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Ghana Gold Mines

Unregulated gold mines pose a major threat to both ecosystems and human well-being in Ghana. In addition to large multinational digs, the landscape in the central part of the country is littered with small, illegal operations that have a significant impact on fresh water sources. These images were made for Vital Signs.

Conservation International (2015)

Waste water turns ochre in an illegal gold mining operation in central Ghana. In addition to large multinational digs, the landscape  is littered with small, illegal operations that have a significant impact on fresh water sources.
Gold miners lift gravel from an unregulated and illegal pit in central Ghana.
Daniel Kofi Nycrokoh loosens gravel at the bottom of a pit, central Ghana.
Daniel Kofi Nycrokoh lifts a chunk of quartz out of a pit, central Ghana.
Daniel Kofi Nycrokoh (R).
Miners dump muddy water lifted from an illegal gold mine in central Ghana. What likely began as a commercial dig is continually reworked by local prospectors threatening their community's water supply.
Miners remove excess water.
Aboagye Darcosta makes a pile of gravel that will later be crushed to extract the gold in central Ghana. What likely began as a commercial dig is continually reworked by local prospectors threatening their community's water supply.
Aboagye Darcosta.
Excess water is pumped out of the pits.
Illegal gold mine.
Miners remove excess water.
Miners remove excess water.
Illegal gold mine.
Miners dig through clay to start a new hole in an illegal gold operation in central Ghana.
Seth.
Illegal gold operation.
Gravel is ground to rock flour.
The processing boss holds a small ball of gold dust in central Ghana. Workers use mercury to process the ore with little to no protective gear.
The processing boss holds a small ball of gold dust.
The cloth is rinsed to remove the gold.
Mercury is mixed in by hand to separate the gold from the rock flour, central Ghana.
Excess water is poured off.
Excess water is poured off.
Rock flour is rinsed across a thick cloth. The gold is heavier and is trapped in the fibers.
Waste water from gold processing.
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