Small-scale gold mining in the Amazon may not be so small, after all. Mining within the world’s biggest rainforest is often illegal and contributes to deforestation and disrupts indigenous communities. Still, Brazil does allow some activity in the region, though artisanal operations have fewer restrictions than large-scale mining. The latest study by environmental group Instituto Escolhas shows that many small operations are too big to be considered artisanal — and thus should be more closely regulated. The average investment to hire workers and bring in equipment to dredge rivers and recover gold in the Brazilian ... (full story)