CORREIA Mining Company (CMC), operating near Olive Creek, in Region 7 (Cuyuni /Mazaruni), was complimented, recently, for pioneering the use of an Xtruder 255 Shaking Table, as an alternative to mercury for gold recovery.

It was reported that this instrument, which costs US$32,000, is used in the final step before smelting and has the capability of recovering approximately 15 percent more fine gold at a faster rate.
Further, when powered with solar energy, it eliminates a lot of miscellaneous costs when compared to operations using mercury.
It allows for 98 percent recovery, is simple to operate and has the capacity of up to 255 pounds per hour and can recover very fine gold, down to 400 mesh with a minimal water requirement of six to ten gallons per minute.
During a recent interaction with the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr. Robert Persaud, CMC Director of Mining Operations, Mr. Charles De Freitas explained that the “washing down” process takes about two to two-and-a-half hours, at the most, after which the recovered gold goes straight to the furnace for smelting.
“Mercury is over $20,000 per pound, so we feel that, in the long run; this will not only pay for itself, but is also eliminating all the risks that come with mercury. This is a viable alternative,” De Freitas said.
Sustainable manner
Mr. Michael Correia (Jnr) said it is incumbent on all involved in the sector to ensure that mining is done in a sustainable manner.
He stated that it is an established fact that mercury is a poison and, therefore, the elimination of its use is in the best interest of all involved.
CMC is the first company in the local mining industry that has a shaking table in operation while others are now conducting trial runs.
Mercury, a highly toxic chemical element, is banned in many countries, but is still used in Guyana and most of the developing world.
However, the Government of Guyana aims to gradually phase out its use by 2020, recognising the environmental and human health risks.
Meanwhile, the Natural Resources Ministry, working closely with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), has been looking at ways through which miners can be further encouraged to incorporate mercury-free technologies into their practices.
The GGMC has invested in the procurement of two centrifugal gold recovery systems from South Africa, which is another form of mercury-free technology.
Minister Persaud explained that globally, it is recognised that there will be restrictions in the trade of mercury and, as a result, access to it would become very difficult and even more costly.
Consequently, the ministry stands ready to work closely with those in the sector for the gradual phasing out of mercury use and the initiative that CMC has taken lends significant impetus in this regard.