Brazil is using forensic techniques to trace the origin of gold and support efforts to curb illegal mining in the Amazon, according to multiple reports. The approach is often described as “gold fingerprinting,” using laboratory analysis to determine where gold likely came from. Brazilian authorities apply spectrometry-based methods to examine the metal and compare its characteristics with evidence linked to different locations, including whether the gold is associated with protected areas. The goal is to provide more reliable links between illegally mined gold and the sites where it was produced, strengthening prosecutions and enforcement actions. The reports also state that the system is intended to reduce incentives for illegal operations and improve regulatory oversight of gold supply chains. By helping authorities establish provenance, the forensic process is presented as a tool not only for legal cases but also for limiting harms connected to illegal extraction, including environmental impacts such as mercury pollution. Authorities’ use of the technology is framed as part of broader measures to target unauthorized mining activities in the Amazon region.