from Greens Mining

The environmental impacts linked specifically to gold mining and cyanide leaching. Follow the links below for the complete index of environmental topics. . . .

Acid mine Drainage

It takes 79 tons of waste to extract one ounce of gold: the process involves grinding up ore, and then exposing it to cyanide to extract the gold. Sulfides in the crushed rocks interact with air and water to create sulfuric acid, which in turn creates acid mine drainage (AMD).

Overburden and waste rock

The Mt Morgan and Mt Lyell gold mines have major acid mine drainage impacts on surrounding water resources.

Arsenic

Arsenite is extremely toxic to biota and is a carcinogen. Evidence the effect on population drinking groundwater in Bangladesh, through contraction of skin cancer,” writes Dr. Barry Noller, Deputy Director of the National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology at The University of Queensland

Cyanide and heavy metals

At Lake Cowal, Barrick processes very low-grade ore with minimal residues of gold. Leaching gold from the ore requires 6,613 tons [6,000 metric tonnes] per year of cyanide and other hazardous chemicals.

Environmental management

Recommendations for environmental management and monitoring programs by Dr. Barry Noller, Deputy Director of the National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology at The University of Queensland

Tailing ponds

"The tailings ponds proposed at the Lake Cowal Gold Project cover an area of 350 hectares. At this size, the ponds would be very difficult to manage . . ." From the Coalition to Protect Lake Cowal.

Vital water

Read more about the threats to our vital water resources: through depletion, contamination, over-extraction, salinity, and that's just the tip of the looming iceberg . . .