Illegal Gold Mining Fuels Mercury Boom in Mexico's Sierra Gorda

Miners' Plea for Work and Recognition

• 💬 Miners in Mexico's Sierra Gorda are appealing to federal, state, and municipal governments, as well as the UN, to regulate and acknowledge their work, stating they are workers, not criminals.
• ⚠️ They express vulnerability, questioning their livelihood if mining is halted, and emphasize their desire to work rather than be supported by the government.

The Mercury Extraction Process

• ⛏️ To extract one kilogram of mercury, miners must process a ton of stones.
• 🔥 The process involves using a furnace heated to over 380 degrees Celsius, where the rock is subjected to intense heat, causing the mercury to evaporate as a gas.
• 💧 This gas is then collected in containers, with the extracted mercury being a valuable commodity.

Economic Incentives and Risks

• 💰 The price of mercury has seen significant fluctuations, with a recent price of 920 pesos per kilogram, but it was over 6,000 pesos in 2025, and rumors suggest it could reach 15,000 pesos.
• 📈 This surge in international gold prices drives the demand for mercury, making it difficult for vulnerable populations to abandon the activity, especially when it's a generational livelihood.
• ⚠️ Miners acknowledge the extreme risks, including working up to 200 meters underground, drilling, and exposing themselves to hazardous conditions for financial gain.

Mercury's Toxic Impact

• 🧪 Mercury is essential for separating gold from other elements, a process they refer to as 'cooking' where mercury evaporates with heat, leaving the gold behind.
• 🧠 Mercury is a neurotoxin that causes 100% neurological damage and also has significant environmental health impacts.
• 🌍 Observed effects include mercury emissions into the atmosphere during burning, water contamination, and soil pollution in mining areas.