This book tells a story about artisanal gold mining in a rainforest region of Colombia, and what happened when mechanized mining came to the region. While traditional panning for gold did no damage to rivers or forests, the new machines have created serious environmental and social problems. El Chocó is one of many places around the world where extractive technology threatens the sustainability of cultures and the integrity of the natural world.

The book illustrates methods of traditional artisanal gold mining in the rain forest, exploring how these were integrated into the daily life of Afro and indigenous communities there. It explores the environmental and social contexts of gold mining, looking at the rain forest and its rivers, and at daily life in the riverine communities. And it traces the impact of widespread mechanized mining on the forest itself, the rivers that nourish it, and the riverine cultures and economies. The authors conclude with testimonials of resistance to those depredations.