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<h3>Botanical Alternatives: Toward Safer, Evidence-Based Gold Recovery DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.19442.77769&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>This article examines botanical alternatives to mercury-based gold recovery in artisanal mining systems.The continued use of mercury, a potent neurotoxin in artisanal and small-scale gold mining remains one of the most persistent environmental and public-health challenges associated with mineral extraction. Despite decades of awareness, mercury amalgamation persists due to its simplicity, low cost, and accessibility, particularly in low-resource mining contexts.Recent research has explored botanical and plant-derived chemical systems as potential low-toxicity alternatives for gold mobilization and recovery. When evaluated through solution chemistry and controlled processing frameworks, these approaches offer a scientifically grounded pathway toward reducing mercury dependence while maintaining practical viability.Full references and supporting research are provided in the complete article posted on Research Gate:<a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/-scientific-publications" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/-scientific-publications">Botanical Alternatives: Toward Safer, Evidence-Based Gold Recovery</a>Topics: botanical chemistry, low-toxicity extraction, mercury-free gold recovery, sustainable mining.<figure id="figure-9es6og8aelmn1343p1"><img id="9es6og8aelmn1343p1" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1akR6Wg2jq2MHfw6e35pcq31HUaYUyifchPh1SQsvAAvvMtowgxYr7fGKG6EQBmu.png" alt="BACosgrove Scientific Researcher Inc. " title="BACosgrove Scientific Researcher Inc. " class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="BACosgrove Scientific Researcher Inc." data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1akR6Wg2jq2MHfw6e35pcq31HUaYUyifchPh1SQsvAAvvMtowgxYr7fGKG6EQBmu.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">BACosgrove Scientific Researcher Inc.</figcaption></figure>

Plant-Based Gold Leaching: Botanical Alternatives to Mercury and Cyanide

<blockquote>Science- Staff at the Panguana biological research station have received death threats.</blockquote>Peru’s oldest environmental research station has indefinitely suspended work in the Peruvian Amazon because of growing conflicts with illegal gold mining operations. Staff at the Panguana biological research station, located in central Peru, have received death threats from miners who work on nearby rivers and have been attempting to move into the station’s 1600-hectare conservation preserve. A second AndesFlux tower in southern Peru also faces threats from illegal mining, which is a growing problem in the country, Cosio notes. Since 1984, mining with dredges, bulldozers, and other equipment has damaged more than 225 water bodies, deforested 140,000 hectares of land, and affected up to 73 Indigenous communities, according to a 2025 report from Amazon Conservation, a Peruvian nonprofit group.Click: <a data-mce-href="https://bit.ly/49ZIS7K" href="https://bit.ly/49ZIS7K">Continue Reading</a>#SustainableMining #MercuryFreeGold #Amazon #ResponsibleGold #ESGLeadership #Biodiversitydestruction #IllicitGoldMining

Illegal miners have forced Peru’s oldest environmental research station to suspend work.

<h3>Glycine–Thiosulfate Gold Leaching: A Mercury- and Cyanide-Free Extraction Method</h3>This study reviews the use of sodium-based compounds such as urea, sodium sulfate, sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, and thiosulfate-often formulated with sodium cyanide-as gold leaching agents by artisanal miners, and proposes a greener, more sustainable alternative.This research further advances sustainable hydrometallurgy by developing and validating a glycine–thiosulfate hybrid leaching system as a non-toxic, cyanide- and mercury-free alternative for gold extraction.Glycine–thiosulfate systems can yield 70–90% gold recovery under optimized lab conditions. Effectiveness is ore-dependent (best for oxide and mildly refractory ores).<a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/-scientific-publications" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/-scientific-publications" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Click to continue reading →</a>Full references and supporting research are provided in the complete article&nbsp;

Glycine–Thiosulfate Gold Leaching: A Mercury- and Cyanide-Free Extraction Method

<blockquote><h3>The State of Global Air 2025 report provides a comprehensive analysis of data for air quality and health impacts for countries around the world. </h3></blockquote>The analysis finds that 36% of the world's population is exposed to levels of PM2.5 pollution above the least stringent interim target of 35 μg/m3. About 1/3 - almost 2.6 billion people - are exposed to pollution from burning solid fuels for cooking at home. 95% of air pollution attributable deaths in adults over the age of 60 are due to noncommunicable diseases like COPD, dementia, diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease.86% of global deaths were attributable to air pollution in 2023!Click: <a data-mce-href="https://www.stateofglobalair.org/resources/report/state-global-air-report-2025" href="https://www.stateofglobalair.org/resources/report/state-global-air-report-2025">Continue Reading</a>#CleanAir #EnvironmentalHealth #HealthAndEnvironment #ScienceForGood&nbsp;

