Recreational gold mining
Recreational gold mining and prospecting has become a popular outdoor activity in several countries, including New Zealand (particularly in Otago), Australia, South Africa, Wales (at Dolaucothi and in Gwynedd), Canada and the United States especially. Recreational mining is typically small-scale placer mining but has been challenged for environmental reasons. The disruption of historic gold placer deposits poses risks of reintroducing pollutants from past mining activities, such as mercury remaining in mine deposits and tailings.