巴西在首都巴西利亚的国家刑事学研究所建立了"黄金实验室"，利用法医科学技术对黄金样本进行指纹识别，以追踪其来源并遏制亚马逊地区的非法采金活动。[1]这一方法自2019年以来由巴西研究机构与当地大学合作开发，通过分析黄金中的微量元素痕迹来判断黄金是否源自受保护区域。[1]
该实验室采用X射线荧光光谱法、扫描电子显微镜和激光烧蚀质量光谱法等多种技术进行检测。[1]检察官André Porreca指出，采矿许可证被用来"洗净犯罪组织从印第安领地和受保护地区开采的黄金"。[1]
非法采矿在亚马逊地区造成严重的环境威胁。2023年以来，亚马逊地区约496,000公顷雨林被砍伐用于采矿，其中223,000公顷位于巴西亚马逊地区。[1]MapBiomas分析显示，巴西超过90%的采矿活动发生在亚马逊地区，其中近40%为非法采矿。[1]
汞污染问题尤为严峻。2023年Fiocruz研究表明，亚马逊市场上21.3%的鱼类汞含量超过世界卫生组织的安全限值，2至4岁儿童的汞摄入量达到推荐最大值的31倍。[1]为应对这一危机，巴西已签署《关于汞的水俣公约》，矿业能源部亦发布了逐步淘汰汞的草案，相关辩论期限至8月7日。[1]
Brazil has established a "gold laboratory" at the National Institute of Criminalistics in the capital, Brasília, to identify the origin of gold samples through forensic analysis and combat illegal mining operations in the Amazon region. [1] The laboratory uses advanced techniques including X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and laser ablation mass spectrometry to analyze trace elements in gold and determine whether it originates from protected areas. [1] The methodology has been developed in collaboration with Brazilian universities since 2019. [1]
Illegal mining has created severe environmental consequences in the Amazon. In 2023, approximately 496,000 hectares (1.2 million acres) of rainforest across the Amazon region were cleared for mining activities, with 223,000 hectares (551,000 acres) occurring in the Brazilian Amazon specifically. [1] According to a 2023 MapBiomas analysis, more than 90 percent of mining activity in Brazil takes place in the Amazon, with nearly 40 percent occurring illegally. [1]
The health impacts are equally alarming. A 2023 Fiocruz study found that 21.3 percent of fish sold in Amazon markets exceeded the World Health Organization's safety limits for mercury contamination. [1] Children aged two to four years in affected areas were consuming mercury at levels 31 times higher than the recommended maximum intake. [1]
Brazil has signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury and is addressing the crisis through policy measures. [1] The Ministry of Mining and Energy has released a draft proposal for phasing out mercury, with the public comment period set to close on August 7. [1] Prosecutor André Porreca has stated that mining permits are being used to "launder gold extracted by criminal organizations from indigenous territories and protected areas." [1]