The truth about the Buyat Bay incident<\/p>\n
Having read various articles and reports published recently in
\nseveral mass media including The Jakarta Post about the Buyat Bay
\nincident in which mining company PT Newmont was involved, I would
\nlike to present some facts pertaining to the matter.<\/p>\n
No modern gold processing outfit uses mercury. It may have
\nbeen used by old Dutch companies before World War II in the Dutch
\nEast Indies but technology and environmental awareness would
\nprohibit companies to operate an amalgamation process with
\nmercury. Instead, companies use the cyanidization process to
\nextract the gold from the pulverized rock and the tailings
\n(pulverized carbonaceous rock), after which the cyanide is
\ndetoxified in a process that breaks up the compound before it is
\ndischarged back into nature. In Newmont's case, the detoxified
\ncyanide residue is piped to a depth of 80 meters below the ocean
\nand rests on the bottom of a submarine ravine.<\/p>\n
All gold mineralization in nature may have traces of Hg
\n(mercury) sulfides along with traces of arsenic, silver, copper
\nand other elements. They come in small amounts and when it is
\nefficient they will be processed as by-products.<\/p>\n
It is important to note these metals in nature, due to their
\nsmall traces, if swallowed, will do no harm to humans for the
\nreason that they remain stable.<\/p>\n
It has been observed long before Newmont's operation (article
\nfrom the Journal of Geochemical Exploration No. 50, 1994, page
\n493-500) by Laurence P. James on his paper issued on Sept. 16,
\n1993, that the use of the \"Tromol-mill by small-scale miners
\nbecame a possible environmental concern.\" He estimated that for
\nthe treatment of 100,000 tons or ore annually, in six runs per 24
\nhours, 300 days per year, at least five to 10 tons of mercury is
\nlost and disposed into the open water system. This metallic
\nmercury which is in itself highly toxic, is also converted by
\nmicro-organisms and plankton to the even more toxic organic
\nmethyl mercury. This has the potential to pollute the environment
\nin gold districts all over Indonesia.<\/p>\n
I would sincerely appeal to all concerned to abandon the free
\ntrade of mercury, which is often used for gold mining. The
\nimportation of mercury should only be for industrial purposes,
\nand well-controlled by the government.<\/p>\n
B.N. WAHJU<\/p>\n
Geologist<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-truth-about-the-buyat-bay-incident-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }