【环球时报报道 记者 李迅典】据美联社15日报道，国际金价飙升正导致墨西哥掀起一股"水银热"。 长期研究墨西哥中部汞矿的医学研究员迪亚斯-巴里加表示："汞第一次变得如此值钱，许多矿工 说，'如果我能赚到够多的钱，中毒也值得'。"汞矿工们从地下开采朱砂矿石，并在砖窑中加热提炼， 汞蒸气冷却后形成银色液滴，随后被灌装到塑料瓶，这样的瓶装水银售价可以达到1800美元。联合国 称，墨西哥已跃升为世界第二大汞生产国，年产量达200吨。圣华金一处矿场的负责人马丁内斯表示， 买家在这里购入汞，到盛产金矿的秘鲁脱手，可以赚到惊人的利润。 墨西哥"水银热"背后的代价是沉重的。提炼汞正对矿工健康和当地环境造成严重影响。迪亚斯-巴里加 强调称："该地区正在被彻底毒害。"矿工们会在汞炉烟雾旁饮食，雨季时还会在家中提炼汞，对身体危 害极大。由于缺乏有效监管，为了降低成本，部分矿场提炼汞过程中产生的废料会被直接倾倒入河中。 矿区恰好位于墨西哥重要生物保护区周边，栖息有众多濒危动物。科学家警告，若不制止非法开采并进 行环境清理，动植物都将受到严重影响。 2017年，墨西哥签署联合国公约，准备逐步禁止汞（水银）开采与出口，并承诺手工汞矿场最 ...

Core Insights - The report highlights the surge in illegal gold mining driven by increasing global demand for gold and critical minerals, exacerbated by political instability and weak regulatory environments [1][2][3] Group 1: Current Status and Drivers of Illegal Gold Mining - The demand for gold and critical minerals has surged, leading to rampant illegal mining activities, particularly in politically unstable regions [1] - Criminal groups exploit governance gaps through bribery and the establishment of shell companies, creating a "criminal fusion" phenomenon [1][2] Group 2: Supply Chain Criminal Networks and Vulnerabilities - The gold supply chain is geographically fragmented, with mining concentrated in Africa and Latin America, while refining occurs in Europe and East Asia, complicating regulatory oversight [2] - Illegal gold often enters the market through smuggling and falsified documentation, with significant corruption present at all supply chain stages [2][3] Group 3: Environmental and Social Impacts - Illegal mining causes severe ecological damage, including deforestation and water pollution, particularly in sensitive areas like the Amazon [3] - Socially, miners, including children, face exploitation and violence, with criminal groups exacerbating regional conflicts [3] Group 4: Policy Responses and Challenges - The report suggests enhancing supply chain transparency through blockchain technology and requiring companies to conduct due diligence [4][5] - Strengthening legal frameworks and international cooperation is essential to combat illegal mining effectively [5][6] Group 5: Regional Differences and Global Cooperation - Different regions face unique challenges, such as armed groups in Africa and drug-related crime in Latin America, necessitating coordinated international policy responses [8] - The execution of policies varies significantly, particularly in developing countries, where capacity limitations hinder effective implementation [8][9] Group 6: Conclusion - Illegal gold mining represents a significant environmental and governance challenge, requiring a multifaceted approach that includes global collaboration, technological innovation, and community empowerment [9]