When used properly, technologies and practices that reduce or eliminate the use of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) can extract a greater amount of gold than traditional methods using mercury amalgamation—leading to more income for miners and their families and fewer risks to their health, their communities, and the environment.
All projects that are part of the planetGOLD programme are promoting and piloting alternative technologies and processes with artisanal and small-scale gold miners. While every site is unique, the mercury-free production methods being piloted by the country projects usually involve improved crushing and milling techniques, improved gravity concentration tools such as sluicing and shaking tables, flotation, and/or chemical leaching. Projects also carry out training and capacity building activities to increase miners’ knowledge of—and comfort with—mercury-free mining practices. As a result, project teams have made key advances toward helping miners undertake the transition to mercury-free methods.
Explore the document below for a full overview of the interventions that have been carried out across the planetGOLD programme as of June 2023 to advance responsible mining and eliminate mercury from the ASGM gold supply chain, through technology transfer, technical support, training, and sharing knowledge on best practices in mercury-free gold processing.
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