Mercury Contamination - Stockfoto

Water flowing from a creek in Aceh province, Indonesiaa, is powering a waterwheel which in turn rotates drums containing crushed quartz veins, gold and mercury. As the drums rotate the quartz veins are further milled releasing small grains of free gold which amalgamates with the mercury. After a period of time the mercury containing the gold is removed and the mercury separated out to leave a small ball of gold which can be sold to local gold buyers or sold at local market places. This process of gold extraction is performed by unlicensed artisanal miners not permitted by provincial Governments. The use of mercury by artisanal gold miners in river headwaters is an environmental issue, particularly as contaminated and polluted waters can affect downstream livelihoods.