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      • Granja Porcón
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The Mining Process A Yanacocha Mine, Peru story

Mining
  1. Yanacocha Mine, Peru
  2. The Mining Process
Description

Gold is found in the Yanacocha Mine in microscopic bits. One hundred tons of earth need to be removed for every ounce of gold extracted. The large volumes of material are dumped onto a lined leach pad, and cyanide solution is sprayed over it. The cyanide binds with the gold and causes a solution enriched with gold to settle at the bottom. The gold can then be extracted from that solution.

Environmental risks of large-scale open pit mining are complex and uncertain. One impact is the potential risk of cyanide contamination on soil and water. Satellite data along with ground studies can help show the land change effects of mining operations, such as groundwater quality and watershed changes.

View Related Imagery & Stories

Location

June 23, 1987, Landsat 5 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

June 23, 1987, Landsat 5 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

June 13, 1995, Landsat 5 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

June 13, 1995, Landsat 5 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

Aug. 19, 1999, Landsat 7 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

Aug. 19, 1999, Landsat 7 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

Aug. 11, 2002, Landsat 7 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

Aug. 11, 2002, Landsat 7 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

Aug. 1, 2007, Landsat 7 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

Aug. 1, 2007, Landsat 7 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

June 9, 2011, Landsat 5 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

June 9, 2011, Landsat 5 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

July 16, 2013, Landsat 8 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

July 16, 2013, Landsat 8 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

July 24, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

July 24, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

June 25, 2017, Landsat 8 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

June 25, 2017, Landsat 8 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

Aug. 2, 2019, Landsat 8 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

Aug. 2, 2019, Landsat 8 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

July 6, 2021, Landsat 8 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

July 6, 2021, Landsat 8 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

June 23, 1987, Landsat 5 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru
June 13, 1995, Landsat 5 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru
Aug. 19, 1999, Landsat 7 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru
Aug. 11, 2002, Landsat 7 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru
Aug. 1, 2007, Landsat 7 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru
June 9, 2011, Landsat 5 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru
July 16, 2013, Landsat 8 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru
July 24, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru
June 25, 2017, Landsat 8 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru
Aug. 2, 2019, Landsat 8 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru
July 6, 2021, Landsat 8 (path/row 9/65) — Yanacocha Mine, Peru

Yanacocha Mine, Peru Additional Imagery & Stories

Granja Porcón
Granja Porcón

Just west of the mining area, a dark green patch of land emerges in the time series of images. This is a cooperative farm called Granja Porcón. The 12...

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