Uso de mercurio en la Rinconada - Puno
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REV. MAMYM
Abstract
La Rinconada es un pueblo minero que se encuentra a los pies de imponentes nevados de la Cordillera Oriental de los Andes del departamento de Puno, a 5 400 m.s.n.m. en el limite territorial con Bolivia; en la actualidad viven aproximadamente 50,000 personas durante el año, en un área de 10 Ha.; En ella se realizan actividades mineras como la explotación y el procesamiento de mineral aurífero, obteniendo como producto final el oro. En el proceso de recuperación de oro mediante la amalgamación, se utiliza con gran intensidad dos equipos, uno de ellos rudimentario, el "quimbalete" y otro el molino. La técnica de amalgamación se utiliza con profusión, debido a su sencillez, razonable eficacia y por la poca inversión de capital. El mercurio es utilizado ampliamente en la recuperación del oro, muchas veces sin las precauciones necesarias, causando gran efecto contaminante en la atmósfera, aguas, suelos, y en los propios trabajadores y sus familias que lo manipulan. La utilización inadecuada del mercurio en el tratamiento, conduce a la producción de altas perdidas tanto en forma de mercurio elemental durante el proceso de amalgamación, así como en forma de gas (vapor de Hg) y compuestos inorgánicos durante la separación oro - mercurio, (refogado). El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar las pérdidas de mercurio en las etapas de amalgamación y refogado. Para ello, se realizo un balance de masa de mercurio en 5 molinos y 6 "'quimbaletes'''', evaluándose 6 muestras en cada equipo. Los resultados nos indican que las perdidas de mercurio (vertidos al medio ambiente) en los molinos oscilan entre 6 y 9 g de mercurio para recuperar 1 g de oro; y en el caso de los "quimbaletes" oscila entre 5 y 17 g de mercurio para recuperar 1 g de oro.
The Rinconada is a mining town that lies at the foot of the imposing snow-capped mountains of the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes of the department of Puno, at 5,400 m.s. in the territorial limit with Bolivia; 50,000 people during the year, in an area of 10 Ha .; It carnes out activities such as the exploitation and processing of the gold ore, obtaining gold as the final product. In the gold recovery process through amalgamation, two equipment is used with great intensity, one of them rudimentary, the "quimbalete" and the other the mill. The technique of amalgamation is used with profusion, due to its simplicity, with maximum efficiency and for the little investment of capital. Mercury is used in the recovery of gold, often without precautions, causing great polluting effect on the atmosphere, water, soil, and on the workers themselves and the families they handle. The inadequate use of mercury in the treatment, the conduction of the production of the high losses, the form of the mercury, the process of the amalgamation, the vapor of Hg and the inorganic compounds during the separation gold -mercury, (refogado). The objective of the present study was to determine the mercury losses in the amalgamation and reimbursement stages. To do this, perform a mass balance of mercury in 5 milis and 6 "quimbaletes", evaluating 6 samples in each equipment. The results indicate that the mercury losses in the milis oscillate between 6 and 9 g of mercury to recover 1 g of gold; and in the case of "quimbaletes" it ranges between 5 and 17 g of mercury to recover 1 g of gold.
The Rinconada is a mining town that lies at the foot of the imposing snow-capped mountains of the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes of the department of Puno, at 5,400 m.s. in the territorial limit with Bolivia; 50,000 people during the year, in an area of 10 Ha .; It carnes out activities such as the exploitation and processing of the gold ore, obtaining gold as the final product. In the gold recovery process through amalgamation, two equipment is used with great intensity, one of them rudimentary, the "quimbalete" and the other the mill. The technique of amalgamation is used with profusion, due to its simplicity, with maximum efficiency and for the little investment of capital. Mercury is used in the recovery of gold, often without precautions, causing great polluting effect on the atmosphere, water, soil, and on the workers themselves and the families they handle. The inadequate use of mercury in the treatment, the conduction of the production of the high losses, the form of the mercury, the process of the amalgamation, the vapor of Hg and the inorganic compounds during the separation gold -mercury, (refogado). The objective of the present study was to determine the mercury losses in the amalgamation and reimbursement stages. To do this, perform a mass balance of mercury in 5 milis and 6 "quimbaletes", evaluating 6 samples in each equipment. The results indicate that the mercury losses in the milis oscillate between 6 and 9 g of mercury to recover 1 g of gold; and in the case of "quimbaletes" it ranges between 5 and 17 g of mercury to recover 1 g of gold.
Description
Vol. 4, No. 1