Brazil uses forensic science to trace gold’s origin and tackle illegal mining in the Amazon

Brazil is using forensic techniques like X-ray fluorescence and mass spectrometry to trace gold’s origin and combat illegal mining in the Amazon. The National Institute of Criminalistics in Brasilia established a 'gold lab' to analyze samples and determine if gold was illegally sourced from protected areas. Satellite data indicates significant rainforest destruction for mining since 2023.