Peru Gold Mining
In latin america peru was the first ranked producer of in order of value gold silver zinc lead tin and tel.
Peru gold mining. To date by far the hardest hit region is madre de dios where whole areas have been transformed into veritable deserts and. In 2006 peru occupied a leading position in the global production of the following mineral commodities. Peru enjoys political and macroeconomic stability.
According to the carnegie amazon mercury ecosystem project gold mining has destroyed 50000 hectares in the madre de dios region in peru one of the most biologically diverse regions on earth. Gold mining is a major cause of deforestation in perus amazon. Peru is the seventh largest gold producer in the world.
Most of the mining activities take place in the eastern province of madre de dios but miners have also begun to establish their presence in the high andean mountains. The new governor of madre de dios luis hidalgo. Environmental activists have been particularly critical of the introduction of mercury into bodies of water as it has long standing effects on the environment and the health of organisms that consume it.
Illegal gold mining continues however in three other major areas of the southern peruvian amazon alto malinowski camanti and pariamanu where we estimate the mining deforestation of 5300 acres 2150 hectares since 2017. Illegal mining is a complex issue as peru tries to balance natural resource management and the health of local indigenous communities with its continued growth and development goals. Peru a major gold producer and exporter is currently experiencing a surge in illegal gold mining.
As gold prices climbed illegal alluvial gold mining expanded into sensitive ecosystems in areas such as madre de dios a biodiversity hotspot in the heart of the peruvian amazon. Skyrocketing gold prices have made the illegal trade the most lucrative illicit business in peru surpassing cocaine production according to usaid. It is the second largest open pit gold mine in the world and has produced over 7 billion dollars worth of gold.
Imports around 2 billion dollars worth a year despite the fact that an estimated 20 of it is illegally mined in places like the. The yanacocha gold mine is operated by the newmont mining corporation in northern peru. Peru is also a major producer of gold silver among other minerals.
The mining operation has been plagued with conflict for over a decade as local residents have complained of contamination to local waterways.