Geocide, Ecocide, and Genocidal Type Outcomes from Large-Scale Open Pit Mountaintop Gold Mining in the Outskirts of Paracatu, Brazil

Abstract In 1987, large-scale open pit mountaintop gold mining was initiated in the outskirts of the Paracatu town, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The mine hard rocks contain low-grade gold ore (average 0.4 g gold/ton ore) and abnormally high amounts of arsenopyrite (FeAsS; average 1000 g/ton ore). Since 2005, the mine has been operated solely by Canadian Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC-NYSE, K-TSX) through its local subsidiary. The poorly controlled mining activities release FeAsS and its weathering products from the rocks as particulate matter, gas, and solutes that contaminate the air, soils, surface water and ground water. As of 2016, the cumulative inorganic arsenic throughput of the mine was estimated at 735,000 ton. In this article, we present the first series of sentinel cases of chronic arsenic intoxication (CAsI) in Paracatu. Despite mounting evidence for wanton widespread environmental degradation, large-scale environmental contamination, chronic mass intoxication, and persistent human rights abuse, a num...