Links Between Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining and Organized Crime in Latin America and Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 77-104
Author(s):  
Livia Wagner ◽  
Marcena Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Organized Crime ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Small Scale

scholarly journals Gold Mining and Mercury Pollution in Colombia: Policy Recommendations to Reduce the Tradeoff between Economic Growth and Sustainability

2019 ◽  
pp. 51-64
Author(s):  
Hernando Grueso
Keyword(s):  
Organized Crime ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Mercury Pollution ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
External Costs ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
Gold Production ◽  
Illicit Trafficking

Colombia is the top mercury polluter per capita in the world and the main cause of this pollution is artisanal gold mining. Even though the current government has restricted the use of mercury in mining, the problem goes beyond regulations: eighty-seven percent of the country’s gold production comes from small-scale, informal (unlicensed) mining. Furthermore, market restrictions on mercury for mining activities have created a window of opportunity for organized crime. Illegal armed groups control the illicit trafficking of mercury into the country and its commercialization among small-scale miners.This article discusses different policies aimed at mitigating the externalities of gold mining in Colombia and considers the tradeoff between the economic benefits and external costs to human health. The main conclusion is that heavy regulations on mining activities have not been helpful in reducing mercury pollution, and that alternative policies based on lessons from behavioral economics can be more useful tools for reducing the environmental hazards associated with gold mining.

scholarly journals Estimation of Mercury Losses and Gold Production by Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akihiro Yoshimura ◽  
Koyo Suemasu ◽  
Marcello M. Veiga
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
The Other ◽  
Anthropogenic Source ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Gold Production ◽  
Average Ratio ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The Difference

Abstract Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) utilizes mercury (Hg) for the extraction of gold (Au) and is responsible for the largest anthropogenic source of emissions and releases of Hg to the environment. Previous estimates of Hg use in ASGM have varied widely. In this effort, Hg losses in ASGM were derived from the difference between estimates of total Au production and the production reported by conventional gold mining. On the basis of this result, the average ratio of Hg lost to Au produced in ASGM was estimated to be 1.96 in Africa, 4.63 in Latin America, and 1.23 in Asia. The difference among regions can be attributed to the amalgamation procedure used by the miners, in which whole-ore amalgamation is predominant in Latin America and Asia. The obtained estimated ratio of Hglost:Auproduced suggested the possibility to detect either Au or Hg smuggling from one country to another. On the other hand, the importance of considering cyanidation in ASGM was also suggested. Graphical Abstract

MERCURY AND SMALL-SCALE GOLD MINING AT ANCIENT SARDIS, TURKEY

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Brooks ◽  
◽  
Huseyin Ozturk ◽  
Zeynep Cansu Oru
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Small Scale

scholarly journals The outbreak of illegal gold mining in the Brazilian Amazon boosts deforestation

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Siqueira-Gay ◽  
Luis E. Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Political Pressure ◽  
Deforestation Rate ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Mineral Supply ◽  
Regional Policies ◽  
Illegal Mining ◽  
Conservation Of Biodiversity

AbstractIncreased prices and political pressure are boosting illegal gold mining in the Brazilian Amazon, threatening forests, indigenous people, and conservation of biodiversity in protected areas. The rate of illegal mining deforestation increased more than 90% from 2017 to 2020, reaching 101.7 km2 annually in 2020 compared to 52.9 km2 annually in 2017. In that period, illegal mining deforestation rate grew more than the rate of clearing within mining leases. While formal mining is required to comply with environmental regulations, most small-scale or artisanal mining and especially illegal mining areas are abandoned after reserves are exhausted, without proper rehabilitation. Deforestation due to illegal mining is likely to increase in the next years, calling for coordination between local and regional policies as well as for strengthening and expanding international mechanisms to increase traceability of mineral supply chains with certification schemes to help to curb illegal mining.

scholarly journals An Investigation of the Socio-Economic Benefits of Small-Scale Gold Mining in Malawi

Mining ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-34
Author(s):  
Tiyamike Haundi ◽  
Gift Tsokonombwe ◽  
Steven Ghambi ◽  
Theresa Mkandawire ◽  
Ansley Kasambara
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Gold Rush ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
The Government

In the recent years, there has been a surge in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in various districts of Malawi. Reports of a gold rush have emerged in various districts, including Mangochi, Lilongwe, Balaka, and lately in Kasungu. There has been persistence by many indigenous communities participating in ASGM activities, yet little is being done by the government to formalize and support the sub-sector. The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefits of artisanal small-scale gold mining in Malawi and expose the shortfalls so that key stakeholders and policy makers are well informed. A quantitative approach which used semi-structured questionnaires was used and the data was analyzed using Microsoft excel and Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The study shows that ASGM is characterized by people with low literacy levels, who use traditional tools (low-tech) and use methods fueled by lack of capital, and deficiency of basic knowledge of mining and geology. The study found that the government could achieve substantial socio-economic development from the sector by: (1) revising the current artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) legislation so that it embraces the customary practices whilst safeguarding the environment and improving the tax collection base; (2) providing support in form of mining related training and education to these communities; (3) leading in transfer of modern technologies for improved extraction; (4) supporting ASM cooperatives in securing credit facilities from financial institutions; and (5) closing the existing knowledge gap for ASM related issues through introduction of mining desk officers in district councils.

Resource policies and small-scale gold mining in Zimbabwe

2009 ◽  
Vol 34 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 39-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel J. Spiegel
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Small Scale
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