HABER GOLD PROCESS (HGP)
Most gold mining is accomplished by extracting very fine particles of gold distributed within matrices of ore. This requires grinding the ore in order to expose the gold particles. The gold particles are then dissolved through a chemical treatment called 'leaching'. Finally, the gold is removed from the pregnant solution via one of a number of secondary recovery methods.
Almost universally, cyanide solutions are used to leach gold from ore. But not only is cyanide a very significant poison in its own right, over time, its actions also liberate heavy elements (such as cadmium, lead, mercury, etc)
“Cyanide is the most popular chemical used by mining corporations to extract gold from ore, despite the fact that leaks or spills of this chemical are extremely toxic to fish, plant life and human beings." Source which can leak into water supplies even long after initial cyanide toxicities have dissipated.”
Given the growing list of environmental mishaps caused by conventional leaching, it comes as no surprise that government policies around the world are making it more and more difficult for mining corporations to carry out cyanide operations.(Read some related press.)
In response to the environmental hazards associated with conventional mining practices, Norman Haber developed the Haber Gold Process (HGP) -- an environmentally friendly gold mining technology that also offers additional advantages over cyanide methods.
- The HGP chemical system is non-toxic.
- HGP routinely recovers more gold than cyanide leaching.
- HGP processing rates are significantly faster than those of cyanide leaching.
- HGP is effective with more types of gold ore than cyanide leaching.
- The overall cost of processing with HGP is equal to or less than cyanide leaching.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
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A report by the Burma Environmental Working Group in June 2011 said gold mining operations have drained water sources, increased soil erosion, and polluted rivers with mercury and other chemicals. Mercury is highly toxic to the environment and poses serious risks to public health. The vast majority of toxic wastes from gold extraction processes is disposed of untreated directly onto land and into waterways, effectively poisoning the soil and compromising water quality. Mercury and other toxics are biomagnifying in food chains and accumulate in the tissues of living organisms, with negative effects on
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