A glimpse of the future of precious metal mining

In 100 years time this and 100's of thousands more landfills will be reclassified as primary silver mines, at which time the cycle will be complete. Silver mined, made into an electronic device, de-mined into a landfill, re-mined from that landfill and then turned into a replacement for antibiotics when the last one has become resistant. 

Guatemala's toxic river of trash that is attracting thousands of 'miners' risking life in search of gold and jewellery.

By Associated Press

Amidst a torrent of grey, toxic water, these are the men who call themselves ‘miners’ as they risk their lives in search for gold and jewellery in a garbage-filled gorge.

The water spews from a drainage tunnel and surges along the ravine, tumbling along trash that has fallen from Guatemala City’s landfill 1,000 feet above.

Despite the foul odours, the danger of unstable piles of garbage collapsing and the chance for heavy rain to suddenly raise the water level, dozens of people are busily at work searching for jewellery and other metal scraps knocked loose from the trash.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2057891/Guatemalas-toxic-river-trash-attracting-thousands-miners-risking-life-search-gold-jewellery.html#ixzz1ctq2uzdn