Mining must not be conducted in Rapu-Rapu for the following reasons: a) Rapu-rapu is an island ecosystem with steep slope; b) It is characterized by a Type II climate - no dry season with very pronounced wet period from November to January (PAGASA Corona classification); c) It is located along typhoon path; and d) Its massive iron sulfide rocks are capable of generating sulfuric acid. These geophysico-chemical conditions are the reasons why, within only four months of operation, Lafayette mining caused two cyanide spills and fish-kills in October 11 and 31, 2005. Apparently, it also brought about fish-kills in the adjacent province of Sorsogon.

1. Impacts of Lafayette Mining in the
Island of Rapu-Rapu, Albay Resulting
from Cyanide Spill and Acid Mine
Drainage
by
EMELINA G. REGIS, Ph. D.
August 6, 2007
Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research
(INECAR)
Ateneo de Naga University
Research Grant provided by the FPE

2. Some Background
January 2000 – involvement of Ateneo de Naga University
upon request of the 2 Bishops (Bishop Sorra and Bishop
Quiambao) of the Diocese of Legazpi for assistance from
Fr. Joel E. Tabora, S.J., President of Ateneo de Naga
University
May 2000 – Januay, 2001 – research in Rapu-Rapu by
INECAR and other volunteer offices
July 12, 2001 – Lafayette was granted an Environmental
Compliance Certificate (ECC)
July2, 2005 – Lafayette started its operation
October 11 and 31, 2005 – Cyanide spill and fish-kills

3. Collecting Station Date of Cyanide % DENR
collection level in Exceed- Standard Cyanide
mg/L ance (DAO 34) mg/L spill
Pagcolbon creek – Oct 11, 05 6.42 12,740 0.05
spills point of
discharge
Mouth of Pagcolbon Oct 11, 05 9.95 19,800 0.05
creek
Ungay creek DS Nov 4, 05 0. 468 836 0.05
Ungay creek DS Nov 5, 05 0. 244 388 0.05
Hollowstone creek DS Nov 4, 05 15.28 30,460 0.05
Hollowstone creek DS Nov 5, 05 17.82 35,540 0.05
Pagcolbon creek – Nov 4, 05 0.084 68 0.05
spills point of
discharge
Ungay creek offshore Nov 4, 05 0.095 90 0.05 Source:
(sea) DENR-PAB
Polishing pond Nov 4, 05 52.00 25,900 0.20 Case No. 05-
(effluent) 00744-05
Polishing pond Nov 5, 05 19.28 9,540 0.20
(effluent)

4. Effects of the cyanide spill and siltation of the sea
- fish-kill due to cyanide
- fish-kill due to silt that injures the gills of fishes as a
result of abrasive action of silt to gill tissues.
- loss of livelihood in fishery in the island and adjacent
municipalities at the eastern coast of Sorsogon
- various ailments experience by the people, possibly
due to the spill incident
- toxic heavy metal accumulation in aquatic
organisms and people that would cause a variety of
illnesses

5. Objectives of the study
To assess the damage to the biophysico-chemical condition
of the eastern portion of the island of Rapu-Rapu affected by
the cyanide spill and fish-kill from mining activities.
Specifically, the study intended to:
a) determine the level of heavy metal pollution in the
water (river) in and adjacent to the mining site;
b) determine the level of heavy metals adsorbed by
soil/sediments of the affected river and seashore; and
c) ascertain the impacts of heavy metals on biological
indicators.

