escriptionThe extraction of minerals such as silver, gold, copper, nickel, precious stones, salt, coal and oil from the earth is known as mining name and the crushing and separation of valuable substances is known as ore. Treatment. These processes generally take place in industrial mines, of varying size. Large-scale mines have ore processing facilities where the mined mineral(s) are crushed, washed, and undergo other physical and chemical separation procedures. ProcessMercury, also known as "quicksilver", is found in the earth and is a liquid metal. Mercury usually forms in a sulfide ore called cinnabar, but mercury is also usually found in minor amounts in other ores. A very common technique for separating Mercury from Cinnabar involves grinding the ore and heating it, so that the Mercury vaporizes, which then results in a liquefied form of Mercury. If not done properly, mercury vapors (which are highly toxic) will escape into the atmosphere (Mining and ore Processing-Mercury, 2011). If mercury is discovered, waste from mining and extraction processes may still contain volumes of the toxic substance. . If mercury is not handled or recovered throughout mining and ore processing, it could eventually end up in the atmosphere if the waste is not stored properly. Mercury is widely used in the gold mining process as a mixture to separate gold from gold. ore. When Mercury is mixed with gold, it causes a reaction that separates the gold from the ore. This mixture is then heated so that the mercury evaporates, which then leaves the gold. If this process is carried out without the proper safety equipment, mercury vapors could be released into the air (Pollution Report, 20...... middle of paper ......h home to many amounts of biodiversity These mining operations often require felling trees to create ample space for camps, and miners may hunt, fish, and collect other forest resources for food and medicine, or as a means of subsistence. increase their income. Mines are generally installed near rivers, it very often happens that excess chemicals spread directly into waterways. Once rooted in the soil and/or water, mercury. converts to methylmercury which easily accumulates in fish, which is not only harmful to the environment, but to all other animals, including humans According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. , effects observed in animals exposed to high levels of methylmercury include mortality, reduced fertility, slower growth rates, and abnormal behavior that affects survival (Environmental Protection Agency)., 2008).