IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jrpoli/v81y2023ics0301420723000788.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A review of gold production, mercury consumption, and emission in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM)

Author

Listed:
  • Cheng, Yingchao
  • Watari, Takuma
  • Seccatore, Jacopo
  • Nakajima, Kenichi
  • Nansai, Keisuke
  • Takaoka, Masaki

Abstract

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is one of the largest sources of Hg emissions and is critical for addressing the Hg problem. Due to scarce and punctual statistics provided by governments and agencies, there is almost no accurate data on ASGM production, Hg use, and emissions. In this study, we surveyed different approaches to estimate ASGM production and collected data from different sources, including academic papers and technical reports. Globally, 380–870 tonnes of gold is produced by ASGM each year, with a median value of 520 tonnes. The Hg use in the ASGM sector was estimated to be 640–1000 tonnes each year, with a median value of 892 tonnes. Consequently, 248–838 tonnes of Hg are emitted from the ASGM sector each year, with a median value of 615 tonnes. However, significant discrepancies were found in the data calculated using different approaches, particularly in countries where the estimates were large, such as China. To obtain a more accurate picture of global ASGM activities, a general estimation approach combining specific studies of dominant countries is necessary. For better management of ASGM in the future, developing a solid baseline and comprehensive future projection scenarios and establishing international collaboration to construct guidance on ASGM are recommended.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheng, Yingchao & Watari, Takuma & Seccatore, Jacopo & Nakajima, Kenichi & Nansai, Keisuke & Takaoka, Masaki, 2023. "A review of gold production, mercury consumption, and emission in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM)," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:81:y:2023:i:c:s0301420723000788
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2023.103370
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301420723000788
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.resourpol.2023.103370?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ledwaba, P.F. & Mutemeri, N., 2018. "Institutional gaps and challenges in artisanal and small-scale mining in South Africa," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 141-148.
    2. Eduful, Michael & Alsharif, Kamal & Eduful, Alexander & Acheampong, Michael & Eduful, Joyce & Mazumder, Lubana, 2020. "The Illegal Artisanal and Small-scale mining (Galamsey) ‘Menace’ in Ghana: Is Military-Style Approach the Answer?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    3. Éléonore Lèbre & Martin Stringer & Kamila Svobodova & John R. Owen & Deanna Kemp & Claire Côte & Andrea Arratia-Solar & Rick K. Valenta, 2020. "The social and environmental complexities of extracting energy transition metals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    4. Lèbre, Éléonore & Owen, John R. & Kemp, Deanna & Valenta, Rick K., 2022. "Complex orebodies and future global metal supply: An introduction," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    5. Morgane M.C. Fritz & James Mcquilken & Nina Collins & Fitsum Weldegiorgis, 2018. "Global Trends in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM): A review of key numbers and issues," Working Papers hal-02547257, HAL.
    6. Achina-Obeng, Rebecca & Aram, Simon Appah, 2022. "Informal artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Ghana: Assessing environmental impacts, reasons for engagement, and mitigation strategies," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    7. Martinez, Gerardo & Smith, Nicole M. & Malone, Aaron, 2021. "Formalization is just the beginning: Analyzing post-formalization successes and challenges in Peru's small-scale gold mining sector," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Sijie & Geng, Yong & Gao, Ziyan & Li, Jinze & Xiao, Shijiang, 2023. "Uncovering the key features of gold flows and stocks in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cole, Megan J., 2023. "ESG risks to global platinum supply: A case study of Mogalakwena Mine, South Africa," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    2. Henry Kwabena Kokofu & Gordon Kofi Sarfo-Adu & Mark Aferdi Dadebo & Gladys Nkrumah & David Kwaku Galley, 2022. "Sustaining the Environment in an Era of Small-Scale Mining in Ghana: Optimizing the Role of Institutions," International Journal of Global Sustainability, Macrothink Institute, vol. 6(1), pages 1-26, December.
    3. Aaen, Sara Bjørn & Hansen, Anne Merrild, 2023. "The role of social factors in feasibility decisions for complex orebodies: Exploring early exploration practices of the mining industry in Greenland," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    4. Cagli, Efe Caglar, 2023. "The volatility spillover between battery metals and future mobility stocks: Evidence from the time-varying frequency connectedness approach," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PA).
    5. Poignant, Adrian, 2023. "Small-scale mining and agriculture: Evidence from northwestern Tanzania," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    6. John R. Owen & Deanna Kemp, 2024. "Corporate Responses to Community Grievance: Voluntarism and Pathologies of Practice," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 189(1), pages 55-68, January.
    7. Lèbre, Éléonore & Owen, John R. & Kemp, Deanna & Valenta, Rick K., 2022. "Complex orebodies and future global metal supply: An introduction," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    8. André Månberger, 2021. "Reduced Use of Fossil Fuels can Reduce Supply of Critical Resources," Biophysical Economics and Resource Quality, Springer, vol. 6(2), pages 1-15, June.
    9. Pereira, Vijay & Tuffour, James & Patnaik, Swetketu & Temouri, Yama & Malik, Ashish & Singh, Sanjay Kumar, 2021. "The quest for CSR: Mapping responsible and irresponsible practices in an intra-organizational context in Ghana’s gold mining industry," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 268-281.
    10. Katundu Imasiku & Valerie M. Thomas, 2020. "The Mining and Technology Industries as Catalysts for Sustainable Energy Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-13, December.
    11. Nwaila, Glen T. & Frimmel, Hartwig E. & Zhang, Steven E. & Bourdeau, Julie E. & Tolmay, Leon C.K. & Durrheim, Raymond J. & Ghorbani, Yousef, 2022. "The minerals industry in the era of digital transition: An energy-efficient and environmentally conscious approach," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    12. Banda, Webby, 2023. "A proposed DEMATEL based framework for appraising challenges in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    13. Schuster, Viktoria & Ciacci, Luca & Passarini, Fabrizio, 2023. "Mining the in-use stock of energy-transition materials for closed-loop e-mobility," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    14. Irfan, Muhammad & Rehman, Mubeen Abdur & Razzaq, Asif & Hao, Yu, 2023. "What derives renewable energy transition in G-7 and E-7 countries? The role of financial development and mineral markets," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    15. Hilson, Gavin & Sauerwein, Titus & Owen, John, 2020. "Large and artisanal scale mine development: The case for autonomous co-existence," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    16. Bastianin, Andrea & Casoli, Chiara & Galeotti, Marzio, 2023. "The connectedness of Energy Transition Metals," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    17. Bansah, K.J., 2019. "From diurnal to nocturnal: Surviving in a chaotic artisanal and small-scale mining sector," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    18. Ofosu, George & Sarpong, David, 2022. "Beyond the doom: Sustainable water management practices of small-scale mining operations," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    19. Chipangamate, Nelson S. & Nwaila, Glen T. & Bourdeau, Julie E. & Zhang, Steven E., 2023. "Integration of stakeholder engagement practices in pursuit of social licence to operate in a modernising mining industry," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    20. Massaro, L. & Calvimontes, J. & Ferreira, L.C. & de Theije, M., 2022. "Balancing economic development and environmental responsibility: Perceptions from communities of garimpeiros in the Brazilian Amazon," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:81:y:2023:i:c:s0301420723000788. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/30467 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.