Using red dye to demonstrate how Mercury cannot be absorbed by a towel

[u/himmokala]

[u/vile_lullaby]

This still happens in South America. Mercury smuggling is a big business and cartels are involved. Only one country in South America (Guyana) allows mercury import by private citizens, and it's smuggled all around. Certainly many of the larger illegal mines have other sources, but the boutique mines by smaller individual miners in the jungle are mostly sourced this way.

[u/Away-Ad-8053 → u/vile_lullaby]

I wouldn't doubt it. It's is a pretty efficient way of removing color/gold just dangerous and poisonous!