Core Insights - The surge in international gold prices is driving a "mercury rush" in Mexico, with mercury prices skyrocketing due to increased demand from illegal gold mining [1][2] - Mexico has become the world's second-largest mercury producer, with an annual output of 200 tons, as illegal mining operations thrive [2] Group 1: Mercury Prices and Mining Operations - Mercury prices in the town of San Joaquín have increased over tenfold in nearly 15 years, rising from $20 per kilogram in 2011 to between $240 and $350 currently [1] - Mercury is critical in gold mining for its ability to absorb gold particles, despite being banned or strictly regulated in many countries due to its hazardous nature [1] Group 2: Health and Environmental Impact - The extraction and refining of mercury pose severe health risks to miners and significant environmental damage, with reports of miners consuming food near mercury fumes and improper waste disposal into rivers [2] - The mining area is located near important biological reserves, threatening endangered species if illegal mining and environmental degradation continue unchecked [2]