Toxic waste is a devastating consequence of dirty gold mining practices.

Cyanide heap
leaching is the cheapest way to extract gold and as a result, is commonly used around
the world. The process leaves behind mounds of wasted rock and leaking toxic
materials. And because leaching is a time consuming process that takes months,
contamination of the surrounding environment with cyanide is nearly impossible to
control.

Accidents involving cyanide have made the practice of heap leaching even more toxic.
The United Nations Environment Program reports that more than a dozen reservoirs
containing cyanide-laden mine waste collapsed from 1985 to 2000. This has led to
devastating consequences in Romania, Ghana, Peru, Costa Rica, and other countries
scattered around the world..

Cyanide is a rapidly acting and deadly chemical. Exposure to high levels of cyanide
harms the brain and heart, and may cause coma and death. Exposure to lower levels
may result in breathing difficulties, heart pains, vomiting, blood changes, headaches,
and enlargement of the thyroid gland.

Disastrous spills have forced the gold industry to change how it handles cyanide by
setting new standards for transporting and storing the chemical. New industry bodies
have called on companies to submit to inspections. But the cyanide code is voluntary
and not enforced by governments. And cyanide is not the only toxic waste associated
with gold mining: when the rock disturbed by mines is exposed to rain and air for the
first time, the newly exposed rock can contain sulfides that will react with oxygen to
make sulfuric acid. This sulfuric acid also frees heavy metals like cadmium, lead and
mercury, which are harmful to people and fish even at low concentrations.
First of all, gold mines release highly toxic substances that pollutes the water. Gold mines
dispose of highly toxic substances in nearby water resources. These toxic substances
cause crucial effects on these water resources. An article named Poisoned Waters from the
website No Dirty Gold stated “Long term effects include acid mine drainage, which raises
acid levels in rivers and Lakes ( harmful to wildlife and people),”. Cyanide heap leaching is
the most common technique of gold mining, but by using that technique gold mines release
cyanide. Cyanide is a highly toxic material and it poisons and pollutes the water.

Secondly, gold mining causes air pollution. Gold mines produces a lot of dust and toxic
materials that pollutes the air. Borkowski states that the toxic substances which are
contained in the waste that the gold mine produce could pollute the air, soil and water
(2003). And also according to the article Polluted Air, dust and exhaust fumes and the
pollution caused by them...
 Case Study 1: Gold
a) Gold is used as a conductor in electronic devices. It is a very good
conductor for fast, small currents.
b) Dentists use gold for fillings. It is easier to use and doesn’t leave
rust marks on your teeth.
c) Used in crowns for royalty. It shows a sign of importance.
d) It is used in the making of glass, it helps with climate and
temperature control in the room.

Case Study 2: Gold

a) Gold mining releases a toxic fluid called cyanide, which is
extremely dangerous if ingested.
b) The machines used for gold mining release fumes and exhaust
into the air which can cause long term problems and diseases.
c) People living near gold mines have a high risk of being infected by
the cyanide in the water if they drink it. They also have a high risk
of getting diseases, such as lung cancer, from the pollutants in the
air.

Write-up
Aim: To determine the process whereby gold is extracted.
Apparatus:
 beaker
 test tubes
 glass rod
 dropper
Observations: In the first solution, the copper separated to the
top of the beaker and the sand went to the bottom. The ammonia
solution and the hydrogen peroxide solution separated from the
sand. The mixture turned blue.

In the second part of the investigation, the zinc turned black after
being placed in the blue decanted solution.

Conclusion: Zinc turns black when it enters a solution of

ammonia and hydrogen peroxide.