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Environmental Impacts of Mining: Cyanide &
Other Chemical Releases
Chemicals, such as cyanide, are used in the refining process to
leach and separate valuable minerals from other unwanted minerals.
Cyanide and other toxic chemicals such as oil, petroleum products,
solvents, acids, and reagants used for processing can be released
into the environment and can subsequently affect water, soil, aquatic
organisms, wildlife, waterfowl, and humans. The cyanide-contaminated
solution left after valuable minerals have been removed is placed
in a tailings
pond or solution retention basin. These ponds and basins have
proven to attract unsuspecting waterfowl and wildlife that suffer
both acute and chronic poisoning as a result of direct contact with
and ingestion of cyanide-contaminated solution. Leakage from the
piles of waste that are leached with cyanide can allow release cyanide
and other toxic constituents directly into the environment via surface
water and groundwater flow.
Check out the following websites to learn more about the cyanide
leaching process and the problems it creates:
Problem | Compliance
| Health & Safety | Sampling
| Analytical | Data
Quality
Site Assessment | Prediction
| Construction | GIS
| Monitoring & Assessment
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