6. Study Site 1
(Pagcolbon) with
Site 2
sampling stations*
A, B, C; and
D E
Lafayette Study Site 2
Mining (Binosauan) with
sampling stations*
Site D and E
A
B C
*determined by GPS
Site 1

7. Lafayette Mine in Rapu-Rapu

8. Study Site 3:
Control/
Reference
F
site showing
the sampling
stations*
G
H F, G, H
*determined by GPS

9. Sources of heavy metal and other pollutants
1. Cyanide that spilled into the surroundings
2. Cyanide that facilitated the released of heavy
metals during extraction process
3. Heavy metals in the processing area and the
settling pond that overflowed
4. Tailings, Mud, Silt carried by rainwater
downslope towards the sea
5. Acid mine drainage that released heavy metals
from Tailings dump and processed water

10. Source: Rapu-Rapu Fact-Finding Commission
Source: EMB V

11. Source: Rapu-Rapu Fact-Finding Commission

12. The Spill 2. Settling pond
overflowed due to
1. Cyanide spill including other heavy metals
destroyed rim
causing fishkill since October - December

13. Red arrow – direction of spill
Black arrows – affected plants

14. Pagcolbon upstream Contaminated Tailings, Mud,
Silt carried by rainwater by
run-off and river/creeks
downslope towards the sea
Pagcolbon outlet

15. Contaminated Tailings, Mud and Silt that flowed
downslope towards the sea (Ungay and Hollowstone)

16. Acid Mine Drainage in Pagcolbon river and seashore

17. Heavy metals in soil/sediments of riverbanks
Heavy Site 1 Site 2 Site 3
Metal Pagcolbon Ungay Creek Looc/Mistika Creek
River Bgy Binosawan Town (Control)
Bgy Pagcolbon
Upstrm Outlet Shor Upstrm Outlet Shor Upstrm Outlet Shor
Arsenic 23. 2 35 25.7 0.4*-19.7 14.1 ** 0. 2*-17.9 7.4 ***
(As)
Cadmium <2 10. 9 6.3 ND*-<2 <2 ND*-<2 <MDL a ***
(Cd) **
Chromium 33 31 30. 2 23 25 ** 89 108 ***
(Cr)
Copper 400 442 990 18*-20.8 145 ** 74*-78. 2 60.4 ***
(Cu)
Mercury - - - ND* - ** 0.03 - ***
(Hg)
* PIPAC analysis; the rest by UPNSRI
Standard As Cd Cr Cu Hg
by Kloke, Natural 1 - 20 0.1 - 1 5 - 100 30 0.01 - 1
1981 Max tolerable 20 3 100 100 2

18. Heavy metals in water of river/creeks
Heavy Site 1 Site 2 Site 3
Metal Pagcolbon River Ungay Creek Looc/Mistika Creek
Bgy Pagcolbon Bgy Binosawan Town (Control)
Upstrm Outlet Shor Upstrm Outlet Shor Upstrm Outlet Shor
Arsenic - - - ND* - - - - -
(As)
Cadmium 1.48 1.42 0.284 0.018* 0.035* <MDLa <MDLa <MDLa <MDLa
(Cd)
Chromium <MDLb <MDLb - - <MDLb - <MDLb <MDLb -
(Cr)
Copper 48 46.3 7.5 1.40* 3.08 0.0085 0.0065 <MDLc <MDLc
(Cu)
Zinc (Zn) 41 38 - - 4.4 - <MDLd <MDLd -
Mercury - - - ND* - - - - -
(Hg)
* PIPAC analysis; the rest by UPNSRI
DENR Standard As Cd Cr Cu Zn Hg
WHO** Standard 0.05 0.01 0.05 (Hexavalent) 1.0** 5 – 15** 0.002

19. Summary of heavy metal pollution of water and
sediments
a) contamination of water in Sites 1 and 2 with high levels of
cadmium, copper and zinc
b) contamination of riverbank sediments with high levels of
arsenic, cadmium and copper, with the latter exceedingly high
particularly at the shore; also Hollowstone Creek with copper
c) Chromium was detected highest in Site 3 but below the
standards at the upstream and slightly higher than the
standard at the outlet.
d) Copper is also high in water and in sediments at the Upper
Tailings Pond which is located inside the Mine.

