Over 15 million artisanal and small-scale gold miners (ASGM) in developing countries eke out a meager existence—and they have no alternative to using toxic mercury as part of their gold-extraction process. Unfortunately, there is a tragic, hidden cost to their health, and to the planet at large. Mercury is a potent, permanent toxin that can poison the human body irreparably, causing neurological d
isorders, birth defects, and a multitude of other illnesses. As an environmental contaminant, mercury is exceedingly difficult to remove. The effects that mercury has on the miners and their communities are devastating and the contamination continues on its destructive path flowing into the atmosphere, downstream through rivers, into the ocean, and into the fish that we eat. The tragedy that befalls these miners and their families, as well as the long-term damage that our planet and its people suffer, must be eliminated. Mercury Free Mining exists to find a solution to this ever-growing problem—and together, we can. Mercury Free Mining is dedicated to the implementation of effective mercury free gold processing alternatives within ASGM. We work to connect miners and the jewelry industry striving to create a mercury free gold supply chain.
