Gold Mining’s Effect on the Environment

A United Nations Environment Programme Report

Kaylyn Harper
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Table of Contents
Summary ...................................................................................................................... 3
Toxic Waste .............................................................................................................. 3
Mercury ................................................................................................................. 3
Dumping Waste .................................................................................................... 4
Destruction of Ecosystems ................................................................................... 4
Deforestation ....................................................................................................... 4
Solutions....................................................................................................................... 5
Solution Implementation ......................................................................................... 5
Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 5
References.................................................................................................................... 6

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Summary
Throughout history, gold has played an important role in human civilization. For
centuries gold has been used as currency and a common material for the making of
jewelry.

In the past, gold mining, was done by hand using a technique called panning and
another technique that was called rocker. Panning is a technique using a pan to dig
up ground. Typically, panning occurs in creeks and rivers. After miners dig up dirt
with the pan, miners sift through the ground for pieces of gold. A rocker consists of
a box with screens that miners would pour water into which would separate dirt
from gold and rocks (American Bullion).

Today gold is mined using open pit mines, commonly found in the Amazon Rain
Forest. This technique uses mercury and water to separate gold from ore. This
technique of mining is harmful to the surrounding environment.

As world populations rise, the need for gold increases. To keep up with this
increase, companies have resorted to this environmentally disastrous technique for
gold mining. When gold is mined toxic waste is released into the atmosphere, waste
is released into nearby water sources, large amounts of trees are cleared in
rainforests, and animals are chased from their homes.

Problems
Gold mining is one of the main contributors of pollution and demolition of the
amazon rain forest. When gold is mined using un-environmentally safe ways the
impacts are disastrous to the Amazon Rainforest. The main impacts of these
techniques are toxic waste, such as mercury pollution and waste dumping, and the
destruction of ecosystems, such as deforestation and a decrease in wildlife.

Toxic Waste
To keep up with the demand for gold; gold mining companies have instated
techniques that are not good for the environment. From using cyanide and mercury
to separate ore and gold to dumping piles of rocks and dirt in nearby water systems.

Mercury
The process of mining gold releases large amounts of toxic chemicals into the
atmosphere. The most dangerous chemical and most common is mercury.

Mercury is used to separate gold from ore. This process releases mercury into the
atmosphere. Once mercury is released into the atmosphere it contaminates the soil
and water systems nearby. When mercury contaminates water sources it binds with

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other atoms to create a dangerous form of mercury called methylmercury (Chen).
Over 1.5 tons of
mercury is released into the atmosphere each year and over 300 tons of mercury has
been released since the beginning of the century (Endangered). Large amounts of
mercury can destroy nearby ecosystems, contaminate water systems, and decrease
local wildlife.

Dumping Waste
Gold mining negatively impacts the surrounding water
system.
When gold is mined the mercury that is released
contaminates water in the surrounding area. Additionally,
water and mercury are needed to remove gold from ore. As
a result, the water used in this process becomes
contaminated by the mercury used.

During the gold mining process, gold miners dig up large Mercury contaminating a river
amounts of dirt and rock. Gold miners then dump this
waste into nearby water systems. This process future contaminates the water
systems and disrupts the natural flow of the rivers and streams.

Destruction of Ecosystems
Gold mining heavily effects the surrounding ecosystems. Massive amounts of land
in the South American rainforests are torn apart during the gold mining process.
Trees are removed, dirt and soil are ripped from the ground, and animals are
chased away from their homes.

Deforestation
In areas of the South American rainforests, large areas
of land are cleared away for the purpose of mining
gold. Gold mining companies chop down tons of trees
for mining gold without any plan of replantation. A
study found that deforestation rates in Madre de Dios
of the Peruvian Amazon have increased six-fold
because of gold mining (Perlez and Johnson). As a
result, complete deforestation of the South American
Rain Forest could occur in the next twenty years.
Deforestation of the Amazon Rain Forest

Decrease in Wildlife
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In areas where gold is mined, animals are chased away from their homes; due to
contamination or deforestation.

Studies have shown that the nearby animals are exposed to large amounts of
mercury. Mercury can be found in the air that the surrounding animals breathe and
the water that they drink. Large amounts of mercury can cause death, reduced
fertility, slower growth, and development (Endangered Species International)

Solutions
A perfect solution to the environmental issues of gold mining does not exist. Gold is
still an essential part of today’s society; therefore, all gold mining should not be
halted. However, if the amount of mercury released is closely monitored, and dug up
land and trees are replaced, then the environment will not be as impacted by the
mining of gold.

Recently, up to 3 million dollars has been allotted to creating a system of mercury

monitoring laborites in Japan and Asia (Endangered Species International) (United
Nations Environment Programme). However, this is just the beginning, in the
future it would be best if there were laborites near any location of gold mining.

Another solution would be to create laws to regulate how gold is mined and how the
waste should be disposed. Additionally, there should be laws in place to protect the
nearby animals, trees, and water systems from gold mining.

Solution Implementation
The proposed solutions given in the last section would be the first steps of cleaning
up the Amazon. After these regulations are implemented and maintain gold mining
can still exist and the Amazon Rain forest will still be able to thrive. By replacing
what is torn away for gold mining, the Amazon Rain forest will not be decimated
the gold mining process. By monitoring the mercury levels and how mercury is
used, the atmosphere and nearby water system will not be contaminated by
mercury.

Conclusion
The demand for gold is increasing and if action is not taken to decrease the
environmental dangers mercury and cyanide levels will increase to a deadly level,
deforestation of the Amazon Rian Forest, and extinction of wildlife of the amazon
will occur.

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References
American Bullion. "The American History of Gold Mining." n.d. American Bullion
Inc. https://www.americanbullion.com/the-american-history-of-gold-mining/.
19 7 2019.
Bland, Alastair. "The Environmental Disaster That is the Gold Industry." 14 2
2014. Smithsonian. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-
nature/environmental-disaster-gold-industry-180949762/. 16 7 2019.
Brilliant Earth. "GOLD MINING AND THE ENVIRONMENT." n.d. Brilliant
Earth. https://www.brilliantearth.com/gold-mining-environment/. 16 7 2019.
Chen, Sophia. "MERCURY POLLUTION IS WAY UP. ONE HUGE CULPRIT?
GOLD MINES." 18 11 29. Wired. https://www.wired.com/story/mercury-
poisoning-gold-mines/. 17 7 2019.
Endangered Species International. 2015. Endangered Species International.
https://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/news_may15.html. 7 17
2019.
Main, Douglas. "The Surprising Source of Most Mercury Pollution." 26 09 2013. Live
Science. https://www.livescience.com/39982-surprising-mercury-pollution-
sources.html. 17 07 2019.
Perlez, Jane and Kirk Johnson. "Behind Gold's Glitter: Torn Lands and Pointed
Questions." 14 6 2010. NY Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/24/world/behind-golds-glitter-torn-lands-
and-pointed-questions.html. 17 7 2019.
United Nations Environment Programme. "Japan and UN Environment announce
new efforts to prevent mercury tragedy." 9 7 2019. United Nations
Environment Programme. https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-
stories/press-release/japan-and-un-environment-announce-new-efforts-
prevent-mercury. 17 7 2019.