Mercury's Hidden Toll: The Dark Side of Mexico's Mining Rush
Deep in the heart of Mexico's Sierra Gorda, a dangerous game is playing out.
The Mercury Rush
Miners like Hugo Flores are digging for mercury, a toxic metal that's becoming more valuable by the day. This isn't just any mining rush; it's a "mercury boom," driven by soaring gold prices and a global demand for this hazardous substance.
The Mining Process
The miners work in narrow tunnels, following veins of cinnabar, the ore that holds mercury. They haul bags of stones to the surface, where the rock is heated in brick ovens. The mercury gas cools into silver liquid, dripping down pipes and collected in plastic bottles. Each bottle is worth around $1,800, a fortune for these miners.
The Cost of the Boom
But the mercury boom comes at a cost. The miners and their families are exposed to toxic levels of mercury, which can cause:
- Tremors
- Neurological decline
- Developmental delays in children
The environment is also paying a price, with mercury contamination spreading through the region's rivers and creeks.
The Global Demand
The demand for mercury is fueled by illegal gold mining in the Amazon, where the metal is used to extract gold from river soil. Mexican mercury is trafficked to countries like Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru, where it's used in illegal gold mining operations increasingly controlled by criminal groups.
The Government's Role
The Mexican government has signed a U.N. convention banning mercury mining, but the ban has only made mercury from artisanal mines more sought after. Miners say they haven't received any money from a fund created to help them transition to new industries, and they worry that the mercury boom will attract the attention of criminal groups.
