Peruvian Amazon Miners Use Mercury-Free Gold Processing Without State Recognition

Miners in La Pampa, Peru, process gold without mercury but lack state support for viability

Miners in La Pampa, Madre de Dios Province, Peru, process gold using mercury-free gravimetric tables and solar power. However, the Peruvian state has not formally recognized these operations, leaving miners without documentation and unable to secure economic viability. While technically feasible, miners report that sustainable practices require state support to become economically viable. This approach could reduce mercury pollution and deforestation in the biodiverse region, but current state absence creates barriers to scaling.

Caveats: State absence unverified; economic claims based on miner testimonies; transcripts may contain errors due to machine and human generation.

Source: Mongabay