This article provides a counter-narrative to the dominant discourse of marginalization and criminalization of Ghana’s illegal gold miners (galamsey) by focusing on the contested mercury debate. We first examine the complex and multifaceted policy problem that underlies the current conflictual aspects in the small-scale mining sector, arguing that mercury use and contamination are key elements i...

The potential environmental and human health impacts of artisanal mining of electronic waste through open incineration were investigated. A market-representative set of cellphones was dismantled into four component categories-batteries, circuit boards, plastics and screens. The components were shredded, sieved and incinerated at 743-818 °C. The concentrations of 17 metals were determined using ...

The usage of inefficient techniques in artisanal gold mining is quite common, either to extract the ore or processing it, and related to environmental contamination. This paper analyse the mineral processing of a case study in Peru (San Cristobal) with the aim to improve the gold recovery process and the environmental impact. The process of amalgamation (gold-mercury) has been found as ineffect...

Gold mining has played an important role in Ghana's economy, however the negative environmental and socio-economic effects on the host communities associated with gold mining have overshadowed these economic gains. It is within this context that this paper assessed in an integrated manner the environmental and socio-economic impacts of artisanal gold mining in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality fro...

Artisanal and small-scale miners are facing unprecedented challenges due to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The paper adopts a practice-based approach examine impact of Covid-19 on gold gemstone artisanal mining (ASM) practices in sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights informality ASM discusses how Ghana Kenya governments’ measures have significantly increased vulnerabilities communities....

Background: The enormous numbers of people involved in artisanal gold mining (AGM) together with primitive methods being used in processing gold have resulted in health and environmental challenges. Based on this, both the local and international stakeholders in mining and health sectors engaged in therapeutic practice to mitigate the challenges. Methods: Physical observation and soil samples ...