Emissions and environmental implications of mercury from artisanal gold mining in north Sulawesi, Indonesia

Limbong, Daniel; Kumampung, Jeims; Rimper, Joice; Arai, Takaomi; Miyazaki, Nobuyuki

doi:10.1016/s0048-9697(02)00397-2

Cited by 97 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…[27][28][29]. The widely practiced techniques of gold extraction using surficial prospecting methods augmented with highly toxic mercury leads to proximal impacts on the environment, ranging from biodiversity loss to enhanced carbon emissions, as well as distal effects, such as adjacent forest mortality, defaunation, and polluted fisheries.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elevated rates of gold mining in the Amazon revealed through high-resolution monitoring

Asner

Llactayo²,

Tupayachi

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

280

230

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Gold mining has rapidly increased in western Amazonia, but the rates and ecological impacts of mining remain poorly known and potentially underestimated. We combined field surveys, airborne mapping, and high-resolution satellite imaging to assess road-and river-based gold mining in the Madre de Dios region of the Peruvian Amazon from 1999 to 2012. In this period, the geographic extent of gold mining increased 400%. The average annual rate of forest loss as a result of gold mining tripled in 2008 following the global economic recession, closely associated with increased gold prices. Small clandestine operations now comprise more than half of all gold mining activities throughout the region. These rates of gold mining are far higher than previous estimates that were based on traditional satellite mapping techniques. Our results prove that gold mining is growing more rapidly than previously thought, and that high-resolution monitoring approaches are required to accurately quantify human impacts on tropical forests.Carnegie Airborne Observatory | CLASlite | forest degradation | deforestation | Peru

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elevated rates of gold mining in the Amazon revealed through high-resolution monitoring

Asner

Llactayo²,

Tupayachi

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

280

230

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…During the gold purification process, gold particles are separated from river sediments, and are extracted from soil ore by washing and filtering; they are then added to liquid Hg to form an amalgam, which is then fed into a retort or a heated distillation vessel, vaporizing the Hg and leaving the gold [29,30]. Mercury is a critical component of the liquid metal capture process in ASGM; however, some of the Hg is lost during this process [31][32][33] and contaminates animals that are farmed nearby [34,35].…”

Section: Environmental Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury Contamination of Cattle in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Bombana, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

et al. 2017

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Abstract:The industrial mining sector is one of the main contributors to environmental damage and toxic metal pollution, although some contamination originates from natural geological sources. Due to their position at the top of the food chain, cattle tend to bioaccumulate mercury (Hg) in their bodies. We used analyses of cattle hair samples to investigate Hg contamination in cattle farmed within and outside of an artisanal and small-scale gold-mining area in Bombana, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. We also examined the factors that might have influenced the toxicity, such as the environmental conditions, sex, and age of the cattle. A total of 63 hair samples were analyzed by particle-induced X-ray emission spectrometry. The mean Hg concentration was significantly higher in hair from cattle farmed within the artisanal and small-scale gold mining area (11.44 µg/g hair) than in those farmed outside the area (2.89 µg/g hair, p < 0.05). A possible cause of this is contamination by mercury persistent in terrestrial food chain. The results indicates that the level of toxic metals such as Hg need to be controlled in food sources to protect human health, especially in Bombana, Indonesia.

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“…The residual sludge in the form of tailings containing Gold-Hg amalgam was discharged into agriculture land around the mining area (Sanchayaningsih et al, 2009, Utomo et al, 2014, Indraningsih et al, 2016. Generally, the sludge discharged along the rivers and contaminated the water with the hazardous and polluted material (Limbong et al, 2003) whereas farmers used the water for irrigation. The use of mercury as amalgamation material is the most commonly method used by traditional gold miners.…”

Section: Asgm In Relation To Sustainable Agriculturementioning

confidence: 99%

Socio economic impacts and policy of artisanal small-scale gold mining in relation to sustainable agriculture: a case study at Sekotong of West Lombok

Suhartini

Abubakar

2017

J.Degrade.Min.Land Manage.

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Artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM) activities at Sekotong Sub District, West Lombok District, West Nusa Tenggara which use a traditional system have been operating since 2008. The objectives of this study were to analyze the socio-economic impacts of ASGM, to know the policy on ASGM in West Lombok Regency, and to formulate the policy recommendations of sustainable agricultural management which consider the ASGM activities. This study was conducted at Batu Putih and Pelangan villages of the Sekotong sub District which was chosen purposively. The research method was a case study with survey by interviewing 30 farmers with miners that were selected by a simple random sampling and field observation. A policy study was also used by interviewing key informants from many stakeholders. The results showed that ASGM activities at Sekotong improved the income of farmers/miners and created job opportunities. From the average, the ASGM mining contributed 76.01 % of farmers/miners income, while the farming incomes was 23.99 %

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Emissions and environmental implications of mercury from artisanal gold mining in north Sulawesi, Indonesia

Cited by 97 publications

References 4 publications

Elevated rates of gold mining in the Amazon revealed through high-resolution monitoring

Elevated rates of gold mining in the Amazon revealed through high-resolution monitoring

Mercury Contamination of Cattle in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Bombana, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

Socio economic impacts and policy of artisanal small-scale gold mining in relation to sustainable agriculture: a case study at Sekotong of West Lombok

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