Benguet Gold and Borax Revolution

Filipino Gold Miner's Borax Revolution

Article copied from:http://www.blacksmithinstitute.org/newsletter/march-april-filipino-gold-miner-reveals-borax-secret-pakistan-s-pollution-problem.html A movement is taking root in the small province of Benguet in the Philippines that might just revolutionize the artisanal gold mining industry and greatly reduce worldwide toxic mercury emissions. Gold miners there are rediscovering a century-old method of gold extraction using non-toxic borax instead of mercury. If artisanal gold miners around the world can be convinced to switch to borax, it would prevent the release of about 1,000 tons of toxic mercury a year - about 30% of the world's mercury emissions. We spoke with Leoncio Na-Oy, a gold miner in Benguet, about the method. Unable to find a job after graduating with a degree in history, Leoncio turned to gold mining and has since been a vocal supporter of the borax method, helping to spread the word to fellow miners in the Philippines and beyond. He told us that elders in Benguet have been using borax to extract gold since the 1900s. But in the 1960s and 70s, large gold mining concerns came into the region and introduced mercury. However, Leoncio told us that many miners in Benguet have since gone back to using borax because it returns much more gold. "There is a significant difference. For example, the percentage of purity of gold using the borax method is 15.8.  If you use mercury, it is 14.8. If miners see that the borax process is efficient and that they can recover more gold and earn more, they will learn the new process. That is the primary argument to get them to use borax.  For instance, we tell them that for 1 kilo of gold we will use only 400 grams of borax, which can be bought at P40/kilo. However, we will need to use P30,000 worth of mercury to get 1 kilo of gold. Miners in other areas are just not aware of the borax method.  There was a group of miners from Compostela Valley Diwalway who came to Benguet to see us use the borax method. When they saw the process they all were amazed that we could recover gold without mercury. The miners are also unaware of the harmful effects of mercury. It was only brought to our attention in recent years by groups like BAN TOXICS.  It was only when Peter Appel* came to the area that our borax method started to be promoted in other areas.  We became volunteers to spread the method. Now, the Benguet Federation of ASGM (artisanal gold miners) has a 15-year program to totally stop the use of mercury.  All 15,000 affiliated members of the federation are now using borax.  However, there are few rogue miners that still use mercury and we are trying to convince them to switch." Result from using 5-10% mercury when extracting gold. (Photo: P. Appel) Result from using Borax Method when extracting gold. (Photo: P. Appel)

BOMBA, Can’t Survive Without

Whether a hobbyist, or a serious gardener, they can’t do it without bomba whatever kind, design or capacity. In the highlands of the Cordillera especially here up north, when farmers say bomba they mean either a knapsack sprayer or pesticide. 

Invited by a friend for a late night dinner, I got this interesting conversation.

Me: kasla mayat trabahum ah, kanayun mu kasabat ni Governor

Fren: anya nga mayat, Human Rights met nga kanayun, agasem man dayta binugbug dagita government forces (Gofo) jay farmer gapu ta haan da maawatan ti culture ti umili. Outsider da gamin, tagalog sau da ya, kastoy gamin ti nangyari.

          Gofo: (talking to farmer) Saan kayo punta?

          Farmer: Du-un sa Kampu Sir

          Gofo: (Gulat) Anong meron sa Campo niyo?

          Farmer: Bomba Sir.

          Gofo: (Lalong gulat) Niloloko mo ba kami?

           Farmer: Hindi po sir, Bomba po talaga andon sa kampo, katulad ng Shotgun,
                         Armas, Bazooka,Uzi, ken yong bomba ngay…….

         
            Note: the Farmer is referring to the pesticides with trade name such as Shotgun-M
                      Fungicide, Armas 2.5EC Insecticide, Bazooka Insecticide, Uzi 5EC and
                      knapsack sprayer

Me: Naku po kawawa nga talaga yong farmer, hopefully applicable sa kanila yong ignorance of the law excuses no one….. (no reply fren)

Sana malaman din ng mga gofo na madaming mga bomba ang ginagamit ng mga farmers katulad ng  Megaboom (foliar fert), Bombard 2.75EC, Bomber 5EC, Caliber 70WP, Carbine 50SP, Crusher 250EC, Dynamite 480SL glyphosate, Panlaban 5EC, Pounder 160SL, Sharpshooter 480SL, Terminator, Magnum 5 EC, or Warak 31.5 EC.

Fren: Anya dagita bomba? Hahahahaha

Waiter: Sir bawal po pag-usapan dito ang mga bomba, baka matakot ibang mga customer……

Me and Fren: Wahahahahaha……….. ay okey…..

Me: Agawid tan baka agayab dat Pulis, makabasul ta pay........ Ada pay met awit ku nga magnum.......

Guard: Sir sa susunod pakideposit na lang po dito sa amin yong magnum niyo.

Me: Ah okey, Thanks