Mercury Management
Going Beyond the Mine
Elemental mercury is not used in the gold-recovery process at any Newmont operation. However, mercury minerals are naturally occurring in the ore of some of our mines, primarily as cinnabar (mercury sulfide). During the gold-recovery process, ore can be heated to temperatures that release mercury from its solid mineral form into a gas. Mercury emissions can be discharged to the atmosphere if not recovered through a pollution-control device.
How We Engage
We have a specific mercury management standard to guide how we handle elemental mercury. In addition, we finalized a mercury policy in 2007 that sets a goal to retire all Newmont by-product mercury from circulation by 2012. Finally, we have committed to installing "maximum achievable control technology" (MACT) at all sites that we operate which have mercury emissions.
In 2007, we entered into an agreement with our mercury buyer, an international broker, to improve visibility and control of where and how our by-product mercury is being used after it is sold. We work with our buyer to identify qualified end users that utilize the mercury for legitimate uses such as manufacturing energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs, switches and relays and other products. Through our agreement, our mercury is sold only to these qualified end users and cannot be resold to other mercury brokers or artisanal miners.
In 2007, we entered into an agreement with our mercury buyer, an international broker, to improve visibility and control of where and how our by-product mercury is being used after it is sold. We work with our buyer to identify qualified end users that utilize the mercury for legitimate uses such as manufacturing energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs, switches and relays and other products. Through our agreement, our mercury is sold only to these qualified end users and cannot be resold to other mercury brokers or artisanal miners.
2010 Overview
In light of our commitment to retire mercury from circulation by 2012, we have concluded that the most viable path forward is to place our mercury into long-term storage. By the end of 2011 we will no longer sell our mercury into commerce and will commence storing our mercury consistent with established good practice in the United States and European Union.
Following the installation of air emission control technology in late 2009 at our Yanacocha operations in Peru, we decreased mercury emissions by 83 percent, from 1.65 tonnes per year to 0.28 tonnes per year in 2010.
In 2010 we generated 71.76 tonnes of by-product mercury compared to 131.35 tonnes in 2009.
Snapshot: Managing Mercury in Nevada
Following the installation of air emission control technology in late 2009 at our Yanacocha operations in Peru, we decreased mercury emissions by 83 percent, from 1.65 tonnes per year to 0.28 tonnes per year in 2010.
In 2010 we generated 71.76 tonnes of by-product mercury compared to 131.35 tonnes in 2009.
Snapshot: Managing Mercury in Nevada
