I was interested to read the May 10 Cowboy State Daily article about the history of gold mining in the South Pass Area and the possibility of a new mine in the area.
The use of new technology that would allow mining below the water table is described while the lack of that technology in the old days limited miners access.
Jobs would no doubt be created. What’s not to like?
The article did not go into the actual physical process that would be involved in the new mine, so we don’t know those details.
One I read about is amalgamation, in which mercury is mixed with the ore, then heated to evaporate the mercury, leaving behind the gold.
Mercury is a toxic metal and if it is released into the environment, it can contaminate soil, water and air. This poses a threat to wildlife and human health.
The National Library of Medicine describes the process and environmental effects because of mercury release.
Then there is cyanide heap leaching, a process in which the crushed ore is spread in piles then sprayed with a cyanide solution.
The cyanide dissolves the metals, including gold, which are then extracted.
An article in theJournal of Hazardous Materials indicates many potential hazardous chemicals can be released, including: selenium, lead, thallium, manganese, copper, nickel and zinc.
These can, like the mercury in amalgamation, contaminate soil, air, water, fish and wildlife with negative effects.
So, the question is, how can this new mine NOT contaminate the environment?
In my experience evaluating metals mining, plumes of contaminated air can move miles to deposit these toxic metals over the landscape, leach into streams and drinking water aquifers, decrease spawning success of fish, kill livestock, wildlife and fish.
I have found that even in a region where over a dozen mines have become Superfund sites, cleanup of the contamination is relegated to “Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA)," or “Institutional Controls (IC)."
These don’t remove the contamination and restore the land. MNA means leave it in place until it dissipates on its own… that can take decades or more.
Institutional Controls mean limiting or excluding public access for indefinite lengths of time.
It is time for people to educate themselves and speak up before we are left with a contaminated, inaccessible land for what, gold? Does that remind us of any biblical analogue?
John Carter, Bondurant
