Question: what are the byproducts of mining gold?
Answer: Cadmium. Cadmium is one of the most toxic HM to most organisms. ... 
Zinc. Zinc also occurs in gold ore bodies in the form of sphalerite (ZnS) which is often associated with galena. ... 
Lead. ... 
Chromium. ... 
Nickel. ... 
Arsenic. ... 
Copper. ... 
Mercury.