Artículos de revistas
A new still for the prevention of mercury poisoning in small-scale gold mining by amalgam extraction
A new still for the prevention of mercury poisoning in small-scale gold mining by amalgam extraction
Autor
Pinzón, J. M.
Contreras, R.
Bernardy, C.
Institución
Resumen
A system for the recovery of mercury in small-scale gold mining in Colombia has been designed and tested. Distillation of up to 300 g of gold amalgam takes ten to 20 minutes, and more tan 90% of the mercury formerly lost in the atmosphere is recovered for recycling. The equipment pays for itself and may be locally built using available materials. It has been widely accepted by miners because of the improved safety to miners and their families. The furnace can be fueled either with gasoline or LP gas. It may also be used for smelting small amounts of gold, thus getting rid of the sponginess which detracts from marketability. The new system is popular in Colombia because of the improved safety to mine operators. Se describe un nuevo sistema de destilación para amalgama que permite recuperar el mercurio usado en la pequeña minería aurífera en Colombia. La destilación de hasta 300 g de amalgama toma 10-20 minutos. Más del 90% del mercurio que antes se perdía en la atmósfera, se recupera y se recicla. El hornito puede ser a gasolina o a gas licuado. Puede usarse también para fundir oro en pequeñas cantidades y quitar su aspecto esponjoso. El nuevo sistema es popular entre los mineros por ser económico y prevenir los efectos del mercurio sobre la salud.