Eight people are in hospital, following a mercury spill 53 miles southwest of the Yanacocha gold mine in northern Peru.
On June 2, three gallons of mercury were spilled in the village of Choropampa. The mercury was being shipped from the mine (of which it is a byproduct) to Lima by local contractor RANSA Comercial.
Mine operator Newmont Mining immediately started cleanup efforts and notified local residents of the hazard. The company also informed the ministry of health, which dispatched a staff to diagnose and treat anyone with symptoms of mercury poisoning.
One of the eight persons being treated developed pneumonia and is in critical condition.
The mine produces about two tons of mercury per month as a byproduct of heap leaching. Newmont has halted further mercury shipments pending an investigation of the accident.
Yanacocha is South America’s largest gold mine, producing nearly 2 million oz. annually. Newmont holds a 51.35% interest in the mine, whereas Peru-based Minas Buenaventura owns 43.65%; the remainder is held by International Finance Corp.
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