The convention aims to phase out the use of mercury in the small-scale mining sector, particularly artisanal and small-scale gold mining, Moher said.
“Mercury is common with small-scale gold miners around the world. Rocks are ground down and mercury plays a key role in binding the gold together,” she added.
The problem is, not only is the mercury entering the miners’ bodies through their skin when they handle it, but family and community members often oversee the final process. The mercury is heated and the vapour released into the air.
The AGC has devised an approach that introduces more effective gold mining – doubling the yield – while also removing the mercury. They introduce technology such as a shaking sluice box, which uses water to separate gold from the gravel, and even recaptures the water for reuse.
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