Truemors
Of Cyanide, Mercury and Gold
A personal account by Art Tibaldo
Philippines - I can't imagine life without mining and I simply cannot negate my fears and apprehensions if our miners are not responsible enough in going about their daily trade.
We went to Sitio Tocmo, Beckel La Trinidad Benguet with members of the Maximo Kalaw T. Institute for Sustainable Development and there we witnessed how local miners process their powdery gold concentrate using both mercury and the more acceptable smelting method of the locals using Borax or Sodium Borate.
Emy Perez of the MKTF during that gathering discussed how thousands of Japanese suffered from the Minamata incident in the 1950s as a result of Mercury poisoning. The attendees who were mostly small scale miners were also informed on the ill effects of the use of sodium cyanide in extracting gold.
According to the research presented by the MKTF, the Mercury poisoning incident was first discovered in Minamata City in Kumamote Prefecture, Japan in 1956. It was caused by the release of methyl mercury in the industrial wastewater from the Chisso Corporation's chemical factory, which was biologically accumulated by marine life in Minamata Bay and the Shiranui Sea. Thus, when fish from the bay was eaten by the local populace including pets and animals, this resulted in mercury poisoning that the whole world came to know about.
On the part of the MTKF as a stakeholder, mining in the countryside must take into serious consideration human and ecological security (HES) that's why they invited Peter W. U. Appel of the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) to share his expert knowledge on the safe handling of mercury and cyanide.
Cyanide is widely used in the mines to dissolve gold from finely crushed ore. After leaching of the ore by a dilute solution of sodium cyanide, the gold component is filtered off, and the excess cyanide solution is stored in 'tailings ponds' but in many proven cases, released in waterways and rivers.
Assessing the situation in as far as Philippine small scale mining is concerned, Peter Appel, observed that the Benguet miner's method of "sluicing and gravitation" as well as the use of Borax during the smelting of the gold is far more safe than the practice of small scale miners in other parts of the world.
Appel has observed the mining practice in Tanzania, Mongolia and other mining areas worldwide and after his encounter with miners from Benguet, he is now contemplating to impart and introduce the Benguet method in the places that he’s been to.
Convinced that the use of mercury cannot be stopped overnight, Appel introduced and demonstrated the safe use of a device called "Retort" that also recovers the used mercury. The retort is a bended metal tubing with a resealable cap at one end and the device can be welded using water pipes, elbows and caps.
The use of the retort according to Appel is only a mitigating measure but the ultimate goal really is to stop miners from using the highly banned mercury.
As an observer myself, I would second what Engineer Lomino Kaniteng said during the Tocmo gathering that…."we shouldn't enrich ourselves at the expense of others" and therefore, let the memoirs of the Minimata incident reminds us that the effect of mercury poisoning may not be felt in one's lifetime but the hazards continue to affect generations to come whether with gold or no gold.
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (10)
at 02:40 on August 24th, 2008
i knew a particular group of IP's ?ICC's in Sitio Libis and Tayabasan of San Ysiro, Bgry San Jose, Antipolo City who are engadge with small scale mining using mercury... as an friend of these people my every special concern is their health... aside from the environmental problem it brings. how in my small i can help them stop using mercury,hence i can not make them stop these alternative income; i.e. gold panning.
thank you!
rick
at 04:47 on August 24th, 2008
Hi Rick, Is the place you mentioned.."Sitio Libis and Tayabasan of San Ysiro, Bgry San Jose, Antipolo City"- Is that really Ysiro or Isidro? It is important to know the place correctly so that people from the nearby residential area will be informed of such practice. I hope that the Minamata incident will make them realize that such deed is no longer acceptable in our current global situation.
I will forward your comment to the Maximo T. Kalaw Institute so they can ring a bell if not a bull's horn to the DENR's deaf ears.
Thank you!
Eco Warrior
at 03:09 on August 25th, 2008
Hi,
Peter Appel will be in Angono, Rizal on Aug 28 -1pm to present and discuss mercury contamination in Phils. The event will be held in Angono Public High School Gym. You may want to see him there.
at 03:22 on August 25th, 2008
Hi Eco Warrior,
Thanks for this article.
My message for Mr Frederick was cut.
We can send him some materials on Mercury Contamination in the Philippines if we have his email address.
Thanks again.
Ciela
at 03:25 on August 25th, 2008
Thanks Ciela,
Fast reply. Kudos to all of you!
at 03:56 on August 25th, 2008
Hello, Ecowarrior Art,
Good and fast work you did here - if rick can send his contact numbers and email address, we would get in touch with him and try our best to arrange a meeting between him and Dr. Appel who leaves on the 29th of August.
Nice to know there are as concerned citizens as you are - in all parts of the Philippines.
Here's to a safe, secure and beautiful future!
at 06:09 on August 25th, 2008
Hi Rick, I hope you'll get to read this...
if rick can send his contact numbers and email address, we would get in touch with him and try our best to arrange a meeting between him and Dr. Appel who leaves on the 29th of August.
Thanks again
at 00:53 on September 23rd, 2008
Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";}
Eco-warrior... i was cut into communication with.. i was waiting for your reply at my e mail add. anyways its good to hear response from you guys... it is san YSIRO not san Isidro... our group got a map in NAMRIA and approx location or land marks is/are tayabasan river and san ysiro river... in fact they are now on the process of applying CADTI under IPRA but the irony is that they are now into mining large scale... i mean seems that politicians are behind these i.e. rumors has it that ynares is pushing for an ore and other minerals extraction on the said area... and the locals are being manipulated.... last sept. 20-21, we have had our activity ... tree planting and environmental lecture activity in the said area and our group is commeting for a sustainable activity with the community... but again we're students and we are only a student organization based in UP. our org by the way is UP- Lakay Kalikasan Mountaineers. If you had any programs on this level, and might want to help our org via advocacy and research feel free to contact me... i personally commit myself to at least mitigate the possible worst aversive consequences that these large scale mining might affect to the community. ... we are now tied up with foundation for Philippine environment.... for a small grant ... but we are still on paper works...
at 01:02 on September 23rd, 2008
HI Frederic, Emy Perez of Maximo Kalaw Foundation wanted to get in touch with you but you failed to include your contact address or email in your reply hence the delay. However, I hope that by now you were able to establish connection with them..just go through the replies pls.
Thanks
at 01:02 on September 23rd, 2008
hi, guys... sobrang salamat talaga.... e-mail add: shin_fu_yuan@yahoo.com contact number: 09297235201... sobrang salamat talaga.. i thought pang media Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} mileages lang kayo kasi ala akong na received na emails or reply from you guys... SALAMAT SALAMAT... laking tulong ito... am sorry pero promote ko na rin ito.. pls feel free to scan... this sites: http://ibongmandaragit.multiply.com/photos/album/20/Remote_Place_in_the_City,
http://hglimpse.multiply.com/photos/album/287/UPLKM_Immersion_Katutubo_ng_Antipolo?replies_read=3, http://hglimpse.multiply.com/photos/album/283/UPLKM_Tree_Planting, http://hglimpse.multiply.com/journal/item/71/ibat_ibang_dimensiyon_ng_gawa.
Sori pero this is the only way for you guys to have an idea sa lugar!
SALAMAT ULIT!
rick