3].…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

“…La región del nordeste antioqueño, en Colombia, ha sido identificada como la región con la mayor contaminación de mercurio del mundo, asociando esta contaminación con las operaciones artesanales aplicadas a la minería de oro [3].…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

“…La escala de contaminación por mercurio de la zona de estudio es alarmante, pues las actividades mineras se llevan a cabo sin asistencia técnica y de manera rudimentaria. El procesamiento del mineral aurífero de forma artesanal consiste en la adición de mercurio a todo el mineral que contiene el metal precioso y luego la mezcla de mercurio-mineral es reducida de tamaño en pequeños molinos de bolas conocidos como "cocos", este proceso es denominado amalgamación del mineral, pero es sabido que este proceso propicia perdidas de mercurio en relaves y efluentes [3,4]. Se estima que más de 100 toneladas de mercurio al año son emitidas por la minería artesanal de oro en Colombia [4].…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

“…Cordy et.al. en 2011 [3] evaluó la contaminación causada por mercurio en el nordeste antioqueño, encontrando que en esta zona se hallan 17 municipios mineros que tienen entre 15.000 y 30.000 mineros artesanales de oro, donde en el procesamiento de oro artesanal, las amalgamas de mercurio-oro son quemadas sin ningún tipo de control; se detectó que el 59% del mercurio agregado en el proceso se pierde en el ambiente, el 46% en relaves que contaminan las fuentes hídricas y el 4% en forma de vapores cuando la amalgama es quemada.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

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Characterization by QEMSCAN and FE-SEM of ore bodies gold artisanally treated with mercury in Antioquia, Colombia // Caracterización por QEMSCAN y FE-SEM de yacimientos de oro tratados artesanalmente con mercurio en Antioquia, Colombia

2017

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RESUMENEn este trabajo se presenta la caracterización mineralógica de tres yacimientos auríferos ubicados en el nordeste del departamento de Antioquia, Colombia, que actualmente son beneficiados con mercurio. A tres yacimientos de oro se le realizaron cinco pruebas: determinación de especies minerales y análisis de imágenes en falso color por QEMSCAN®; identificación y cuantificación de oro por FE-SEM; análisis al fuego y pruebas de cianuración. Los resultados por QEMSCAN mostraron que los yacimientos en estudio están formados principalmente por cuarzo, feldespato potásico, moscovita y pirita. Los resultados por FE-SEM arrojaron que el oro se encuentra principalmente como nódulos nanoscópicos esparcidos en la moscovita y el cuarzo. Otra cantidad de oro se encuentra en forma de electrum. El ensayo al fuego entregó que la cantidad de oro estaba entre 1 y 34 g/t y las pruebas de cianuración arrojaron que es posible extraer el oro hasta en un 80% solamente con molienda y cianuración directa sin ningún otro tratamiento. Estos resultados pueden ser la base para una propuesta con métodos metalúrgicos alternativos que permitan la extracción del oro sin la utilización de mercurio.Palabras clave: Caracterización mineralógica; Yacimientos; Oro; Mercurio; QEMSCAN; FE-SEM. ABSTRACTThis work presents the mineralogical characterization of three ore bodies gold located in the northeast of the department of Antioquia, Colombia, which are currently benefited with mercury. Five tests were carried out on three gold deposits: determination of mineral species and analysis of false color images by QEMSCAN®; identification and quantification of gold by FE-SEM; fire analysis and cyanidation tests. The results by QEMSCAN showed that the ore bodies are mainly composed of quartz, potassium feldspar, muscovite and pyrite. The results by FE-SEM showed that gold is mainly found as nanoscopic nodules scattered in muscovite and quartz. Another amount of gold is in the form of electrum. The fire assay showed that the amount of gold was between 1 and 34 g/t and the cyanidation tests showed that it is possible to extract the gold up to 80% only with grinding and direct cyanidation without any other treatment. These results can be the basis for a proposal with alternative metallurgical methods that allow the extraction of gold without the use of mercury.

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The Mercury Problem in Artisanal and Small‐Scale Gold Mining

Esdaile

Chalker

2018

Chemistry A European J

333

177

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Mercury‐dependent artisanal and small‐scale gold mining (ASGM) is the largest source of mercury pollution on Earth. In this practice, elemental mercury is used to extract gold from ore as an amalgam. The amalgam is typically isolated by hand and then heated—often with a torch or over a stove—to distill the mercury and isolate the gold. Mercury release from tailings and vaporized mercury exceed 1000 tonnes each year from ASGM. The health effects on the miners are dire, with inhaled mercury leading to neurological damage and other health issues. The communities near these mines are also affected due to mercury contamination of water and soil and subsequent accumulation in food staples, such as fish—a major source of dietary protein in many ASGM regions. The risks to children are also substantial, with mercury emissions from ASGM resulting in both physical and mental disabilities and compromised development. Between 10 and 19 million people use mercury to mine for gold in more than 70 countries, making mercury pollution from ASGM a global issue. With the Minamata Convention on Mercury entering force this year, there is political motivation to help overcome the problem of mercury in ASGM. In this effort, chemists can play a central role. Here, the problem of mercury in ASGM is reviewed with a discussion on how the chemistry community can contribute solutions. Introducing portable and low‐cost mercury sensors, inexpensive and scalable remediation technologies, novel methods to prevent mercury uptake in fish and food crops, and efficient and easy‐to‐use mercury‐free mining techniques are all ways in which the chemistry community can help. To meet these challenges, it is critical that new technologies or techniques are low‐cost and adaptable to the remote and under‐resourced areas in which ASGM is most common. The problem of mercury pollution in ASGM is inherently a chemistry problem. We therefore encourage the chemistry community to consider and address this issue that affects the health of millions of people.

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Mercury contamination from artisanal gold mining in Antioquia, Colombia: The world's highest per capita mercury pollution

Cited by 263 publications

References 17 publications

Probabilistic meta-analysis of risk from the exposure to Hg in artisanal gold mining communities in Colombia

Probabilistic meta-analysis of risk from the exposure to Hg in artisanal gold mining communities in Colombia

Characterization by QEMSCAN and FE-SEM of ore bodies gold artisanally treated with mercury in Antioquia, Colombia // Caracterización por QEMSCAN y FE-SEM de yacimientos de oro tratados artesanalmente con mercurio en Antioquia, Colombia

The Mercury Problem in Artisanal and Small‐Scale Gold Mining

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