Obtaining gold from one cyanide leaching method, enviromental problems and examples of Turkey (gold production in view Turkey)

Gold production through cyanidation, a process discussed in Turkey for more than 20 years, is although a subject area of engineering, needs to be considered with its economic, social, political and technical aspects. Cyanidation has been implemented worldwide for a century as a process for gold production and was accompanied with many problems, and until its application in Turkey began, it was only a subject being discussed with its technical dimensions, together with some illusions, used in the economic and political processes encountered by Turkey, and any serious conclusions, experienced or to be experienced were disregarded. In this study we have studied gold production with cyanide process, which have caused severe negative outcomes in various areas of the world with its environmental, health, economic and political results. And as regards its usage in Turkey, its evaluation has been made considering the examples worldwide. Use of cyanidation in gold production, an issue talked about in various areas within Turkey, has commenced in 1985 with Gümüşköy Silver Enterprises established in Gümüşköy-Kütahya, which produces silver with cyanide process. It was followed by the long discussed Ovacık Gold Enterprises, which in 2001 started production with illegal methods in Ovacık-Bergama-Izmir, and many environmental problems were observed thereafter. Finally, Kışladağ Gold Enterprises, established in Kışladağ-Eşme-Uşak, started production in 2006, which even in the test phase caused many environmental and health problems. These three enterprises were examined both in the establishment and operation phases, and it was determined that considerable environmental problems have occurred, health problems were experienced, and unrecoverable economic losses were suffered. Furthermore, it was observed that while the health of the people and the environment were disregarded in this great economic cycle, political authorities have regulated the laws in favour of the economic powers, and have not implemented the court rulings. In this study it was also observed that natural resources were directed to certain centres in a manner destroying the natural resources. It is unavoidable that the same results will occur with the similar applications which get prepared for production. Besides, many of the findings are also valid for other mining enterprises. In general, it may be put forward that gold production with cyanidation in Turkey has started with problems and continues with problems. Considering that severe results will occur in the future, the important economic, social and technical studies in this subject should also be considered in the political area. Key Words: Cyanidation, leach, acute, toxicokinetic