ARTISANAL AND SMALL SCALE MINING

MINING FOR GOLD CAN BE CLUSTERED INTO TWO MAIN GROUPS: LARGE-SCALE INDUSTRIAL MINING (LSGM) AND ARTISANAL AND SMALL SCALE GOLD MINING (ASGM). WHILE THE FIRST GROUP IS HIGHLY MECHANISED AND PROVIDES MOST OF THE PRODUCTION OUTPUT, THE LATER IS OFTEN INFORMAL, EMPLOYS MANY MORE PEOPLE AND IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH IMPORTANT SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, SUCH AS :

• IRRESPONSIBLE USE OF MERCURY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION
• ILLEGALITY AND INFORMALITY
• CHILD LABOR AND GENDER INEQUALITY
• POOR HEALTH AND SAFETY WORKERS
• FUELLING CONFLICT THROUGH CRIMINAL PRACTICES

ASGM EMPLOYS ABOUT 90% OF GOLD MINERS AND PRODUCES ABOUT 20% OF THE GOLD WORLDWIDE. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT AROUND 150 MILLION MINERS AND THEIR FAMILIES DEPEND ON ARTISANAL GOLD MINING TO MAKE A LIVING.

WITH THE RIGHT SUPPORT AND INCENTIVES, SMALL COMMUNITY MINING ORGANIZATION OFFER THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY FOR POSITIVE  SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.