Extracting Gold: Articles?

[dualstow]

I was just reading the feature story on the ivory trade in the newest National Geographic. Now that I'm the mood to be all upset and guilty, I was wondering if there are any good articles out there on the extraction of gold, and its environmental consequences.
(I have only bought old krugs, so I'm pure as the driven snow.  )

The only good program I've seen recently is the documentary about mining gold versus keeping the last great salmon spawning area in Alaska. (Pebble, I believe it's called).

Conversely, are there any new technologies being discussed that might make gold's extraction easier, and lighter on the environment?
Thanks.

[WildAboutHarry]

Any mining has environmental consequences, but modern methods in the US (with regulation and required reclamation) are way better than a bunch of what goes on elsewhere and in the past.

Hydraulic mining in California washed away whole hillsides, the remains of which filled the rivers with sediment, caused major flooding, and ruined farmland (many of San Francisco Bay's mudflats and wetlands are derived from this sediment).  Dredger mining replaced whole creek systems with mountains of rock and cobble.  Extraction techniques used mercury that accumulated in sediments.  All bad stuff.

So your old Krugerrands might not be so pure after all

[dualstow]

Well, at least South Africa has an impeccable history. ;-)
I suppose my krugs are like pre-ban ivory. Bad, but "recycled' bad.

Still, that's good to know about modern methods.

[Reub]

Have you ever seen the show Gold Rush? It is a template for how not to extract gold and make a profit.

[l82start]

gold rush was an entertaining show, most of the interpersonal stuff they end up doing and some of the decision making is just cringe worthy, but the mining part is like watching a "big trucks movie" for grown ups...

[MediumTex]

Gold mining is a nasty business.

With ever-declining ore qualities around the world it's only going to get worse.