Mercury in soils impacted by alluvial gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon

Ramírez, Manuel Gabriel Velásquez; Ruiz, Claudia Maribel Vega; Corvera-Gomringer, Ronald; Pillaca, Martin; Thomas, Evert; Stewart, Paul M.; Miranda, Luis Alfredo Gamarra; Dañobeytia, Francisco Roman; Barrantes, Juan Antonio Guerrero; Gushiken, Midori Chinen; Bardales, Joel Vásquez; Silman, Miles R.; Fernandez, Luis E.; Ascorra, César; Torres, Dennis Del Castillo

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112364

Cited by 24 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…However, government support for these measures is critical, as has been proposed in Nigeria, especially in providing new job alternatives that can replace gold mining activities [23]. Since these villages are located near state forests, the government can introduce a social forestry management system as an alternative source of income based on economic and ecological viability [24], [25].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of Mercury Emissions in Soot with the Quadrant Method on Combustion of Gold in Aceh Jaya District

Lensoni

Adlim²,

Kamil³

et al. 2023

Open Access Maced J Med Sci

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BACKGROUND: Gold mining, especially by the community, causes many problems. One of the problems is the increase in mercury pollution. The amalgamation technique involving mercury in the gold processing process is still widely used by miners and has the potential to threaten the health of workers and the surrounding community. AIM: This study aimed to identify mercury levels in soot at the location of a traditional gold processing plant in Paya Seumantok Village, Krueng Sabee District, Aceh Jaya District. METHODS: This research was conducted at the Environmental Quality Analysis laboratory, Chemical Engineering Department, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, in May–August 2021. The sample in this study was soot caught on cloth attached to the gold kiln location by amalgamation using the quadrant method. The soot sample was obtained from the people’s gold processing unit in Gampong Paya Seumantok, Krueng Seabee District; then, the fabric sample containing soot was destroyed using HNO3 in the microwave. Measurement of mercury levels, using AAS Perkin-Elmer Analyst 600, equipped with Graphite Furnace (AAS) Technique. RESULTS: The results of the identification show that the mercury level in the first stage of measurement found the highest mercury concentration at a distance of 10 cm with a concentration of 41.90 (±21.64) g-Hg/g, a distance of 5 cm was obtained at 28.71 (±11. 0.98) g-Hg/g, and at a distance of 15 cm obtained 28.20 (±2.85) g-Hg/g. Furthermore, in the measurement of samples in stages 2 and 3, the mercury concentration in soot is influenced by distance, where the closer the distance, the higher the mercury concentration. Stage 2 measurement at a distance of 5 cm, the mercury concentration obtained is 26.84 (±21.05) g-Hg/g, a distance of 10 and 15 cm each has a concentration of 9.25 (±1.26) g-Hg/g and 9.91 (±3.59) g-Hg/g, and in the third stage of the test, the highest concentration located at a distance of 5 cm with a concentration of 20.27 (±3.57) g-Hg/g. CONCLUSION: The average value of mercury concentration in soot obtained far exceeds the threshold set by the World Health Organization, which is 1 g-Hg/gram. Mercury levels that have exceeded the threshold need to be filtered in an enclosed space before the smoke from burning gold spreads into the free air.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of Mercury Emissions in Soot with the Quadrant Method on Combustion of Gold in Aceh Jaya District

Lensoni

Adlim²,

Kamil³

et al. 2023

Open Access Maced J Med Sci

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“…The ASGM activities in Jambi spread at Sarolangun, Bungo dan Tebo Regencies. The ASGM high activities caused a decrease in environmental quality (Velásquez Ramírez et al, 2021). Based on the observations, it was found that there was a decrease in Batanghari River water quality of Jambi Province.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Impact of illegal gold mining in Jambi, Indonesia

Wibowo

Ramadan

Maryani

et al. 2022

IMJ

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Illegal gold mining caused various environmental damages in the world. Indonesia is one of the countries with abundant mineral reserves, especially Jambi Province. Jambi has much of natural resources, such as coal and gold. Unfortunately, the management of these natural resources has not been appropriately managed, which has resulted in much illegal gold mining. Illegal mining activities have caused environmental damage, mainly decreased water quality and changed landscapes. This paper explains the illegal mining activities at Jambi Province, including its history, socio-economic and environmental impacts, as well as recent technologies to reduce the environmental damage. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used in this research, including interviews, questionnaires, and laboratory measurements. The results showed that the people of Sarolangun, Bungo, and Tebo were aware that their illegal gold mining activities caused environmental damage. However, economic conditions and insufficient employment opportunities made unlawful gold miners have no other choice. Illegal gold mining activities have also shifted people's livelihoods who previously worked as farmers.

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“…When dredging, gold-containing soils are pumped from deep pits (up to 10 m) to a sluice box to collect the gold particles [41] (Figure 1C). In highly mechanized mining the gold particles are extracted by excavation using heavy machinery such as front loaders, excavators, and dump trucks for sediment transportation to a sluice box [53,54] (Figure 1C). For this reason, heavy machinery mining causes more deforestation and environmental damage than suction pumping [52].…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Resilience of Aboveground Biomass of Secondary Forests Following the Abandonment of Gold Mining Activity in the Southeastern Peruvian Amazon

Garate-Quispe,

Herrera-Machaca,

Pareja Auquipata

et al. 2024

Diversity

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Amazon rainforests are critical for providing a wide range of ecosystem services. In the Southeastern Peruvian Amazon; however, goldmining activities are causing severe soil degradation and forest loss. We analyzed aboveground biomass (AGB), forest structure, and species diversity recovery during secondary succession in 179 forest plots. Our study provides the first field-based quantification of AGB recovery following the abandonment by two types of goldmining (heavy machinery and suction pumping) in Madre de Dios (Peru). We found that successional secondary forests in areas subjected to suction pumping were more resilient than those in areas subjected to heavy machinery. After 20 years, mean AGB in suction pumping mining areas had reached 56% of reference forest AGB, while in areas of heavy machinery mining it was only 18%. Mining type, stand age, and distance from the forest edge had a significant effect on AGB. The influence of the distance from the forest edge on AGB varies according to mining type because the effects of species diversity on AGB are mediated by the distance from the forest edge. Our results clearly showed the dynamics of AGB recovery across a secondary succession after goldmining, and the contrasting responses of AGB between the two mining types. Our study disentangles the importance of key factors in forest recovery after mining and improves understanding of the resilience of biomass accumulation in these highly degraded ecosystems.

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Mercury in soils impacted by alluvial gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon

Cited by 24 publications

References 37 publications

Identification of Mercury Emissions in Soot with the Quadrant Method on Combustion of Gold in Aceh Jaya District

Identification of Mercury Emissions in Soot with the Quadrant Method on Combustion of Gold in Aceh Jaya District

Impact of illegal gold mining in Jambi, Indonesia

Resilience of Aboveground Biomass of Secondary Forests Following the Abandonment of Gold Mining Activity in the Southeastern Peruvian Amazon

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