Amalgamation: Social, technological, and legal entanglements in small-scale gold-mining regions in Colombia and Suriname

Jonkman, Jesse; Theije, M.E.M. de

doi:10.1016/j.geoforum.2021.10.017

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Studies have shown that this activity is economically important for rural communities and reducing poverty [6]. The informal mining practice of amalgamation, as determined by Ecuadorian legislation [7,8], is the predominant method of extracting Au [9]. Amalgamation is one of the oldest processes used in gold recovery [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Gold Recovery and Mercury Losses in Whole Ore Amalgamation: Artisanal Gold Mining in Nambija, Ecuador

González-Vásquez,

García-Martínez,

Bolonio

2023

Minerals

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Mercury is a highly toxic pollutant that can negatively affect human health and the environment; informal mining is one of the main sources of anthropogenic mercury release due to the separation or concentration by amalgamation that is still used to recover gold directly from ore. In the Nambija mining district, there is still informal mining based on practically no technical knowledge, which uses amalgamation as a processing technique for gold recovery. The production tasks that directly affect the handling of mercury during the in situ grinding–amalgamation process are monitored here. Experimental grinding tests were initially carried out in a “chancha” bar mill for a range of ore sizes and as a function of time; then, experimental tests were performed at the macro-level on grinding cycles in Chilean mills. Considering the characteristics of the ore mineral and the operation of the Chilean mills, it was determined that it is possible to reduce the Hg input to mill by up to 20% (at source). Experimental grinding–amalgamation tests were carried out at different times along with a grain size analysis of the ore; the recovery establishes the grinding time and the fraction in which the gold is extracted in a greater proportion, which affects the control of the amalgamation times. The mercury dosage used by the miners in the amalgamation process should be reduced, considering trials where there is better gold recovery and with the purpose of also reducing mercury losses; eventually, it is possible to jointly achieve an increase in gold recovery.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Gold Recovery and Mercury Losses in Whole Ore Amalgamation: Artisanal Gold Mining in Nambija, Ecuador

González-Vásquez,

García-Martínez,

Bolonio

2023

Minerals

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“…However, governments, large companies, environmentalists and other stakeholders often do not approve of ASGM activities [19][20][21]. Concerns range from the use of child labor and the possibility of environmental damage (especially through the use of mercury in gold mining) to the use of ASGM revenues to finance social unrest and conflict caused by the operations of "gold panners", the high incidence of prostitution and the spread of HIV/AIDS due to the migration of workers [22][23][24][25][26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM): Management and Socioenvironmental Impacts in the Northern Amazon of Ecuador

Mestanza-Ramón

Mora-Silva²,

D’Orio

et al. 2022

Sustainability

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Mining is one of the oldest economic activities of mankind. Within this activity, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is one of the most studied sectors due to its high level of environmental contamination and the social problems it causes. In recent years, ASGM in the northern Amazon of Ecuador has increased significantly, and studies that describe its current situation and impact are scarce. In this sense, the present study aimed to analyze the current status and socioenvironmental impacts caused by ASGM gold mining activities in the Cascales canton in the province of Sucumbíos in northeastern Ecuador. The methodological tools used in the present study were a literature review of scientific and gray literature, field visits to assess perceived impacts and an expert judgment to discuss the results and establish challenges. The main results indicate that illegal and informal activities continue to be carried out in the upper zone of the Cascales and Duvino rivers; 90% of local miners still use mercury in this activity, although it is legally prohibited. Among the main impacts evidenced are the contamination of water bodies, soil and atmosphere due to the use of mercury and disturbance to flora and fauna due to the use of machinery in the exploration process. Finally, the government should focus efforts on strengthening public policies to socialize the importance of good environmental practices in ASGM and the effects of the impacts on human health and environmental issues, all this with the support of social actors, such as ministries, universities, NGOs, ASGM associations and private enterprise.

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“…More than 10 per cent of the world's cobalt, a critical metal for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries used in electric cars, is extracted by rural diggers in the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector of DRC. Much has been written on the social practices of ASM in Africa and elsewhere concerning the 'amalgamation' (Jonkman & de Theije 2022) and hybrid governance of deposits and placers (Damonte 2019;J. Smith 2022), formal/informal interfaces among stakeholders (diggers, brokers, local authorities, mining companies, NGOs) (Luning & Pijpers 2017;Walsh 2021), gender dynamics (Buss & Rutherford 2020;Panella 2005) and technology (D 'Angelo 2022).…”

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confidence: 99%

The invisible lives of cobalt miners and green traceability discourses

Panella¹,

Putter²

2022

Anthropology Today

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The mobilization for greenhouse gas reduction has significantly boosted our interest in electric cars and green mobility. E‐powered technology and lithium‐ion (Li‐ion) batteries are now cornerstones of our green tech discourse. These technologies rest on the fast‐growing demand for rare metals such as cobalt, an essential component in Li‐ion batteries. This article focuses on the invisible lives of the artisanal diggers who mine much of the world's cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Their lives in Katanga fade behind the ore they produce. In the dominant green energy discourse, these workers become invisible actors whose corporeality, work and struggle are concealed and denied. We risk smothering cobalt miners’ human rights under an ecologically friendly banner.

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Amalgamation: Social, technological, and legal entanglements in small-scale gold-mining regions in Colombia and Suriname

Cited by 6 publications

References 44 publications

Investigation of Gold Recovery and Mercury Losses in Whole Ore Amalgamation: Artisanal Gold Mining in Nambija, Ecuador

Investigation of Gold Recovery and Mercury Losses in Whole Ore Amalgamation: Artisanal Gold Mining in Nambija, Ecuador

Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM): Management and Socioenvironmental Impacts in the Northern Amazon of Ecuador

The invisible lives of cobalt miners and green traceability discourses

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