scholarly journals Historical mercury losses from the gold mines of Victoria, Australia

Elem Sci Anth ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Lawrence ◽  
Peter Davies
Keyword(s):  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Gold Mines ◽  
Historic Mining ◽  
Auriferous Ores ◽  
Recent Attention

Health and ecological risks associated with the use of mercury in gold mining are well known, with much recent attention focussed on contemporary small-scale artisanal mining. Legacy tailings from historical gold mining may also present ongoing risks, as the industry used large quantities of mercury with minimal environmental regulation to limit its discharge. This occurred in both alluvial (placer) mining and in processing auriferous ores. Analysis of historical data on mercury use in the mining industry in Victoria, Australia, indicates that at least 131 tonnes of elemental mercury were discharged into the environment as mine tailings between 1868–1888, with the total amount lost over the historic mining period likely to be much higher. The processing of pyritic ores also concentrated mercury losses in a small number of mining centres, including Bendigo, Ballarat, Castlemaine, Clunes, Maldon and Walhalla. This analysis provides a basis for further research needed to support improved management of legacy mine tailings.

scholarly journals Comparative Study In The Bibiani, Bolgatanga, Dunkwa And Tarkwa Mining Districts Of The Minerals Commission Of Ghana

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-34
Author(s):  
George Lord Opoku-Antwi ◽  
Kwaku Amofah ◽  
Kofi Nyamaah-Koffuor
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Mining Districts

This paper aims to provide a comparative study on the Ghanaian small-scale gold mining industry in the Bibiani, Bolgatanga, Dunkwa and Tarkwa Districts of the Minerals Commission of Ghana. Variations in production, employment, number of licensed operators/concessions were the main focus of the paper. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to 1) test for the means of equality for the period 2005 to 2008 in order to find the column effect and 2) test for the means of equality between the mining districts (distance) to help find the column effect. It then looks at the structure-conduct-performance to explain the differences in the mining districts. The paper concludes that even though the small-scale mining sector in Ghana is beset with a number of challenges, it should be recognised as a significant generator of rural livelihoods that has the potential to alleviate poverty and be a tool for sustainable development. Assistance based on an integrated approach that considers operational, financial, organisational, social, economic, legal, technical and environmental issues should be offered to enhance small-scale gold mining operations in Ghana.

scholarly journals The “Bargain” of Collaboration: African Intermediaries, Indirect Recruitment, and Indigenous Institutions in the Ghanaian Gold Mining Industry, 1900–1906

2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (S20) ◽  
pp. 17-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra Mark-Thiesen
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Mining Sector ◽  
Colonial State ◽  
Gold Mines ◽  
Debt Bondage ◽  
Indigenous Institutions ◽  
Economic Coercion ◽  
Do So

SummaryThis article argues that during the formative years of the colonial state in Ghana, European employers established new collaborative mechanisms with African intermediaries for the purpose of expanding the modern mining sector. They were forced to do so on account of severe labour-market limitations, resulting primarily from the slow death of slavery and debt bondage. These intermediaries, or “headmen”, were engaged because of their apparent affluence and authority in their home villages, from which they recruited mineworkers. However, allegiances between them and managers in the Tarkwa gold mines considerably slowed the pace towards free labour. Indeed, a system in which managers reinforced economic coercion and repressive relationships of social dependency between Africans, allocating African labour contractors fixed positions of power, resulted from the institutionalization of purportedly traditional processes of labour recruitment into the modern market.

scholarly journals Biomonitoring of arsenic, cadmium and lead in two artisanal and small-scale gold mining areas in Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Rakete ◽  
Given Moonga ◽  
Anna-Maria Wahl ◽  
Viola Mambrey ◽  
Dennis Shoko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxic Metals ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Internal Exposure ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Gold Extraction ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mining Areas

AbstractPeople living and working in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) areas are frequently exposed to elemental mercury (Hg), which is used for gold extraction. However, additional exposure to other toxic metals such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) may result from mining-related activities and could be ingested via dust, water or food. In these areas, only limited biomonitoring data is available for toxic metals other than Hg. In particular, data about the exposure to As, Cd and Pb is unavailable for the Zimbabwean population. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study in two ASGM areas in Zimbabwe to evaluate the internal exposure to these metals. In total, urine and blood samples from 207 people that identified themselves as miners were collected and analysed for As and Cd in urine as well as Pb in blood by GF-AAS. Median levels (interquartile ranges in μg/l) of As and Pb were 9.7 μg/l (4.0, 18.5) and 19.7 μg/l (12.5, 34.5), respectively. The 25th percentile and the median for Cd were below the limit of detection (0.5 μg/l); the 75th percentile was at 0.9 μg/l. The results were compared to reference values found for the general population in the USA and Germany, and a significant number of participants exceeded these values (As, 33 %; Cd, 27 %; Pb, 32 %), indicating a relevant exposure to toxic metals. Although not representative for the Zimbabwean population, our results demonstrate that the exposure to toxic metals is relevant for the public health in Zimbabwe and requires further investigation.

scholarly journals Human health risk assessment of atmospheric mercury inhalation around three artisanal small-scale gold mining areas in Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 423-433
Author(s):  
Koyomi Nakazawa ◽  
Osamu Nagafuchi ◽  
Tomonori Kawakami ◽  
Takanobu Inoue ◽  
Rosana Elvince ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Risk ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Human Health Risk ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Atmospheric Mercury ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Gaseous Elemental Mercury ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Central Sulawesi

To clarify the human health risk of inhalation of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), we measured GEM concentrations in three artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) areas of Palu (Central Sulawesi), Muara Aman (Benkulu in Sumatra), and Palangka Raya (Central Kalimantan).

scholarly journals A Collaborative Training Program to Assess Mercury Pollution from Gold Shops in Guyana’s Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Sector

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha T. Brown ◽  
Lloyd L. Bandoo ◽  
Shenelle S. Agard ◽  
Shemeiza T. Thom ◽  
Tamara E. Gilhuys ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Interactive Lectures ◽  
The Government ◽  
Training Team ◽  
Privately Owned

A three-phase, 11-day training program designed to monitor elemental mercury (Hg0) emissions originating from gold shops was conducted in Georgetown and Bartica, Guyana, during May of 2019. The first phase consisted of interactive lectures and discussions on mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining throughout Guyana, the region, and the world. In addition, specific training in the theory and use of analytical instrumentation to quantify Hg0 pollution associated with the processing of amalgams and sponge gold occurred. Trainees participated in the mapping of smelting facilities in Georgetown where, outside of one gold shop, Hg0 concentrations exceeded 100,000 ng/m3. During the second phase of training, a subset of trainees traveled to Bartica, where they mapped the town center to identify point sources of Hg0 pollution, all of which corresponded to the location of shops where amalgams and sponge gold were heated and purchased. Once mapped, Hg0 concentrations were measured during the smelting of gold inside the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) facility and two privately-owned gold shops. Maximum Hg0 concentrations at the GGB facility did not exceed 98,700 ng/m3 during the measurement period, while maximum concentrations at the two privately owned shops were measured as 527,500 ng/m3 and 302,200 ng/m3. With guidance from the training team, trainees were responsible for the collection and interpretation of all data. The third phase of the training involved the collaborative production of a report summarizing the findings from the training. This work represents the first formal training opportunity for the assessment of Hg0 concentrations in and around gold shops in Guyana, and provides baseline data to assist the government of Guyana to generate air quality standards for Hg0 emissions.

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