Arsenic Mines

Arsenic (As) is a chemical element with atomic number 33. Most people know that it is toxic, especially that it is possible to poison someone slowly over a long time and so it is impossible to find out by who and when he was poisoned.

However, we talk here about the mining of arsenic, which is often simply a part of minerals, and if the minerals are mined for some metal arsenic is produced by the smelter. Minerals with the formula MAsS and MAs₂, where M is a metal like Iron, Nickel or Cobalt, and realgar are the dominant commercial sources of arsenic. Probably the most common of them is arsenopyrite (FeAsS), which is quite similar to iron pyrite. There are also deposits of native (elemental) arsenic. Often this is a dangerous source of pollution of the surroundings. But it is important to industry in alloys of lead for example, in car batteries and ammunition, and in semiconductor electronic devices (gallium arsenide).

Although it is widely used, the required amount is rather low. There is not much arsenic needed for a computer chip. As a result there are and have ever been very few arsenic mines, especially as arsenic is quite often a byproduct with a main ore. We have listed several thousand show mines worldwide, only half a dozen are actually known for arsenic. Many western countries have shut down arsenic refinement operations over environmental concerns. China and Morocco produce more than 90 % of the global consumption of arsenic today.