20. Impacts on Biological Indicators
1. Stachytarpheta jamaicensis – pollen grain
response
Pollen response Site 1 Site 3
Normal 78.52% 88.24%
Aborted 20.89% 7.76%
Abnormal 0.6% 4%
Natural abortiveness of plants in general = 5%
Results of statistical analysis = significant

21. Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
40µ
Normal pollen Aborted
grain
Abnormal

22. Digitaria ciliaris Cyperus kyllingia

23. 2. Effects on
Digitaria ciliaris
Results: Statistically
significant
Control
Contaminated

24. Digitaria ciliaris
Control
Contaminated

25. 3. Effects on
Cyperus kyllingia
Results: Statistically
significant
Control
Contaminated

26. Cyperus kyllingia
Control
Contaminated

27. 4. Effects on Padina
japonica
Heavy metals Site 2 Site 3 Reference level*
Binosawan Reference
site
mg/kg mg/kg Natural Critical
Arsenic (As) 16.6 9.9 1 20
Cadmium (Cd) 0.6 <MDL 0.4 5
Chromium (Cr) 4.0 7.7 <1 30
Copper (Cu) 15 9.0 30 > 30

28. 5. Effects on
Halodule pinifolia

29. Halodule pinifolia
The chloroplasts of epidermal
cells are pointed by arrows
A: Site 3 (Control site)
B: Site 1 (Pagcolbon)
A C: Site 2 (Ungay)
B C

30. Impacts of Heavy Metals on
Living Organisms
(based on published literature)

31. M etal Effects on Plants
Arsenic Root plasm olysis; death (necrosis) of leaf tips and m argins;
(As) inhibits seed germ ination; reduced growth
Cadm ium Toxic; Accum ulates in the body; Brow n m argins of leaves;
(Cd) W hitening of leaves (chlorosis); Early leaf senescence
(aging)
Loss of starch grains; Stunted grow th;
Inhibits pollen tube germ ination; No fertilization of egg, thus,
fruits do not develop
Chrom ium Toxic; Plasm olysis, causes wilting of various crops;
(Cr) Affects photosynthesis; Affects plant growth and developm ent
Accum ulation interferes with uptake of Fe, S, K, M g, M n, others
Copper Accum ulates in roots and leaves, reduces calcium and
(Cu) phosphorus uptake; reduces uptake of w ater by the plants
Leakage of ions such as phosphorus and potassium in roots
Dam ages the chloroplast lim iting m em brane; Chloroplast
decrease; Inhibits photosynthesis, Starch grains disappear;
Reduces leaf size; Prom ote early leaf senescence (aging)
Lead (Pb) Accum ulates and tends to rem ain fixed in roots
Leaves becom e w hite (Chlorosis); Inhibits photosynthesis;
Stunted grow th;
Zinc (Zn) Disruption and dilation of nuclear m em brane, cell organelles
disintegrate, cytoplasm becom es structureless

32. H eavy E ffects on Anim als
M etal
Arsenic Accum ulates in the body especially of seafoods;
(As) H igh Toxicity;
Terratogenic, B irth defects; Prom otes cancer
D eath to earthw orm s and other anim als
C adm ium B inds w ith a protein and accum ulates there
(C d) B inds w ith other heavy m etals such as copper,
zinc, and silver
Accum ulates in shellfish; B uilds up in anim al
m ilk and fatty tissues
C hrom ium Terratogenic; reproductive and developm ental
(C r) effects in anim als
D elayed hardening of the bones
B irth defects, hydrocephalus, cleft palate
N ecrosis (death) of som e tubules in kidney
C opper Toxic to m arine organism s such as C opepod
(C u), Zinc R eproductive effects
(Zn), & C d D eath to m arine organism s
M ost Poison to m any anim als
H eavy Inhibition of the thyroid gland function, Stunted
M etals grow th
R educed production of antibodies
Low ered resistance to diseases

