FX.co ★ Illegal gold: the price of extraction

A vast area of 9.5 million hectares is legally owned by Indian tribe Yanomami. It is here that illegal gold miners are working.

To date, about 27,000 Indians live in a territory that "black" gold miners continually pollute, using illegal methods in pursuit of precious metal.

Despite the fact that such raids are conducted regularly, violators of the law continue their activities. To protect themselves, gold miners often move from place to place. Due to the large area with gold ore deposits, it is not immediately possible to control the entire territory.

According to experts, illegal gold mining is a big threat to tribes that are in isolated areas.

According to 1990s media reports, it is known that most of the Indians living in these places suffered as a result of violence by gold miners.

According to preliminary estimates of the service, about three thousand prospectors are now operating on the lands of the Indians.

Yanomami is a group of Indian tribes living in 250 villages. Their main activities are growing and harvesting fruits, fishing, and hunting.