From Wikipedia:

“Gold production is associated with contribution to hazardous pollution. The ore, generally containing less than one ppm gold metal, is ground and mixed with sodium cyanide or mercury to react with gold in the ore for gold separation. Cyanide is a highly poisonous chemical, which can kill living creatures when exposed in minute quantities. Many cyanide spills from gold mines have occurred in both developed and developing countries which killed marine life in long stretches of affected rivers. Environmentalists consider these events major environmental disasters. When mercury is used in gold production, minute quantity of mercury compounds reach water bodies, causing heavy metal contamination. Mercury can then enter into the human food chain in the form of methylmercury. Mercury poisoning in humans causes incurable brain function damage and severe retardation.”
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..but Hey, Masdar city has solar panels.

Forget about zinc & copper. They’re after the gold, in Brazil this time. Much environment.
The UAE partnered-up with the ‘right’ guy, and put its hands on his sinking businesses when he crashed. Good for them. Wait a couple of years until Spain pulls off a ‘grexit’, et voila! Smart, if you ask me.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/abu-dhabis-mubadala-takes-ownership-in-gold-firm-aux-1423756551

And you thought buying out football clubs was bad.