33. M e ta l E ffe c ts o n P e o p le ’s H e a lth
A rs e n ic P o is o n ; L o w le v e l e x p o s u re c a u s e s n a u s e a , v o m itin g , d ia rrh e a
(A s ) a n d d a m a g e to b lo o d v e s s e ls
P ro m o te s a ll typ e s o f c a n c e r s u c h a s liv e r, k id n e y, b la d d e r,
s k in , a n d lu n g s
S k in c o n ta c t a lle rg e n s ; D e v e lo p m e n ta l e ffe c ts (te ra to g e n );
T h ic k e n in g a n d d is c o lo ra tio n o f th e s k in ;
H e a rin g im p a irm e n t; D a m a g e to th e n e rv o u s s ys te m
C a d m iu m R e n a l to x ic ity; D is ru p tio n o f fu n c tio n in g o f k id n e y a n d liv e r,
(C d ) m a y b e c o m e irre v e rs ib le
C a d m iu m p n e u m o n itis ; E m p h ys e m a – w h e n a ir c e lls in th e
lu n g s b e c o m e d ila te d a n d c a u s e d iffic u lty in b re a th in g
A n o s m ia (lo s s o f s e n s e o f s m e ll); Ita i-ita i o r o s te o m a la c ia –
p a in fu l b o n e d is e a s e
D e a th fro m e x c e s s iv e flu id lo s s d u e to v o m itin g a n d d ia rrh e a
A ffe c ts ta s te s , im m u n e s ys te m a n d c a rd io v a s c u la r s ys te m
C h ro m iu m D a m a g e to lu n g s , k id n e y , liv e r, s k in , a n d im m u n e s y s te m
(C r) S e v e re d e rm a titis o f th e s k in a n d u lc e rs , a lle rg y
Irrita tio n o f th e re s p ira to ry tra c t; C a u s e s c a n c e r e s p e c ia lly
lu n g s ; B o d y c a v itie s & tis s u e s re ta in to o m u c h flu id (E d e m a )
H yd ro c e p h a lu s – e s p e c ia lly in c h ild re n , flu id a c c u m u la te s in th e
b ra in a n d c a u s e m e n ta l re ta rd a tio n .
P o te n tia l e ffe c ts o n re p ro d u c tio n a n d d e v e lo p m e n t
C opper Irrita tio n o f th e n o s e a n d th ro a t w h e n h ig h le v e ls a re in h a le d
(C u ) C a u s e s n a u s e a , v o m itin g a n d d ia rrh e a w h e n in g e s te d
V e ry h ig h le v e ls c a u s e d a m a g e to th e liv e r a n d k id n e y
C a n c a u s e d e a th
Z in c (Z n ) A lte re d iro n fu n c tio n , re d u c e d im m u n e fu n c tio n ; h ig h le v e ls
c a u s e s e v e re n a u s e a , v o m itin g , s to m a c h c ra m p s , a n e m ia ,
n e rv o u s s ys te m d is o rd e rs a n d d a m a g e to th e p a n c re a s .

34. Effects to Sorsogon
The direction of the flow of contaminated silt is
pointed by an arrow which is towards Sorsogon.
Photo taken in February, 2006. Rainfall measured at
that month was only 363.6 mm.

35. Distance between Rapu-
Rapu and Prieto Diaz,
R a p u -R a p u
Sorsogon is only 12 km.
12 km
P to . D ia z
The spill happened at the start
of the Northeast Monsoon or
Amihan

36. Impacts to Rapu-Rapu and Sorsogon
1. Fishkills - Continued fishkills (Malasugi, shark, squid,
octopus, etc) in Rapu-Rapu in December and January
after heavy rains and in some northern and part of
western coast of Sorsogon
2. Loss of livelihood in fishing - People from the area and
adjacent areas, i.e. Legazpi and Sorsogon Cities, etc.are
afraid to buy fish coming from the affected coastal
barangays
3. Tourism as a livelihood is low - Loss of potential tourists
4. Possible health effects to several people who felt some
forms of illnesses during the fishkill
5. Break-up of families and loss of stability

