Climate

Cyanide ponds from illegal mining threaten Amazon Indigenous territory

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 02/11/2026, 14:24:24 UTC.

Briefings

Illegal gold mining in Brazil's Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Territory uses cyanide to dissolve gold, contaminating water and threatening the territory. Federal Police seized 375 kg of cyanide and 1,250 kg of activated charcoal in July 2026, following a 2025 raid that closed an illegal laboratory in Boa Vista where contaminated rocks were found. Mercury trade has declined due to regulatory bans, making black market mercury more expensive.

Key points

• Federal Police seized 375 kilograms of cyanide and 1,250 kilograms of activated charcoal in July 2026 from illegal miners in the Raposa Serra do Sol territory.
• A 2025 raid in Boa Vista closed an illegal laboratory where rocks contaminated with cyanide were found, linking the contamination to the territory.

Context

Illegal gold mining in Brazil's Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Territory uses cyanide to dissolve gold, contaminating water and threatening the territory. Federal Police seized 375 kg of cyanide and 1,250 kg of activated charcoal in July 2026, following a 2025 raid that closed an illegal laboratory in Boa Vista where contaminated rocks were found. Mercury trade has declined due to regulatory bans, making black market mercury more expensive.

Limitations

Evidence covers only the July 2026 seizure and the 2025 laboratory closure; mercury availability data is from IBAMA without specific quantities or dates; no direct quotes from Indigenous representatives or affected communities are provided.

Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 02/11/2026, 14:46:03 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.

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