For this and other publications, please visit the ECA web site at the following

address:
http://www.uneca.org
Or contact
Publications
Economic Commission for Africa
P.O.Box 3001
Addis Ababa,Ethiopia
Tel.:251-1-44 31 68
Fax:251-1-51 03 65
E-mail:[email protected]
Material in this publication may be freely quoted or reprinted. Acknowledgment
is requested, together with a copy of the publication.
Abstract i
Acronyms iii
1. BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT 1
2. SMALL-SCALE MINING: GENERAL OVERVIEW 4
2.1 Defnition 4
2.2 Signifcance of the sector 6
2.3 Negative aspects 8
2.4 Gender issues 9
3. SELECTED BEST PRACTICES IN SMALL-SCALE
MINING 10
3.1 Criteria for selection of best practices 10
3.2 Best practices identifed 12
4. SUCCESS FACTORS 80
5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 85
BIBLIOGRAPHY 94
ANNEX 97
List of tables
1: Different criteria used in the defnition of small-scale mining 6
2: Participants in small-scale mining sector within Southern Africa 7
Table of Contents
3: Issues used in the selection and analysis of best SSM practices 11
4: Parameters for comparison of mining legislation 20
5: Relative cost and potential environmental impact
of gold-recovery methods 44
6. Success factors for SSM development 82
List of boxes
1: Health and safety rules in small-scale mines at Merelani 54
2: Environmental regulations for small-scale mining in Tanzania 57
3. Extracts of the Speech by the President of the United
Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency Benjamin William
Mkapa at the Inauguration of Bulyanhulu Gold Mine,
Kahama, 18 July 2001 83
List of figures
1. Process stages for enhanced recovery of tine-grained gold 47
i
A
c
k
n
o
w
l
e
d
g
e
m
e
n
t
s
The minerals and energy team of the Regional Cooperation and Integration
Division (RCID) of ECA, led by Antonio M.A. Pedro and under the overall
guidance of Mr Youssif A. Suliman, the Director of the Division, compiled this
compendium, with Wilson Mutagwaba, of MTL, Tanzania, as consultant. Elleni
Negash did the typing and Berhanou Haile Mikhael provided research assist-
ance.
We would like to thank Beatrice Labonne of UNDESA, Brian Chambers of
UNCTAD, Jeffrey Davidson of CASM and the World Bank, and Edmund
Bugnosen, of Bugnosen Minerals Engineering, Uk, for their initial comments on
the terms of reference for this study. Our gratitude is also extended to Fui Tsikata
of Reindorf Chambers and the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Brigitte
Bocoum of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Anatoli Belov of UNDESA,
Elizabeth Marie Hoadley of the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, Kevin
DSouza of Wardell-Armstrong, UK, Pierre Adama Traore, a retired ECA Senior
Economic Affairs Offcer and former Minerals and Energy Programme Leader,
Blackmore Gondwe, a retired ECA Economic Affairs Offcer and member of
the Minerals and Energy Team, Namakau Kaingu, Regional Chairperson and
Coordinator, African Women in Mining and SADC Women in Mining Trust,
S. Serumola, of the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Affairs, Botswana,
Geraldo Valoi, of the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mozambique,
E.S.Osumo of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Kenya,
Getachew Tesfaye, of the Ministry of Mines of Ethiopia, Hudson Mtegha of the
Minerals and Energy Policy Centre, South Africa, Ben Aryee and Joseph Hoyte
Eyison of the Minerals Commission, Ghana, Aloyece Tesha of the Ministry of
Energy and Minerals, Tanzania, Veston Malango of the Ministry of Mines and
Energy, Namibia, and Rob Guest of MINTEK, South Africa for their comments
on the earlier versions of this compendium.
Acknowledgements
ii
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
We are also obliged to the 34 participants of the joint ECA and UNDESA Semi-
nar on Artisanal and Small-scale Mining in Africa: Identifying Best Practices and
Building Sustainable Livelihoods of Communities, held in Yaounde, Cameroon,
18-22 November 2002, who reviewed the document, validated its main fndings,
conclusions and recommendations and provided additional valid inputs.
We are also thankful for the internal peer review done by the Sustainable Devel-
opment Division (SDD) in particular Kwadu Tutu, Isatou Gaye and Joan Kag-
wanja and by Albert Yama Nkounga of the ECA offce for Central Africa.