37. Impacts to the ecosystem
1. Aside from Pagcolbon River, three (3) additional creeks
became acidic due to Acid Mine Drainage, which was
facilitated by the mining operations. These are Alma
Creek, Ungay Creek and Hollowstone Creek.
2. The dispersion of heavy metals into the surroundings
affected the productivity of plants (terrestrial and
marine) by destroying the capacity of their chloroplasts
to produce food
3. Cyanide solution aggravated heavy metal pollution in
the affected river/creeks and marine habitats and caused
fish-kills

38. 4. Fishing suffered from destruction of the sources such as
the seagrass beds and coral reefs
5. Huge amounts of tailings resulting from the mining
operation continue to generate AMD and are also
threats to human safety as well as to the terrestrial and
marine habitats specially during the rainy season.
6. The diseases and other ailments experienced by the local
communities in Binosauan and in the municipality of Prieto
Diaz indicate probable cyanide and heavy metal
contamination from mine wastes that were brought to their
places due to proximity or through surface waves driven by
the northeast monsoon. Such experiences happened only
during the cyanide spill and fish-kills.

39. Massive iron sulfide rocks with acid-generating
capacity or Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)
Acid mine drainage (AMD)
AMD occurs in iron sulfide rocks that are exposed to
oxygen and water and cause the following reaction:
2FeS2 + 702 + 2H20 = 2H2SO4 + 2FeSO4
H2SO4 = sulfuric acid
FeSO4 = red orange iron sulfate precipitate
that coats rocks and sediments

40. Heavy metals released from Tailings dump due to acid
mine drainage (AMD)
Tailings dump of the Formation of AMD in thewith no AMD (Dec
mine Rock barrier same
rock barrier (February 6, 2006)
12, 2005 picture)

41. AMD

42. Conclusion
It is the huge amount of tailings, waste rocks and overburden
soil generated by the mining operation that caused the fish-kills
It is the introduction of cyanide that facilitated the released
of toxic heavy metals that were released into the surroundings
and polluted the surroundings of the mine, the associated
creeks, and the adjacent sea that also caused the fish-kills
It is the natural capacity of the land for generating acid
through the process of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) that
worsened pollution. The geophysico-chemical conditions of
the island simply facilitated this process

43. It is the rainy climate, the steep slope and the typhoons that
regularly visited the area that resulted in a wider dispersion of
the toxic pollutants and the loosened silt in the eastern part of
the island of Rapu-Rapu and the coastal areas of Sorsogon
It is not the length of time of exposure to the toxic metals that
destroyed the productive capacity of the land and water but the
level of toxic pollution that mining operation brings to the
environment that caused the damage
Thus, it is the mining operations of Lafayette Philippines, Inc.
that caused the cyanide spills and fish-kills that affected
Rapu-Rapu and the coastal areas of the province of Sorsogon
and destroyed the ecosystem of the land and sea that will
persist for a long, long time. AMD will continue for hundreds
of years.

44. Recommendation
Mining must be stopped. The government must
cancel the permits associated with the issuance of
an ECC to Lafayette Philippines, Inc.
No mining must ever be allowed in Rapu-Rapu again.
The government must rehabilitate the degraded
ecosystems, especially the newly formed acidic
creek in Malobago, Pagcolbon and Binosauan

45. Expert assistance to the health problems
experienced by the local people must be provided
Government agencies responsible for evaluating
mining projects and those giving permits, must be
given more comprehensive trainings for assessing
pollution generated by mining operations and for
rehabilitating degraded areas especially in places
with acid generating capacity.

46. There are alternatives to mining metals because
metals can be recycled. There is no need to open up
new areas in order to extract the metals for the needs
of our country.
Rich nations have minerals of their own. Why
destroy the beautiful land with high biodiversity, the
natural wealth that God gave us?
The process of obtaining these materials makes
people poor and the marginalized, poorer.

47. Mining in Rapu-Rapu must be stopped.
Lafayette mine must be closed; its various
permits in connection with, and the ECC
must be cancelled.
Let us all remember that God created
minerals and metals to support our
NEEDS, and not our GREED.

48. Only our love for God, for our
Country, and for our people can
free us from this misery.