Short Note: A new still for the prevention of mercury poisoning in small-scale gold mining by amalgam extraction

A system for the recovery of mercury in small-scale gold mining in Colombia has been designed and tested. Distillation of up to 300 g of gold amalgam takes ten to 20 minutes, and more than 90% of the mercury formerly lost in the atmosphere is recovered for recycling. The equipment pays for itself an...

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Main Authors: C. Bernardy, R. Contreras, J. M. Pinzón
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Geofísica 2003-06-01
Series:Geofísica Internacional
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.geofisica.unam.mx/unid_apoyo/editorial/publicaciones/investigacion/geofisica_internacional/anteriores/2003/04/pinzon.pdf
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author C. Bernardy
R. Contreras
J. M. Pinzón
author_facet C. Bernardy
R. Contreras
J. M. Pinzón
author_sort C. Bernardy
collection DOAJ
description A system for the recovery of mercury in small-scale gold mining in Colombia has been designed and tested. Distillation of up to 300 g of gold amalgam takes ten to 20 minutes, and more than 90% of the mercury formerly lost in the atmosphere is recovered for recycling. The equipment pays for itself and may be locally built using available materials. It has been widely accepted by miners because of the improved safety to miners and their families. The furnace can be fueled either with gasoline or LP gas. It may also be used for smelting small amounts of gold, thus getting rid of the sponginess which detracts from marketability. The new system is popular in Colombia because of the improved safety to mine operators.
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spelling doaj.art-a0643e21d9834a148e9061c55fcd617f2023-09-02T14:35:47ZengUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de GeofísicaGeofísica Internacional0016-71692003-06-01424641644Short Note: A new still for the prevention of mercury poisoning in small-scale gold mining by amalgam extractionC. BernardyR. ContrerasJ. M. PinzónA system for the recovery of mercury in small-scale gold mining in Colombia has been designed and tested. Distillation of up to 300 g of gold amalgam takes ten to 20 minutes, and more than 90% of the mercury formerly lost in the atmosphere is recovered for recycling. The equipment pays for itself and may be locally built using available materials. It has been widely accepted by miners because of the improved safety to miners and their families. The furnace can be fueled either with gasoline or LP gas. It may also be used for smelting small amounts of gold, thus getting rid of the sponginess which detracts from marketability. The new system is popular in Colombia because of the improved safety to mine operators.http://www.geofisica.unam.mx/unid_apoyo/editorial/publicaciones/investigacion/geofisica_internacional/anteriores/2003/04/pinzon.pdfSmall-scale gold extractionColombiaamalgam method.
spellingShingle C. Bernardy
R. Contreras
J. M. Pinzón
Short Note: A new still for the prevention of mercury poisoning in small-scale gold mining by amalgam extraction
Geofísica Internacional
Small-scale gold extraction
Colombia
amalgam method.
title Short Note: A new still for the prevention of mercury poisoning in small-scale gold mining by amalgam extraction
title_full Short Note: A new still for the prevention of mercury poisoning in small-scale gold mining by amalgam extraction
title_fullStr Short Note: A new still for the prevention of mercury poisoning in small-scale gold mining by amalgam extraction
title_full_unstemmed Short Note: A new still for the prevention of mercury poisoning in small-scale gold mining by amalgam extraction
title_short Short Note: A new still for the prevention of mercury poisoning in small-scale gold mining by amalgam extraction
title_sort short note a new still for the prevention of mercury poisoning in small scale gold mining by amalgam extraction
topic Small-scale gold extraction
Colombia
amalgam method.
url http://www.geofisica.unam.mx/unid_apoyo/editorial/publicaciones/investigacion/geofisica_internacional/anteriores/2003/04/pinzon.pdf
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AT jmpinzon shortnoteanewstillforthepreventionofmercurypoisoninginsmallscalegoldminingbyamalgamextraction