Modernizing Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the current technological landscape of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and the potential for emerging technologies to drive sustainable development. It analyzes the ASM life cycle—from exploration to mine closure—and identifies gaps in technology adoption, particularly regarding worker safety, environmental protection, and financial inclusion. The document highlights the dual nature of technological advancement: while it can increase productivity and recovery rates, it also risks displacing labor, especially women, and potentially increasing environmental degradation through overmining.

• The ASM sector is characterized by a spectrum of operational scales, ranging from manual, labor-intensive artisanal mining to more complex small-scale mining that incorporates advanced equipment and formalized structures.
• Technological advancement in ASM is closely tied to capitalization; better-funded operations use mechanized tools like excavators and pneumatic drills, while artisanal miners rely on rudimentary tools such as picks and shovels, which increases the risk of fatalities.
• There is a critical need for mercury-free gold processing technologies to comply with the Minamata Convention. While innovations like Cleangold and iGoli exist, adoption is hindered by costs, technical capacity limits, and the need for reliable power and water.
• Digital tools such as blockchain, GPS, and QR codes are being introduced to improve the traceability of minerals, helping ASM operators avoid predatory buyers and access formal international markets.
• Technological adoption in the ASM sector may lead to significant labor displacement, with women being disproportionately affected as they often occupy the most peripheral, lower-earning, and labor-intensive roles.
• ASM is a vital source of critical minerals, contributing 15%–35% of global cobalt and 25% of tantalum; further technological adoption could increase this contribution to meet global demand for the energy transition.
• Governments are utilizing geospatial technologies, including satellite imagery, drones (UAVs), and digital mining cadastres, to monitor ASM activities, manage land allocation, and curb illegal mining in protected areas.
• Financial inclusion for ASM operators is being pursued through digital solutions like mobile money (e.g., M-Pesa), microfinance, and cryptocurrencies to overcome the lack of traditional collateral and remote locations.
• The adoption of disruptive technologies in large-scale mining (LSM), such as autonomous equipment and AI, may create a ripple effect in ASM by increasing the number of retrenched semi-skilled workers entering the ASM sector, potentially skewing gender balances and increasing resource conflict.
• Significant technological gaps persist in the transportation and beneficiation stages of the ASM value chain, where there is a dearth of specific innovations tailored to the unique constraints of small-scale operators.

APA

Mutemeri, N., & Ponnan, N. (2024). Modernizing Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-05/igf-modernizing-artisanal-small-scale-mining-technologies.pdf

Chicago

Mutemeri, Nellie, and Nydia Ponnan. Modernizing Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2024. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-05/igf-modernizing-artisanal-small-scale-mining-technologies.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mutemeri |first1=Nellie |last2=Ponnan |first2=Nydia |title=Modernizing Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=May 2024 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-05/igf-modernizing-artisanal-small-scale-mining-technologies.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mutemeri2024modernizing, author = {Mutemeri, Nellie and Ponnan, Nydia}, title = {{Modernizing Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2024}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-05/igf-modernizing-artisanal-small-scale-mining-technologies.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }