Modernizing Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining

The report analyzes the ASM value chain, from exploration to mine closure, highlighting a stark divide between rudimentary artisanal methods and more capitalized small-scale operations. It identifies critical gaps in technology for ore extraction, transportation, and beneficiation, while showcasing promising innovations in mercury-free gold processing, blockchain-based traceability, and digital mining cadastres. The document warns that while mechanization can boost yields and critical mineral supply, it risks displacing labor—particularly women—and increasing environmental degradation if not managed through inclusive policies and strategic zoning.

• ASM operations exist on a spectrum where artisanal mining is characterized by manual, labor-intensive techniques, while small-scale mining incorporates more advanced equipment and formalized structures.
• The adoption of new technologies in ASM is heavily dependent on capitalization, with better-funded operations utilizing mechanized tools like excavators and pneumatic drills, whereas artisanal miners rely on picks, axes, and shovels.
• Mercury-free gold recovery technologies, such as Cleangold and iGoli, aim to reduce environmental and health risks in compliance with the Minamata Convention, though adoption is hindered by costs and technical capacity barriers.
• Digital tools including blockchain, GPS, and QR codes are being deployed to improve the traceability of ASM minerals, helping miners access formal markets and avoid predatory buying arrangements.
• Technological advancements in ASM could significantly increase the global supply of critical minerals, noting that ASM already provides 15%–35% of cobalt and 25% of tantalum worldwide.
• Mechanization and automation in ASM pose a high risk of job displacement, with women being disproportionately affected as they often occupy peripheral, lower-earning roles.
• Governments are utilizing geospatial technologies, such as UAVs, satellite imagery, and digital mining cadastres, to monitor ASM activities and prevent encroachment into protected areas, as seen with ASMSpotter in Guyana.
• The adoption of disruptive technologies in large-scale mining (LSM), such as autonomous equipment, may lead to the retrenchment of low-to-medium skilled workers, potentially causing an influx of new participants into the ASM sector.
• There is a critical lack of technological innovation in the transportation and beneficiation stages of the ASM value chain, with operators often relying on animal labor or co-opting industrial-scale methods.
• 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 formal collateral and remote locations.

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} }