More of the Barrick-Goldstrike mine

This series of gold pits and adjacent smelting of sub-micron gold is, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the largest source of toxic releases of mercury in the United States.

Six nearby gold pits (other companies) are in the top ten sources of toxic mercury.

This is an unhappy photograph, and the toxic pollution blows in my family's direction.

Imagine how bad the fallout must be in Elko...

Ralph,

I am writing an article on the Goldstike mine for a new onling magainze, Mining.com. I'd like to use your picture for the magazine since it is high resolution. Would that be possible? Please email me at yorsunshine@hotmail.com with you reply.

Thanks

I was wondering what happens to all the dirt after they run the cyanide through it. They don't put it back in the pit, but there's no evidence that it stays on the site. Each of the trucks hauls 300 tons per load, and is filled with one scoop of a gigantic clam bucket. It is dumped in the leaching pond, but what then? Nobody seems to answer. Security is a bitch there. Shoot first and ask questions later.