Use of mercury to extract gold in Amazon - the process known as despescagem, the removal of material collected in the sluice box by using mercury ( being poured from litlle bottle ) to amalgamate with the metal. The gold is separated from sediments and accumulates in the box ( white material ). No precautions are taken to prevent the mercury pouring into the river or coming into contact with the skin. Agua Branca gold mining village, Amazon rain forest, Para State, Brazil.