The contribution of Lorna Davidson and Maria Thundu, Seifu Dagnachew and
Teshome Yoahnnes of ECAs Communication Team who respectively edited and
designed and produced the compendium is acknowledged with appreciation.
iii
A
b
s
t
r
a
c
t
Small-scale mining (SSM) is an activity that is increasingly gaining momentum in
Africa. It is largely practised in rural areas by artisans who lack the requisite educa-
tion, training, management skills and essential equipment. Small-scale miners also
lack fnancial resources with no access to bank loans. Very often, the mining opera-
tions are done haphazardly with severe consequences to the environment, the sur-
rounding, and even distant, communities and to the miners themselves. Other con-
straints include lack of technico- economic information for long-term planning.
Although SSM in Africa is still far from achieving its full potential, there are
indications of positive efforts by individual countries to promote the sector. The
practices documented herein represent some of the examples, selected through
literature review and consultations, of how the sector can be promoted to ensure
its positive contribution to the establishment of sustainable community life and
rural economic development.
Most initiatives have been isolated practices that do not reverse the poverty
cycle that limits development of the SSM sector in Africa. There is limited evi-
dence of participatory integrated approaches that aim to promote and develop
the sector through putting clear policies, strategies and implementation plans in
place. Most approaches have been developed to respond to a certain crisis, e.g.,
dealing with mining rush gangs.
Promotion of the sector should be done in an integrated manner in order to
ensure that:
Legal, organizational, technical, management, environmental and socio-
economic issues are accorded the same importance;
Programmes for promotion of the sector take into consideration the
need to integrate mining activities within much wider rural development
programmes as the mining-alone programme approach, usually deal-
ing with isolated issues, has very little overall impact;
Abstract
iv
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
Poverty reduction strategies are mainstreamed in the mining policies of
member States and where relevant SSM is integrated in their Poverty
Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs); and
Provisions and incentives exist to encourage illegal SSM activities to
evolve into legal, licensed small businesses.
Putting an effcient legal framework in place without enhancing the fnancial
capacity of miners or raising their awareness of their legal obligations does
not help to eradicate illegal mining activities. Similarly, enacting regulations for
improving health and safety standards or environmental management without
improving access to technology, fnance, information and support services might
have little long-lasting impact. Even, where all these have been put in place, other
factors have to be considered, such as ensuring that at government level there is
adequate human and technical capacity to support the sector and enforce laws
and regulations in a sustainable manner.
The practices documented in this compendium as best practices should help:
(a) Countries wishing to develop strategies for promotion of the sector;
(b) Countries wishing to review their current strategies in order to improve
effectiveness;
(c) Donor agencies wishing to develop assistance programmes; and
(d) NGOs, international development agencies and other interested parties
working with the sector.
v
A
c
r
o
n
y
m
s
AMCOAL: Anglo-American Coal
BGS: British Geological Survey
BP: British Petroleum
CDR: Committee for the Defence of the Revolution
CDC: Commonwealth Development Corporation
CDE: Centre for the Development of Enterprises
CDI: Centre for the Development of Industries
CGA: Coal Gold Agglomeration
CSIR: Council for Scientifc and Industrial Research
DFID: Department for International Development (UK)
DME: The Department of Minerals and Energy
ECA: Economic Commission for Africa
EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment
FFM: Fundo de Fomento Mineiro
GSD: Geological Survey Department
GTZ: Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Technische Zusammenarbeit
(German Technical Cooperation Agency)
IDC: Industrial Development Corporation
ILO: International Labour Organization
IPEC: International Programme on Elimination of Child Labour
ITDG: Intermediate Technology Development Group
KPM: Kabwe Power and Metals Ltd.
