Devils Below

🥇Gold From Mercury? [ #SetTheRecordStraight ] Have you ever dreamed of learning how to turn mercury into gold, like medieval alchemists? Artisanal miners can easily do this - and that's part of the problem with artisanal gold mining, though. You've probably heard of harmful, environmentally damagin and often illegal artisanal & small-scale mining (ASM), which poisons soil and feeds militant groups. Even when you try to google or ask an AI about the volumes of illegal gold mining in this or that place, the response will show you the volumes of ASM production, associating it with illegality. However, is ASM that peremptorily dangerous and illegal? 🔸 Artel mining means small groups or family crews extracting minerals with simple tools and basic machines. In many African countries these crews can register, get permits, and work inside areas reserved for small-scale mining. 🔸 People often call it illegal because headlines group all pits under one label, sites look chaotic, paperwork is hard to obtain, and enforcement is uneven. Licensed and unlicensed crews may work side by side, so the public sees one picture. 🔸 What's more, many miners use chemicals that harm the environment. Mercury is common in gold recovery, and cyanide appears in some sites. Rivers and soils become contaminated, fish and people face exposure, and health problems follow. Safer options exist, including gravity concentration and mercury-retort use, though they need additional investments and training. ⏩ For many communities this is the only way to survive and earn their living. Income from small-scale mining pays food and transport, feeds local trade when there are no enterprises and basically no other living economy in the area. In Zimbabwe, Cameroon, CAR and Uganda ASM accounts for the major part of all official (declared) gold production, exceeding the output of large-scale enterprises. Illegal ASM only thrives where there is bureaucratic obstacles, insurgents and militants, poor population. Increase overall wellbeing, facilitate permit acquisition processes and control your borders - and there will be no illegal mining and no mercury pollution. Devils Below