Resources

Mercury emissions from Peruvian gold shops: Potential ramifications for Minamata compliance in artisanal and small-scale gold mining communities

Keegan H. Moody; Kazi M. Hasan; Sumeja Aljic; Victoria M. Blakeman; L. Perry Hicks; Danielle C. Loving; Matthew E. Moore; B. Spencer Hammett; Mónica Silva-González; Caryn S. Seney; and Adam M. Kiefer 2019 English

Ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury has led to the establishment of Peruvian regulations limiting mercury concentrations in air to 2000 ng/m3 over a 24-hr measurement period. As a result, three communities in Madre de Dios, Peru were mapped during October 2017 to determine Hg⁰ vapor concentrations in the air.

USAID: Sector Environmental Guideline (SEG): ASM

Battelle and The Cadmus Group, Inc. USAID 2017 English

These guidelines are designed for project managers, project implementers, practitioners, or others working on development or environmental management projects that could impact ASM projects or communities that engage in ASM.  This document addresses: (1) impact of development projects on ASM; (2) impacts of ASM on the environment, health, and socio-political systems; (3) best practices on mitigation measures for minimizing impacts of ASM; (4) impact of climate change on ASM; and (5) impact of ASM on climate change. 

Artisanal Gold Communities as Prime COVID-19 Intervention Targets: Supply Chain Reform, Health In Gold Out

Shawn Blore, Marieke Kroll, Kevin Telmer 2020 English

In this paper, the AGC announces its three signal interventions for dealing with the crisis in ASGM communities brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic: (i) Supply Chain Reform Project – a project to restart and reform artisanal gold supply chains; (ii) Health In Gold Out – a project to deliver health assistance via this gold stakeholder network; and (iii) Artisanal Gold Prices Database – a project to monitor these interventions via a worldwide database of artisanal gold prices.

Using Performance Indicators to Evaluate an Environmental Education Program in Artisanal Gold Mining Communities in the Brazilian Amazon

Rodolfo N. Sousa and Marcello M. Veiga 2009 English

The Tapajos River Basin in the Brazilian Amazon is the location of one of the largest concentrations of artisanal and small-scale miners in the world. A group of educators provided support to miners, training 4200 people in 141 mining locations. The effectiveness of this training was evaluated based on 20 performance indicators. After 120 days of training, an absolute improvement of approximately 29% had been achieved.

Proposal of existing products that are viable to be strengthened and/or a new financial product for the ASM sector

National Program for the Management of Hazardous Chemical Substances 2019 English

Overview paper that presents (i) identification of financial institution that can offer financial products for the ASM sector, and (ii) proposal for adjustment to identified financial products. Part of "Development of a financial product to be used in the Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining Sector"

Working Together: How large-scale mining can engage with artisanal and small-scale miners

International Finance Corporation 2010 English

The interaction between large-scale mining companies and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) operations has not always been positive, and encounters between the two sectors are increasing. There are a number of ASM sustainable development challenges – including security, human rights and relocation programs – that can require specific ASM consideration.

World emissions of mercury from artisanal and small scale gold mining and the knowledge gaps about them

Kevin H. Telmer and Marcello M. Veiga 2008 English

The authors estimate mercury releases from artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM) based on available data about mercury and gold exports and imports by country and from field reports from the countries known to have active ASGM communities.

Baseline Information for the National Action Plan on Artisanal and Small - Scale Gold Mining: Ghana

Friends of the Nation 2017 English

Improving Access to Formal Finance in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining

planetGOLD 2020 English

This issue brief reviews past experiences with delivering financial and allied services to the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector and examines existing barriers to attracting formal finance and investment in the sector. It concludes with recommended interventions for governments, donors and other allies to help improve ASGM’s access to formal finance in the future.

Pulling at golden webs: Combating criminal consortia in the African artisanal and small-scale gold mining and trade sector

Marcena Hunter English

This report seeks to unpack how criminal consortia manipulate ASGM and associated gold flows to secure illicit rents and capture the sector. The findings highlight the need for nuance, especially regarding the role of informal and traditional actors in the sector. Through a more holistic understanding of the challenge, policymakers will better be able to identify and combat criminal consortia in ASGM.