Acronyms
vi
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
MEPC: Minerals and Energy Policy Centre
MILF: Mining Industry Loan Fund
MMSD: Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development
MRD: Mineral Resources Division
NGO: Non-Governmental Organization
NSC: National Steering Committee
NSMAC: Namibia Small-scale Miners Association Centre
NSMAC: Namibia Small-scale Miners Association Centre
NUM: National Union of Mineworkers
ODA: Overseas Development Administration
PMMC: Precious Minerals Marketing Corporation
RCID: Regional Co-operation and Integration Division
RDC: Rural District Councils
SADC: Southern Africa Development Community
SAWIMA: South African Women-in-Mining Association
SEAMIC: Southern and Eastern African Mineral Centre
SIDA: Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency
SMAC: Small-scale Miners Association Corporation
SMAN: Small Miners Association of Namibia
SMC: Shamva Mining Centre
SSM: Small-scale Mining
SSMAZ: Small-scale Mining Association of Zimbabwe
SZK: Sable Zinc Kabwe Ltd.
TAMIDA: Tanzania Mineral Dealers Association
TAWOMA: Tanzania Women Miners Association
UDSM: University of Dar-es-Salaam
UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organization
USAID: United States Agency for International Development
VAT: Value Added Tax
VETA: Vocational Education Training Authority
1
1
The signifcant economic benefts to be reaped from small-scale mining (SSM)
activities have recently been recognized by several African countries. Indeed, the
potential of the sector to contribute signifcantly to socio-economic develop-
ment is great. Such contributions include the decisive role it can play in:
(a) Poverty alleviation, especially in rural areas;
(b) Reducing rural-urban migration especially for the unemployed youth;
(c) Maintaining the vital link between people and the land;
(d) Creating alternative economic activities;
(e) Contributing to national incomes; and
(f) Contributing to state revenues.
From a technical standpoint, it encourages the regulated exploitation of other-
wise uneconomical reserves and provides a lead to many discoveries of large-scale
deposits. In addition, because SSM is usually labour intensive, it offers a greater
opportunity for direct and indirect job creation than do large-scale operations,
especially in rural areas. At the micro level, revenues generated from these activities
increase local purchasing power as well as the demand for local products, e.g. food,
working tools, housing, and furniture. In turn, this creates more employment in
other economic sectors such as agriculture, carpentry, fabrication and foundry.
Nonetheless, as with many economic activities, SSM has its negative aspects. A
largely itinerant, poorly educated populace with few other employment alterna-
tives, living mostly in remote rural areas, carries out this activity. Often, the tech-
nology employed is rudimentary, and impact severely on the local environment
and miners health. Health and safety standards are poor, and productivity and
hence earnings are low. Security in camps and surrounding areas, illegal mining
and marketing activities, and the use of child labour is prevalent.
Background to the Project
2
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
Without fnancial resources and technical and management skills, miners can
neither conduct systematic exploration of the mining areas, nor acquire ade-
quate technico-economic information to allow long-term planning and adequate
mining development. There are a number of factors, which contribute to the
poor performance of the small-scale mining sector: These include lack of simple
and transparent legal and fscal frameworks, weak institutional structures; lack
of capacity to implement existing regulations, and sometimes lack of political
will. Inadequate support services and access to information and technology and
restrictive marketing systems further contribute to making small-scale mining,
not only unproductive, but also counter-productive.
Given the SSM potential, there is need to create a conducive environment, that
fosters its development, encourages the application of best practices for mining,
occupational health and safety, promotes environmental protection and discour-
age child labour and gender inequity.
Encouraging efforts are now being deployed by a number of African govern-
ments to maximize the positive impact of SSM activities on their respective
economies. In countries such as Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe,
best practices in SSM management and development have been identifed. These
can be replicated elsewhere on the continent.
This compendium is an attempt to capture these practices for dissemination
across the continent. The language in the compendium is simple to facilitate
reading by small-scale miners and related stakeholders. It should be considered
a work in progress that requires continuous updating in tandem with the evolu-
tion and dynamics of the sector. The compendium was presented for valida-
tion to the joint ECA/UNDESA seminar on Artisanal and Small-scale mining
in Africa: Identifying Best Practices and Building the Sustainable Livelihoods of
Communities held in Yaounde, Cameroon, 19-22 November 2002. It incorpo-
rates some of its recommendations, particularly on the nexus of poverty and
SSM (see Annex 1). The terms of reference for this work included the need to:
(a) Identify best practices in production systems, environmental manage-
ment, marketing, technical and fnancial assistance programmes, legal
and regulatory frameworks and to maximize the SSM contribution to the
creation and development of viable communities in Africa;
(b) Analyse the success factors and commonalities in such best practices;
(c) Carry out a desk-top study of relevant literature on small-scale mining
that is specifc to the African context, particularly works published locally
that could ft into the broader context of the global discussion on SSM;
(d) Undertake, if necessary, feld missions to small-scale mining sites where
best practices have been reported;
3
B
a
c
k
g
r
o
u
n
d

t
o

t
h
e

P
r
o
j
e
c
t
(e) Evaluate how those best practices which have been identifed promote
viable community life and economies, especially in rural areas; and
(f) Draw lessons and recommendations for implementation elsewhere in the
continent.