State of Global Air Report 2025

Artisanal mining communities often rely on traditional methods for extracting precious metals. While these practices can provide essential livelihoods, they also pose significant health and environmental risks, particularly due to the use of mercury. Understanding the impact of mercury in these settings is crucial for both communities and policymakers.<figure id="figure-r1h6ynh5tsmifedvhn"><img id="r1h6ynh5tsmifedvhn" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1cZUnX5JlhEzn9kNqnq7NlTBliuthEtBvqVeYKIlBEjubtJqXMq1qCHFX6Vh2BWO.png" alt="artisanal mining" title="artisanal mining" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1cZUnX5JlhEzn9kNqnq7NlTBliuthEtBvqVeYKIlBEjubtJqXMq1qCHFX6Vh2BWO.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h2>The Role of Mercury in Artisanal Mining</h2>Mercury is commonly used in artisanal gold mining to separate gold from ore. This process, known as amalgamation, involves mixing mercury with crushed ore to form a gold-mercury amalgam. The amalgam is then heated, vaporizing the mercury and leaving behind pure gold.While effective, this method exposes miners and their communities to mercury vapor, a potent neurotoxin. The health implications are severe, affecting the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, as well as causing developmental issues in children.<h3>Environmental Consequences</h3>The environmental impact of mercury in artisanal mining is profound. Mercury released into the air eventually settles into water bodies, where it can transform into methylmercury, a highly toxic compound. This contaminates fish and other aquatic life, impacting entire ecosystems and food chains.<figure id="figure-w3px3rkizdmifedvhn"><img id="w3px3rkizdmifedvhn" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/8tYX5VnTJrdKNnaD4Z100sUwD52VKYpyP0utVMdDsYOUeytl1xpxOA234KfBDBS7.png" alt="mercury polluted water" title="mercury polluted water" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 5% 10%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="Mercury Contaminated Waters" data-positionx="5%" data-positiony="10%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/8tYX5VnTJrdKNnaD4Z100sUwD52VKYpyP0utVMdDsYOUeytl1xpxOA234KfBDBS7.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 5% 10%;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">Mercury Contaminated Waters</figcaption></figure>Communities relying on these water sources for drinking, farming, and fishing are particularly at risk. Long-term exposure to mercury-contaminated water and food can lead to chronic health problems, further exacerbating poverty and health issues in these regions.<h3>Economic and Social Impacts</h3>Despite its dangers, mercury remains prevalent in artisanal mining due to its low cost and ease of use. However, the economic benefits are often short-lived. Health problems caused by mercury exposure can lead to reduced productivity and increased medical expenses, undermining the financial stability of these communities.Socially, the presence of mercury in mining communities can lead to increased tension. As awareness of its dangers grows, conflicts may arise between those who rely on mercury for their livelihood and those advocating for safer practices.<figure id="figure-nvwviqfmvmifedvhn"><img id="nvwviqfmvmifedvhn" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/13fIFOJaNaMdxwqZtl7sVB6xc7aXuD0TdcS8irxkTvlBx7EvjvxWRmWDOtw7ZckB.png" alt="Slave Labor" title="Slave Labor" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 0% 25%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="Children Mining for Gold" data-positionx="0%" data-positiony="25%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/13fIFOJaNaMdxwqZtl7sVB6xc7aXuD0TdcS8irxkTvlBx7EvjvxWRmWDOtw7ZckB.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 0% 25%;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">Children Mining for Gold</figcaption></figure><h2>Efforts to Mitigate Mercury Use</h2>International efforts, such as the Minamata Convention on Mercury, aim to reduce mercury use and emissions worldwide. For artisanal mining communities, this involves introducing safer alternatives and educating miners about the health risks associated with mercury.Organizations are working to implement mercury-free technologies and provide training on sustainable mining practices. These initiatives not only improve health outcomes but also promote environmental conservation and economic resilience.<h3>The Path Forward</h3>Addressing the impact of mercury on artisanal mining communities requires a multi-faceted approach. Governments, NGOs, and local leaders must collaborate to create policies that balance economic needs with health and environmental considerations.Empowering communities through education and access to resources is essential for fostering sustainable change. By reducing reliance on mercury, artisanal mining communities can work towards a healthier and more sustainable future.

The Impact of Mercury on Artisanal Mining Communities

<blockquote>In July, Peru’s then foreign minister Elmer Schialer said the illegal gold economy in Peru was seven times bigger than the cocaine trade.</blockquote>The Trump administration’s drone strikes against boats allegedly bringing illicit drugs to the US come amid an explosion in the amount of cocaine being produced in Colombia and Peru.But there is a new – and lethal – factor that is turbo-charging production – especially in Peru: the relationship between coca cultivation and illicit gold mining.<blockquote>Narco-mineria</blockquote>The nexus of coca cultivation and illicit gold mining is offering a swifter route to riches for criminal enterprises across the Amazon region – from Peru and Ecuador to Colombia and Venezuela. It’s known as narco-mineria, according to Collins.“Criminal organizations have found that illegal gold mining is a safer and more lucrative asset in which they can invest money from drug trafficking, and, in turn, launder the assets more easily,” according to Collyns, author of the forthcoming “Blood Gold: The Shocking True Story of the Amazon Gold Rush.”Click: <a data-mce-href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/22/americas/gold-mining-cocaine-traffickers-intl-latam" href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/22/americas/gold-mining-cocaine-traffickers-intl-latam">Continue Reading</a>#SustainableMining #MercuryFreeGold #Amazon #ResponsibleGold #ESGLeadership #Biodiversitydestruction #IllicitGoldMining&nbsp;

Why illegal gold mining is overtaking cocaine as the drug of choice for traffickers in Latin America

BACosgrove Scientific Researcher, Inc.

The Company is a science-driven research and innovation incorporated Company advancing sustainable chemistry, environmental health solutions, and clean-technology applications. Founded by chemist and entrepreneur Bruce A. Cosgrove, the company develops and validates evidence-based alternatives that reduce toxic exposures while supporting circular-economy and ESG-aligned outcomes across industrial and wellness sectors.

Blog | Publications & Articles

Plant-Based Gold Leaching: Botanical Alternatives to Merc...

Illegal miners have forced Peru’s oldest environmental re...

Glycine–Thiosulfate Gold Leaching: A Mercury- and Cyanide...

State of Global Air Report 2025

The Impact of Mercury on Artisanal Mining Communities

Why illegal gold mining is overtaking cocaine as the drug...