1993 RESOLUTIONS
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| 1993
FWOC RESOLUTION #11 |
|
_HEAP LEACH MINING_
|
| Heap leach mining first
breaks up the ore-bearing rock into small pieces which are piled into
heaps outside the mining area. Sometimes an entire mountain will
be excavated out and placed in piles on the nearby valley floor.
Extraction chemicals, mainly poisonous cyanide solutions used in gold
extraction, are poured over the heaps and the dissolved gold is
chemically separated. The extraction chemicals are then stored in
an especially constructed tailings pond. The ponds should have a
leak-proof lining but are often left uncovered, open and available to
whatever animal or bird life is in the area. |
| All heap leach mining
activities should be banned from the Pacific Northwest. If any
are permitted, state laws must be enacted that would require mining
companies to put forth performance bonds large enough to reclaim the
land back to its natural state. This would include removal of all
toxic waste that would endanger plant or animal life now or in the
future. |
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