Problem statement
Amalgamation using mercury is the conventional process for recovering gold particles from concentrates in artisanal and small-scale operations. The concentrates are generally obtained by panning sands that are collected after sluicing. This process is widespread and very effective, and most miners know of no alternative method. The procedure consists of adding mercury to the black sand in the pan and rolling and rubbing it through the sand so that it gets into contact with the gold grains and sticks them together to form a gold mercury amalgam paste. After the gold has been removed, the black sands can subsequently be washed away, leaving only the amalgam. The amalgam can then be heated over a fire or with a blowtorch to drive off the mercury as vapour, leaving behind yellowish-brown sponge gold. The release of mercury fumes into the environment is a serious immediate hazard to the operators and a long-term hazard to the local area. Indeed initial studies such as the UNIDO mercury project in Ghana, shows that mercury is having an impact on the public health of small-scale mining communities.
In 2017, Ghana ratified the Minamata Convention to reduce mercury use. In connection with this, the Ghana report on the Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) of mercury use is on-going and the National Action Plan (NAP) to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of mercury in ASM operations is being developed. Thus, there is an urgent need to train artisanal and small-scale miners in Ghana on methods that reduce mercury usage and mercury-free gold extraction processes.
Through both lectures and direct demonstrations, this project would develop the capacity of the miners in the safe handling of mercury and its eco-health implications. They will then be introduced to several retorts that are available for mercury capture and reuse. The innovative mercury-free direct smelting process will also be demonstrated.
Primary objective and specific objectives
The primary objective of this project is to educate small-scale gold miners on the public health effects of the mercury they use in recovering gold from their concentrates and to; introduce them to safe ways of using mercury and demonstrate mercury-free processes.
The specific objectives are to:
1. Share knowledge with the miners and build capacity in the safe handling and use of mercury, and the Minamata Convention;
2. Demonstrate safe amalgamation and retorting;
3. Introduce the miners to the innovative mercury-free direct smelting method;
4. Distribute some retorts and direct smelting kit for sustained interest in the processes; and
5. Offer safe sex education as an added on activity.
Rationale
For many years mercury usage has been a major part of gold extraction by artisanal and small-scale gold miners. Miners are legally allowed to purchase mercury as per the Mercury Law (PNDC Law 217). However, due to the impact of mercury on the public health of mining communities as evidenced by the UNIDO Project in Ghana in 1999 attempts are being made to reduce mercury usage and to also introduce mercury-free processes. Following that was the Ghana Mercury Abatement Project, sponsored by the European Union which led to the development of a mercury-free process for small-scale gold extraction.
Ghana ratified the Minamata Convention in 2017 to reduce mercury use, and the National Action Plan (NAP) to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of mercury in ASM operations is being developed. Thus, there is an urgent need to train artisanal and small-scale miners in Ghana on methods that reduce mercury usage and mercury-free gold extraction processes. Thus, UNDP will be contributing directly to the development agenda of Ghana by sponsoring this project. Through this project, more miners will become aware of the harmful effects of mercury and alternatives for gold extraction.
Specific results
The project will engage artisanal and small-scale miners, and stakeholders of small-scale mining communities on an educational programme to build capacity on innovative initiatives in eliminating mercury in artisanal and small-scale mining gold mining.
The outputs will include the following:
a) Interactions with the miners are done and their current processes and how they use mercury in their operations studied;
b) The health effects of mercury to both the user and other people in the community are discussed with the miners;
c) Methods that allow for safe amalgamation and retorting so that mercury can be reused are presented;
d) Mercury-free processes for gold extraction are demonstrated; and
e) Some retorts are distributed and the direct smelting kit is made available.
1.4 Description of Project Activities
The key players in this study will be the Project team, artisanal and small-scale miners in northern Ghana, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining. The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining will liaise with the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency for the success of the project. The Ghana Small-scale Miners Association will work with the miners in the various communities and make them aware of the project.
The initial section of the project will be mainly about preparation of teaching aids, retorts and direct smelting kit.
Community entry activities in three communities in Northern Ghana, namely Kui, Dakrupe and Talensi.
? Knowledge sharing through workshops and education on mercury, mercury usage and the Minamata Convention as well as the evolving National Action Plan.
? Field demonstrations of safe amalgamation, retorting and direct smelting
? Distribution of 30 retorts and 3 direct smelting kit to specific small-scale mines based on level of activity and miners available on the concession
? As part of the educational program, tapes on safe sex education will also be screened since in most mining towns sexual promiscuity is high.