A systematic review on the management and treatment of mercury in artisanal gold mining

Zolnikov, Tara Rava; Ramirez-Ortiz, Daisy

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.241

Cited by 54 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 35 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…One of the methods used by the miners is gold recovery using borax [22,[67][68][69][70]. The health risks associated with the use of borax for gold recovery are very limited; only irritation to the eyes, throat, nose, and skin is caused by the dust produced [71].…”

Section: Clean Processing Methods For Gold Artisanal Miningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A sustainable mine operation should be safe, economically profitable, efficiently use mineral resources and be environmentally clean [17]. Abundant scientific literature exists regarding the high environmental impacts produced by the artisanal gold mining worldwide [18][19][20][21][22][23]. However, another problem that greatly limits the sustainability of gold artisanal mining is the low productivity [24], mainly due to the low gold recovery after ore beneficiation that usually accompanies artisanal mining activities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Importance of Mineralogical Knowledge in the Sustainability of Artisanal Gold Mining: A Mid-South Peru Case

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mineralogy and gold processing techniques from several mining areas of the Nazca-Ocoña gold belt, Mid-South Peru, were investigated to assess the efficiency of gold extraction methods in relation to their mineralogy. The deposits from this belt are intrusion gold related to mineralization in quartz veins. Native gold occurs as micrometric grains encapsulated in pyrite and in minor amounts in other sulfides and quartz. Electrum is found mainly in fractures of pyrite and attains up to 35 wt. % Ag. In addition to these occurrences, gold tellurides also occur and they are abundant in San Luis. Gold processing is carried out by amalgamation with mercury and/or cyanidation. The comparison of the gold grade in the mineralizations and in the residual tailings indicates that a significant amount of gold is not recovered using the mercury amalgamation process and also, in the case of the gold recovery by cyanidation, except when cement was added to the cyanide solution. This was due to an increase in the pH that favours the dissolution of the gold matrix. In the cyanidation process carried out in tailings previously treated with mercury, part of the mercury retained in them is released to the atmosphere or to the cyanidation fluids.

show abstract

Section: Clean Processing Methods For Gold Artisanal Miningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of Mineralogical Knowledge in the Sustainability of Artisanal Gold Mining: A Mid-South Peru Case

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…As a result, the standard electrode potential of Au(I) (E 0 Au(I)/Au : 1.83 V) is larger than that of H 2 O 2 (E 0 H2O2/H2O : 1.77 V), favoring the reduction at the solid–liquid interface to form AuNPs in the presence of HCl [ 33 ]. When Hg(II) ions were pre-mixed with H-AuNSs, the formation of a AuHg amalgam occurred [ 34 , 35 ] and reduced the H-AuNSs surface area for adsorption of Au(III) on the gold surface. The un-reacted H-AuNSs and the AuHg amalgam acted as seeds for the growth of AuNPs in the HCl/Au(III)/H 2 O 2 solution.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Label-Free Colorimetric Detection of Mercury (II) Ions Based on Gold Nanocatalysis

Yang

Lin

2018

Sensors

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Herein, a label-free colorimetric nanosensor for Hg(II) is developed utilizing the hindering effect of Hg(II) on the kinetic aspect of gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) growth on the surface of gold nanostars (AuNSs). H-AuNS probes are synthesized and modified by 2-[4-(2-hydroxyethel) piperazine-1-yl] ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES). After the formulation of the reagents and testing conditions are optimized, HEPES-capped AuNSs (H-AuNSs) demonstrates good selectivity and sensitivity towards Hg(II) determination. A H-AuNS probe, in the presence of HCl/Au(III)/H2O2, is capable of detecting a Hg(II) concentration range of 1.0 nM–100 µM, with a detection limit of 0.7 nM, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3.0, and a visual detection limit of 10 nM with naked eyes. For practicality, the H-AuNS probe is evaluated by measuring Hg(II) in the environmental water matrices (lake water and seawater) by a standard addition and recovery study. The detection limits for environmental samples are found to be higher than the lab samples, but they are still within the maximum allowable Hg concentration in drinking water (10 nM) set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To create a unique nanosensor, the competitive interaction between Hg(II) and Pt(IV) toward the H-AuNSs probe is developed into a logic gate, improving the specificity in the detection of Hg(II) ions in water samples.

show abstract

“…Therefore, it suited the unskilled workers to reap high levels of income (Betancur-corredor et al 2018). Gold extraction processing had hazardous effects on the human health and environment through its use of mercury (Rava & Ramirez 2018). The present paper investigates the effect of the mercury use in the extraction of gold by traditional gold mining on human health and natural environment in Alebedia area, Berber Locality in the River Nile State.…”

Section: Journal Of Ecological Engineeringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consequences of Mercury Used by Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Processes – A Case of River Nile State Sudan

Ahmed¹,

Purwanto²,

Sunoko³

2019

J. Ecol. Eng.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

On the discovery of gold reserves in 14 states in Sudan, traditional gold mining suddenly started to flourish and hundreds of thousands of laymen became engaged in gold extraction. The new source of revenue generation added much to the empty treasury and the loss in petroleum revenue due to cessation of the south in 2011 could thus be compensated. Since gold extraction by artisanal and small-scale gold mining does not require much finance or advanced technology, it suited unskilled workers and many young people found their way into the new business. Although gold extraction generates high revenues, the use of mercury in gold extraction poses much threat to the environment and general health of miners and the surrounding areas. The research tries to investigate the effects of traditional gold mining in Alebedia area, Berber Locality in the River Nile State. The investigation includes A/ the effects of extraction methods on the environment and general health. B/ the level of education and its distribution within the miners and how it affected the awareness of the miners about the dangers of mining activities. C/ the period of stay that miners spend in the mining area its contribution on the awareness about the dangers and diseases inflicted on the miners, D/ the effects of traditional gold mining activities on natural environmental impacts and E/ the effects of the meteorological and topographical factors, the distribution and concentration of mercury in the area and their effects on the environment and general health. The research adopted the techniques of using random sampling and quantitative qualitative in addition to the analytical techniques. The research finally concluded that traditional gold mining has positive effects on the economic side and negative effects on the environment and general health.

show abstract

A systematic review on the management and treatment of mercury in artisanal gold mining

Cited by 54 publications

References 35 publications

The Importance of Mineralogical Knowledge in the Sustainability of Artisanal Gold Mining: A Mid-South Peru Case

The Importance of Mineralogical Knowledge in the Sustainability of Artisanal Gold Mining: A Mid-South Peru Case

Label-Free Colorimetric Detection of Mercury (II) Ions Based on Gold Nanocatalysis

Consequences of Mercury Used by Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Processes – A Case of River Nile State Sudan

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About