Smart Artisanal Gold Mining from a Sudanese Perspective

Abstract

Artisanal gold mining activities has increased tremendously over the Sudanese arid and semi-arid environment of the country and has resulted in significant environmental and socioeconomic impacts. This paper aims at identifying the impact of artisanal gold mining on the deserts environment of the Sudan and it is trying to draw a road map for attaining a smart traditional or artisanal gold mining. This paper is a review article and therefore it is dependent to a great extent on a critical review of the available and reliable literature, as well as, the personal experience of the author. These impacts can be summarized as follows: defacing of landscape and consequent change in the natural hydrology of the mining areas, pollution of desert's environment that occurs as result of gold extraction through using toxic and hazardous substances such as mercury, arsenic and cyanide, acid drainage which threatens the neighbouring rivers and ground waters. Therefore, pollution of ground and surface waters in nearby water body e.g. River Nile during the rainy season where rainwater will wash these pollutants polluting the previously mentioned sources. Moreover, Artisanal gold mining has resulted in polluting the soils of the neighbouring agricultural lands and range lands as well. Risks of accidents (land subsidence) and occupational hazards are significant and therefore cannot be ignored. With regard to socioeconomic impacts, they can be summarized as follows: improvement in the standard of living of the miners, agricultural and livestock production were negatively affected due to the abandonment of agricultural fields and range lands due to the fact that the majority of young people have joined the miners, spread of crime and drugs and alcohols and labour which in fact are children (below permissible working age). Artisanal gold mining should be organized by the Ministry of mining, raising the environmental awareness of the miners periodical training programmes for them on how to deal with use of chemical substance and how to handle and get rid of wastes to avoid all the negatively mentioned impacts.

Human Health Risk Assessment from Mercury-Contaminated Soil and Water in Abu Hamad Mining Market, Sudan

“…This substantial increase in miners and gold production contributes to approximately 37% of total mercury emissions, making it the largest anthropogenic source [ 11 ]. In Sudan alone, the number of artisanal miners is estimated to exceed one million [ 12 ], with ASGM communities comprising around 2 million individuals, as indicated by the Minamata Initial Assessment in Sudan [ 13 ].…”

Emerging mercury and methylmercury contamination from new artisanal and small-scale gold mining along the Nile Valley, Egypt

“…Approximately 380 to 450 tons of gold (t/Au) is produced annually from ASGM activities worldwide, with a gross income of $10.7 billion. The production is on the rise (Esdaile and Chalker 2018); for example, the ASGM activities produced 280 t/Au in Sudan from 2010 to 2015, which amounted to 85% of total gold produced in the country up to 2015 and reached 107 t/Au in 2018 (El Tohami 2018).…”

Evaluation of Air Quality in Sudanese Gold Mining Fields

“…Artisanal mining may contribute to poverty alleviation and provides many opportunities. It is an activity associated with many negative social impacts [2].…”

“…Artisanal gold mining activities has increased tremendously over the Sudanese arid and semi-arid environment of the country and has resulted in significant environmental and socioeconomic impacts [2]. Miners are exposed to chemical contaminants, unsanitary conditions, prostitution, alcoholism and drug addiction.…”

“…Airborne particulates of major concern in the mining areas include respirable dust, Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and black smoke. The activities That produce this particulate matter include site clearance, road building, open-pit drilling, blasting, loading, haulage, vehicular movement, ore and waste rock handling [2]. The impacts of the air pollutants on receptors differ from one to another based on emission type, expose duration and the dose of expose.…”