Mining Methods Employed in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining and their Contribution Towards Sustainable Development of the Sector*

Abstract

The selection of a suitable mining method for a particular ore deposit is an important attribute required for the environmental, safety and economic sustainability of a mining project. These multi-criteria decision-making process is a complex task for mining engineers as the selected method must suit the technical, economic, environmental and safety requirements of the mine. In Large-Scale Gold Mining (LSGM) operations, several mining methods have been developed and designed based on engineering principles to match the attributes of the various deposits exploited. However, in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM), mining method development, selection and its implications on the safety, economic and environmental sustainability of the operations have been given little attention. This paper evaluates the mining methods employed in ASGM in Ghana and the contribution of the employed mining methods towards the sustainable development of the sector. The study employed a combination of literature review and field studies to ascertain the mining methods employed in ASGM. Relevant literature was retrieved from 2003 to 2022 from 4 scientific database namely, Academia, ResearchGate, Google Scholar and Google in August 2023. The field work involved the study of 4 ASGM sites in Tarkwa and Prestea. A total of 14 mining methods were identified to be employed in ASGM in Ghana. It was revealed that the identified mining methods were not designed or selected based on any engineering principles but rather the miners employed any abecedarian methods which result in ground failures subsequently leading to fatalities, environmental degradation and low ore recovery. The associated environmental degradation, poor safety and low productivity were indications that the mining methods employed in ASGM were hindering the sustainable development of the sector. Moreover, the study identified limited literature on mining methods employed by ASGM. It is therefore recommended that for sustainable development of ASGM in Ghana, researchers and experts should focus on developing and designing sustainable mining methods that will suit the various deposits exploited. It is also recommended that mining engineering and allied professionals should engage in ASGM to ensure effective implementation of the designed mining methods.