Mercury is a systems problem.
Mercury persists not because miners choose it — but because the systems around them leave no viable alternative.
PACTO is designed to transform those systems.
Mercury Free Mining's Mission
Approximately 20 million artisanal and small-scale gold miners (ASGM) rely on gold mining for survival — yet most operate in systems that leave mercury as the only practical option.
Mercury persists not because miners don’t care, but because informal markets offer no safe, affordable, and verifiable alternatives. In the absence of a system that works, mercury becomes the default.
Mercury Free Mining exists to fix that system — so mercury becomes unnecessary in daily practice.
We focus on scaling locally governed, transparent, and verifiable mercury-free gold processing models.
Join the hundreds of supporters who have helped us pave a path to a mercury-free future.
One of the major challenges to our jewelry industry’s reputation is the thorough execution of best practices at the points of origin…including human rights and community health and safety.
There may be no greater challenge to the latter than the elimination of hazardous materials due to the ongoing threat of generational health degradation. And, at the top of the list, is the elimination of mercury. Such elimination starts with education and followed with alternatives.
I fully support the efforts of Toby and the Mercury Free Mining team.
