Total mercury loadings in sediment from gold mining and conservation areas in Guyana

Abstract

The Low Carbon Development Strategy proposed in June 2009 by the government of Guyana in response to the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries program has triggered evaluation of forest-related activities, thereby acting as a catalyst for improvements in Guyana's small- to medium-scale gold mining industry. This has also shed light on areas committed to conservation, something that has also been handled by Non Governmental Organizations. This paper compares water quality and mercury concentrations in sediment from four main areas in Guyana, two that are heavily mined for gold using mercury amalgamation methods (Arakaka and Mahdia) and two that are considered conservation areas (Iwokrama and Konashen). Fifty-three sediment and soil mercury loadings ranged from 29 to 1,200 ng/g and averaged 215 ± 187 ng/g for all sites with similar averages in conservation and mining areas. Sediment loadings are within the range seen in French Guiana and Suriname, but conservation area samples had higher loadings than the corresponding uncontaminated baselines. Type of ore and location in the mining process seemed to influence mercury loadings. Mercury sediment loadings were slightly positively correlated with pH (correlation coefficient = 0.2; p value < 0.001) whereas no significant correlations were found with dissolved oxygen or turbidity.

Designing protected area networks that translate international conservation commitments into national action

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Water Quality and Hispathology of Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus Bloch) at Cempaka Mining, South Kalimantan, Indonesia

“…Land opening in public area or conservation area threatens the biodiversity. The rehabilitation takes very long time (Howard, et al, 2011;Hammond, et al, 2007;Hilson & Vieira, 2007; Paterson & Heemskerk, 2001).…”

“…Land opening in public area or conservation area threatens the biodiversity. The rehabilitation takes very long time (Howard, et al, 2011;Hammond, et al, 2007;Hilson & Vieira, 2007; Paterson & Heemskerk, 2001).The mining process begins by digging hole which later turns into a lagoon mining pit. When it rains, the water will overflow and enter the lower area, enter the lagoon and swamp around the area.…”

Exploring the Expanding Impact of a Sustainable Development Engineering Course Through a Critical Evolutionary Review

“…The professor who taught the course from 2009-2013 has conducted extensive research in Bolivia and has directed graduate students who performed research in over 24 countries 21 . The professor who taught the course in 2014 has taught courses with associated field experience in Guyana and Barbados, and has research partnerships in Guyana, Barbados, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago 22,23 . The international experience of the professors has been increasingly complemented through the use of graduate student instructors, all of whom have shared knowledge of the business and engineering cultures of counterpart countries based on previous experiences in the Peace Corps or other international development opportunities in the following countries: Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Madagascar, Mali, Mexico, Panama, and Uganda.…”