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GGDMA, GGMC researching alternatives for mercury

Jun 29, 2013 News

 

 

Finding alternatives for the use of mercury in the recovery of gold is ongoing with Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association (GGDMA) teaming up with the regulatory body.
This is according to Patrick Harding, President of GGDMA, who said that, the Association and Officers of Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) have been visiting mining camps to demonstrate several recovery systems.
He said that Guyana has been exempted from proposed 2013 ban on the sale of Mercury.  “A small country, like Guyana, whose economy is heavily dependent of gold mining, has been allowed to continue the use of mercury.”
However, mercury should only be used in the cleanup process, is used under safety conditions, require proper handling, safety gear, use of retorts; and the substance is not allowed unto the waterways.
He said that Guyana’s mining industry must provide alternatives for the reduction in the use of mercury. Harding requested miners to offer the locations of their camps or locations for testing purposes.
He also asked his fellow miners who are familiar with recovery equipment or any other recovery technology to share their experiences.
“I know that you have been out there in the fields and you are more experienced and knowledgeable than the Mines Officers that GGMC will be sending into the fields,” he added.
He noted that the sluice box is the main recovery system equipment used by the miner.  Over the years, there have been modifications and improvements to the sluice box.
However, the recovery rate of the sluice box is still between 40 percent and 50 percent.  This means that miners are at best only recovering half of the minerals that pass through their sluice boxes.
“An increase in the recovery rate will benefit your operations by making it more effective and contributing to offsetting your overall operating costs…To this end GGDMA is working with GGMC to teach the miners better ways of operating the sluice box system and the introduction of other recovery systems to compliment the use of the sluice box.
Any new recovery system/method must be effective and at an affordable price to the miner, he said.

 

 

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