Characterization on the Usage of Cyanide in Goldmining at Selected Barangays in Itogon Benguet: A Factor Analysis

Abstract

This study was conducted to apply factor analysis in deriving the factors that characterize the reasons why miners use cyanide in gold processing in selected barangays in Itogon, Benguet last Febuary to March 2016. A total of 130 respondents were surveyed. In the usage of cyanide, results showed that from the 30 variables they were reduced to 4 factors. The four factors extracted were safety in using cyanide, convenience, financial/economic factors and capability of cyanide. In the effects of cyanide to human and environment, from the 15 variables they were reduced to 3 factors. The three factors included: effects of cyanide to human, effects of cyanide to environment and community, and effects of cyanide to animals.