Brazil targets Amazon gold miners in Yanomami reserve (BBC)

Brazilian police have carried out a big operation against illegal gold miners in the Amazon, arresting at least 26 people.
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Police said the miners were causing grave environmental damage in the Yanomami indigenous reserve, near Brazil's border with Venezuela.
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Five criminal groups involved in illegal gold mining were identified during a year-long investigation in Roraima state, the Federal Police said.

The miners were using powerful pumps mounted on barges to dredge material from the bottom of the river and blast the river banks.

The environmental impact was worsened by the use of highly-toxic mercury to separate gold from the river silt.
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18839464