Title: The identification and testing of a method for mercury-free gold processing for artisanal and small-scale gold miners in Ghana

Authors: M.T. Styles, R.K. Amankwah, S. Al-Hassan, R.S. Nartey

Addresses: British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK. ' University of Mines and Technology, P.O. Box 237, Tarkwa, Ghana. ' University of Mines and Technology, P.O. Box 237, Tarkwa, Ghana. ' University of Mines and Technology, P.O. Box 237, Tarkwa, Ghana

Abstract: A study of the ASM sector of Ghana established the practices and attitudes of gold miners and proposed an alternative to mercury amalgamation. The study showed that miners were aware of health hazards associated with mercury but continued to use it because they knew of no credible alternative. It was realised that any process to replace amalgamation must be very efficient to capture gold around 50-100 μm. To be acceptable to the miners the method must be: easy, quick, cheap, transparent and suitable for processing small batches of concentrate. Direct smelting was selected as the technique of choice.

Keywords: mercury; small-scale mining; gold mining; artisanal mining; environment; environmental pollution; human health; health risks; direct smelting; Ghana; mercury-free processing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2010.033237

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2010 Vol.41 No.3/4, pp.289 - 303

Published online: 14 May 2010 *

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