BYOPAFUNSO, ZACHEUS OLANIYAN

(MSc (Rapid City, USA), MBA (Vermillion, USA), PhD (Akure, Nigeria), FNSE, MNIM)

PROFESSOR OF MINING ENGINEERING & AG. DEAN, SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY (SMAT),

THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE (FUTA), NIGERIA

EMAIL: zopafunso@yahoo.com; profopafunso@gmail.com

Overview of Best Practices and Field Experience in

Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper presents an over-view of field experience in artisanal and Small Scale gold mining operations in Nigeria and recommends best practices for such activities to take care of the associated dangers and environmental effects. Current technical data on ASM gold mining operations such as manual breakage, washing and winning, panning, and mercury amalgamation methods were examined with a view to recommending international best practices for the industry.

Abstract Contd.

Environmental effects of the use of mercury to recover gold from gangue were also discussed. The paper conclude that artisanal gold mining in Nigeria is ripe for a revolution that can lead to the birth of a modern and environmentally friendly method of mining for the benefits of ASM operators, the Governments and the communities where gold mining operations take place. Key words: Gold, Mercury, amalgamation, pollution, mining, operations, communition.

INTRODUCTION

Definition of Artisanal and small-scale mining:

- as mining activities that uses crude or rudimentary methods to extract and process minerals and metals on a small scale

- it encompasses all small, medium, informal, legal and illegal miners who use rudimentary processes to extract minerals from secondary and primary ores.

Introduction cont’d

Artisanal miners work in: * difficult and often very hazardous conditions * in the absence of the required safe mining knowledge or any regulations * or standards, toxic materials can be released into the environment, posing large health risks to the miners, their families and surrounding communities

Thus, gold mining operations are particularly dangerous, as they often use the mercury amalgamation process to extract gold from ores.

Introduction cont’d

Despite serious dangers occasion by this activity, artisanal gold mining operations continue to spread due to:* rise in the demand for gold * unattractive nature of other means of livelihoods such as farming in the areas where the mineral is substantially available.

The environmental effects of artisanal gold mining activities, has spurred a number of environmental conscious organizations including United Nations to seek for alternative ways of recovering gold

Factors influencing participants in the vocation

Lack of Organization and Instabilities of the miners

Illiteracy Lack of technical assistanceLack of Financial assistance made available

to the artisansImproper regulations guiding the

operations of the minerspoverty and unemployment;

Gold Occurrence and Mineralization in Nigeria

Gold in Nigeria is found in alluvial/eluvial placers and primary veins from several parts of supracrustal (schist) belts in the Northwest and Southwest of Nigeria.

The most important occurrences are found in the Maru, Anka, Malele, Malendo, Sofon Birnin Gwari-Kwaga, Gurrara, Bin Yauri, Okolom- Dogondaji, Ijero - Ekiti and Iperindo areas, all associated with the schist belts of Northwest and Southwest Nigeria.

There are also a number of smaller occurrences beyond these major areas. (NGSA, 2010)

Location of Gold Occurrences in Nigeria (source: MMSD, 2010)

Location State Geopolitical

Zone

Maru Zamfara State North West Zone

Anka Zamfara State North West Zone

Malele Zamfara State North West Zone

Sofon Birnin

Gwari

Kaduna State North West Zone

Malendo Kebbi State North West Zone

Bin Yauri Kebbi State North West Zone

Gurrara Niger State North Central

Zone

Okolom -

Dogondaji

Kogi State North Central

Zone

Ipinrindo -

Ilesa

Osun State South West Zone

Ijero - Ekiti Ekiti State South West Zone

Table I: Locations of Gold Deposit in Nigeria

Major Areas of Gold Mineralization in Nigeria (Source: NGSA, 2010)

Statistics of Gold production in Nigeria (NGSA, 2010)

Gold Production is by Manual MethodGold Production is by Manual Method

Typical Manual Washing MethodTypical Manual Washing Method The production of Gold in

Nigeria has not been through mechanization methods of mining as a result of the nature of the deposit as highlighted above.

Methods used for mining operations include:* crude methods of manual breakage to have access to the deposit. * washing and winning through panning, and

* finally mercury

amalgamation

Field Experience in Small Scale Gold Mining in Nigeria

Stages in Mining of GoldStages in Mining of Gold Typical Amalgamation & Burning ProcessTypical Amalgamation & Burning Process

Breakage Communition Gravity

Concentration Process

Sluicing and Disposal

Amalgamation and Burning Process

Method of Recovering of Gold in Nigeria

Manual BreakingManual Breaking CommunitionCommunition

The ASM operator uses manual method of breaking the rocks containing the Gold deposits to get lumps.

This is then transfer into the communition section.

During this stage, the operator engages his wife/wives and children to further break the lumps into smaller pieces using metallic mortar and pestle.

ASM Methods of Gold Mining

Gravity Concentration ProcessGravity Concentration Process

Gravity Concentration ProcessGravity Concentration Process

This is done by mixing the pulverized ore with water and then allowing it to settle after agitation.

Regular agitation takes place every day for about a week.

