the ore through a technique called “heap leaching.” The ore containing the
gold is crushed, piled into heaps, and sprayed with a solution containing
cyanide, which trickles down through the ore and bonds with the gold. The
resulting gold-cyanide solution is collected at the base of the heap and
pumped to a mill, where the gold and cyanide are chemically separated. The
cyanide is then stored in artificial ponds for reuse. Each bout of leaching
takes a few months, after which the heaps receive a layer of fresh ore. Given
the scale and duration of these operations, contamination of the surrounding
environment with cyanide is almost inevitable. To dispose of the leftover ore
(tailings) contaminated with cyanide and other toxins, a dam is constructed
which allows percolation of these toxins into the groundwater. These dams
are also often structurally unsound.ORAmalgamation is a commonly used gold extraction process that unleashes
widespread mercury contamination and poisons local ecosystems. Mercury is
first brought into contact with gold, resulting in a solution of gold in mercury
called an amalgam. After the mercury has gathered in the gold it can be
removed by dissolving it in nitric acid or by evaporating it with heat, leaving
the gold behind. Vast quantities of mercury vapor are released into the
environment during this process. Mercury vapor has serious health
consequences for both animals and humans. The amount of mercury vapor
released by mining activities has been proven to damage the kidneys, liver,
brain, heart, lungs, colon, and immune system. Chronic exposure to mercury
may result in fatigue, weight loss, tremors, and behavioral and personality
shifts.Question