Unfortunately with high gold prices it becomes profitable to run small operations that don't meet the same standards. Currently it is believed that 1/3 of all m

Unfortunately with high gold prices it becomes profitable to run small operations that don't meet the same standards. Currently it is believed that 1/3 of all mercury pollution comes from illegal gold mining [0]. [0]:https://www.amazonconservation.org/pdf/gold_mining_fact_sheet.pdf https://www.amazonconservation.org/pdf/gold_mining_fact_shee...