The upper sediment is transferred to another tank and the same process is repeated.

The lower sediment which is rich in Gold goes through the next stage of sluicing.

ASM Methods of Gold Mining Cont’d

Sluicing and DisposalSluicing and Disposal Sluicing and DisposalSluicing and Disposal

This is commonly done with a wooden sluice box.

The ASM operator tilts the box in a small angle to allow the sand particle move in an upstream and a downstream manner.

There is always a sieve at the intake section to prevent large particles from passing through the sluice box.

Visible gold is picked out of the sluice box, amalgamated for the recovery of pure gold.

ASM Methods of Gold Mining Cont’d

Amalgamation and Burning Process

Artisanal gold miners combine mercury with gold-carrying silt to form a hardened amalgam that has picked up most of the gold metal from the silt

The amalgam is later heated with blow torches or over an open flame to evaporate the mercury, leaving small gold pieces.

The gaseous mercury is inhaled by the miners and often by their immediate family, including their children.

Mercury that is not inhaled during the burning process often settles into the surrounding environment or circulates globally for future deposition far from the site

Amalgamation &Burning Process Cont’d

The deposited mercury is absorbed by a variety of living organisms

This transforms elemental mercury into methyl mercury

Methyl mercury is one of the most dangerous neurotoxins that contaminate the food chain through bioaccumulation

Ores recovered from alluvial deposits are also subjected to gravity concentration and the other processes follow suits.

Environmental Effects of Artisanal Gold Mining activities

Gold mining activities have mainly been done through crude methods of mining with consequential hazards to the health of the miners, their respective families and the communities surrounding such mining activities.

some environmental hazards of mining activities are:Mercury pollution:Water pollutions Landscape degradationDestruction of habitatsLoss of organic soilDeforestation

Best Practices in ASM Gold Mining in Nigeria

As a result of catastrophic event in Zamfara State last year which led to the death of over 400 children due to lead poisoning, the United Nations has recommended proper enlightment and training for the artisanal miners of Gold in the affected areas in Nigeria.

This will enable them to know and adopt best internationally recognized practices for safe mining operations in their community.

Best Practices in ASM Gold Mining in Nigeria Cont’d

Best practices in artisanal gold mining will be the method that will reduce the environmental pollution, health hazards occasion by the use of mercury in the recovery of Gold especially with the method of amalgamation. For the purpose of this presentation, we shall look at the best practices from three perspectives:

Exploration MethodsExploitation MethodsProcessing Methods

Best Practices in ASM Gold Mining in Nigeria Cont’d

Veiga (1997) suggested four different approaches to solve mercury problems, namely:

Armed or Enforcement Approach:Legal Approach:Ecological Approach:Educational Approach:

Best Practices in ASM Gold Mining in Nigeria Cont’d

technically, Veiga, (1997) suggested the following three solutions that can lead to mercury reduction:

Search for alternative processes to avoid mercury

Implement remedial procedures to highly polluted sites

Apply measures to reduce mercury emissions’

Best Practices in ASM Gold Mining in Nigeria Cont’d

Telmer (2007) outlined four strategies that can lead to reduction of mercury use in Artisanal small scale gold mining to be:

Introducing improved mining practices, including the elimination of whole ore amalgamation and open-air amalgam burning;

Introducing Hg free processing where viable; An increased price for mercury; Awareness campaigns, policy and governance

reforms, and community economic diversification

Strategic Plans to Introducing Mercury Free Method

In other to have a mercury free method in artisanal gold mining in Nigeria, the following strategic plans that had worked in Brazil and Venezuela can be implemented in Nigeria:

The International Guidelines on Mercury Management must be put in place; the effort put in by the organizer of today’s Anglophone West Africa Regional Awareness-Raising Workshop on Mercury in Artisanal Small Scale Gold Mining is commendable.

National Law on Mercury Management must also be formulated and implemented

Strategic Plans to Introducing Mercury Free Method Cont’d

Promotion of Awareness and Compliance for Artisanal miners and their community is also recommended.

The transfer of emerging technology for mercury free method of mining is desirable; however, it should be with effective training of end-users.

The Federal Government of Nigeria need to formulate a law, if not already in place, that prevents importation or production of mercury

Strategic Plans to Introducing Mercury Free Method Cont’d

The artisanal miners should be organized under a relevant cooperative society to enable them access microcredit loans and access government benefits

The Federal Government of Nigeria need to formulate a law, if not already in place, that prevents importation or production of mercury

These artisanal miners should be organized under a relevant cooperative society to enable them access microcredit loans and access government benefits

This will enable them carry out safe and environmentally friendly mining operations.

Conclusion

The paper conclude that artisanal gold mining in Nigeria can undergo a revolution that can lead to the birth of a modern and environmentally friendly method of mining for the benefits of ASM operators, the Governments and the communities where gold mining operations is taken place.

In addition, with the conscious efforts of Federal government and State Governments in the gold mineral zones showing interest and soliciting for partnership with well meaning investors in gold mining, there is a good indication that gold mining in Nigeria is about to witness a revolution in the right direction.

THE END

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