Brazil uses forensic science to trace gold’s origin and tackle illegal mining in the Amazon
Federal police say the lab can match seized gold to protected areas and Indigenous lands, helping prosecutors build cases against illegal miners.
- Federal police in Brasilia operate a 'gold lab' using 'gold fingerprinting' to trace seized gold origins and identify illegal mining from protected Indigenous lands.
- Criminal organizations have surged illegal mining in the Amazon using a 'ghost mine' scam, with Brazil's Federal Court of Accounts reporting last year that legitimate permits are used to launder gold from protected territories.
- Forensic expert Gustavo Geiser uses laboratory techniques to match seized samples to protected regions, while a 2023 study by Fiocruz found 21.3% of Amazonian fish exceeded World Health Organization safety limits for Mercury contamination.
- A Federal Court in Para ordered the Central Bank and National Mining Agency this month to implement effective gold traceability, and federal prosecutors filed a lawsuit seeking stronger oversight of mining permits.
- The Ministry of Mines and Energy debates a draft to phase out Mercury by Aug. 7, while authorities strengthen collaboration through the Amazon International Police Cooperation Center as crime networks exploit Venezuela and Suriname.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Fox 59 Indianapolis
Brazil uses forensic science to trace gold’s origin and tackle illegal mining in the Amazon
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazil is using forensic science to tackle illegal gold mining in the Amazon, a top threat to the rainforest, Indigenous groups and other communities there that has accelerated deforestation and driven mercury contamination to dangerous levels. The work takes place at the National Institute of Criminalistics in Brasilia, the country’s capital, […]
Associated Press News
Brazil uses forensic science to trace gold's origin and tackle illegal mining in the Amazon
Brazil is using forensic science to tackle illegal gold mining in the Amazon. The mining is a top threat to the rainforest and Indigenous and other local communities as it has accelerated deforestation and driven mercury contamination to dangerous levels.
Brazil uses forensic science to combat illegal gold mining in Amazonia, which is one of the main threats to the rainforest, indigenous groups and other communities in the region, and has accelerated deforestation and increased mercury pollution to dangerous levels.
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