In the Sierra Gorda region of Mexico, a mercury mining boom is underway, driven by soaring international gold prices that have increased the value of mercury to record highs. Miners like Hugo Flores work tirelessly, drilling into rock to extract this toxic element found in veins of cinnabar. While the mining surge provides income for thousands, it also poses severe health risks and environmental threats.
In towns like San Joaquin, located in the north-central state of Queretaro, the price of mercury has soared more than tenfold in just 15 years, from approximately $20 per kilogram in 2011 to between $240 and $350 today. This dramatic increase is making mercury more appealing to local miners, many of whom are willing to risk exposure to the toxic metal to secure a livelihood. Fernando Díaz-Barriga, a medical researcher familiar with the industry, highlights the desperation of miners, noting, “It’s worth poisoning myself if I’m going to earn something.”
The mercury extracted from these artisanal mines is not only consumed locally; it is trafficked across borders, primarily to countries like Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru, where it is utilized in illegal gold mining operations in the Amazon. The environmental consequences have been alarming, as rivers become contaminated and local ecosystems suffer.
Historically, mercury mining in this region dates back centuries, with the metal having various applications from thermometers to cosmetics. However, after many nations banned its use, Mexico became a focal point for mercury production, second only to China, with estimates suggesting a yearly yield of around 200 tons. Miners in the area have become increasingly reliant on this lucrative but hazardous industry, as opportunities for legitimate work are scarce in a region where nearly half the population lives in poverty.
Local leader Carlos Martínez describes how opportunistic buyers from abroad profit by purchasing mercury from local miners at low prices, then reselling it at a significant markup. This practice highlights the exploitation of vulnerable communities that depend on mining for survival.
Despite global efforts to ban mercury mining, the ban has paradoxically increased local demand, causing miners to feel emboldened yet increasingly at risk. The Mexican government’s promise to develop alternative opportunities for miners has largely gone unfulfilled, leaving many dependent on the dangerous work despite the known health risks.
Health professionals warn about the chronic exposure to mercury faced by many miners. Reports indicate symptoms of mercury poisoning such as tremors and neurological issues are common among those working closely with the toxic substance. Legal researcher Izarelly Rosillo, who has experienced mercury poisoning herself, emphasizes the community’s pervasive struggle with health issues, linking many miners’ ailments to their hazardous work conditions.
Environmental scientists also express concern as mercury pollution spreads throughout the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, which is home to many endangered species. The area, once recognized for its biodiversity, is being severely impacted as mercury contamination rises.
Moreover, with the growing demand for gold and the rising prices of mercury, miners fear an increase in violence associated with organized crime. Carlos Martínez highlights the precarious nature of their work, stating that if the mines are shut down, criminal elements are likely to take over, further complicating the situation.
Amid this backdrop of risk and desperation, families are caught in a cycle of poverty, with young individuals driven back to the mines after unsuccessful attempts to find work elsewhere. Some, like Flores, reflect on their family’s historical reliance on mercury mining, even as they recognize the uncertain future it presents for their children.
As the Mexican government grapples with enforcement of international agreements banning mercury mining, miners remain in a precarious situation, balancing desperate economic needs with the dire consequences of their work. With no clear solutions in sight, the mercury mining boom continues to symbolize both opportunity and danger in the Sierra Gorda region.