4
2.1 Definition
There are currently no universal defnitions of artisanal or small-scale mining.
The lack of consensus, as echoed by several researchers, e.g., Priester et al., 1993;
Taupitz et al., 1993 and others, is due to the fact that such a defnition varies from
country to country. Several attempts to arrive at a widely accepted defnition
of small-scale mining have been made, based on criteria ranging from invest-
ment costs, labour requirements, ore production rates, and size of concessions,
amount of reserves, annual sales or any combination of these. Some countries
have more than one defnition for small-scale mining. This is because a wide
range of parameters is used to provide a defnition for these activities, and it is
also an attempt to differentiate between artisanal and small-scale mining proper.
The United Nations uses the volume of material mined to establish the boundary
between small- and large-scale mining. This boundary was set at 50,000 tons of
ore per annum for underground mines and 100,000 tons per annum for open pits
(Barnea, 1978). This defnition raised many objections, as the amount of ore required
to recover one ton of mineral A is not necessarily the same as for mineral B.
Some suggested that the defnition of small-scale mining in the case of pre-
cious metals, (e.g., gold mines) should be based on the quantity of minerals pro-
duced, e.g., ounces of gold per annum rather than on tons of run-of-mine ore
per annum. Other defnitions use capital requirements to establish the boundary.
Accordingly, any project which required less than $US 3-5 million to develop is
considered to be a SSM project (Taupitz et al., 1993).
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mining Co-ordinating
Unit defned artisanal and small-scale mining operations by dividing them into
three categories (Taupitz et al., 1993):
2
Small-scale Mining: General Overview
5
S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
:

G
e
n
e
r
a
l

O
v
e
r
v
i
e
w
Micro-scale mining or manual mining with simple tools without using
mechanical energy;
Manual mining, well organized, using some mechanical energy and plant
with required investment between $10,000 and $100,000; and
Industrial small-scale mining or small mines using modern, adapted
technology and with required investment of $200,000 to $3 million.
Although the above categorization covers the entire range from artisanal to
industrial SSM, the introduction of the term micro-scale mining was based on
the argument that the dictionary defnes artisan as someone who does skilled
work with his hands. This is not necessarily the case of small-scale miners.
This is a weak argument, since the categorization of such miners as artisans
stems from the fact that, over time, mining and mineral processing are per-
formed using basic skills and unsophisticated technology developed within the
trade, e.g., the excavation of pits as deep as 150m, devising support mechanisms,
hoisting materials to surface, and fabricating mining and processing tools. This is
refected in the World Banks defnition of artisanal mining as a type of manual,
low technology mining conducted on a small scale, predominantly in rural areas
of the developing world (World Bank, 1995).
The International Labour Organization (ILO) contends that small-scale mining
means different things to different people. To some, it is dirty, dangerous, and
disruptive and should be discouraged. To others, it is proftable and productive,
or is simply the only way out of poverty. During a survey conducted by the
organization recently, responses to the question on what defnes a small-scale
mine revealed that defnitions vary with the criteria used, namely (ILO, 1999):
Level of employment or number of workers for a particular mine;
Annual production output;
Capital investment;
Level of mechanization;
Size of claim; and
Depth of the mining operation.
The survey found that a combination of several of the above factors is very
often used to defne small-scale mining. Table 1 provides a summary of some of
the criteria used by different African countries and the United Nations.
6
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
Table 1: Different criteria used in the definition of small-scale mining
Most of these defnitions encompass certain similarities:
In most countries, the activities are limited to nationals;
Skilled labour and sophisticated technology are not required;
The operations are labour intensive;
The levels of capital investment and production capacity are generally low; and
Room for potential transition from purely manual artisanal activities to
more advanced SSM operations that employ mechanical equipment and
basic technology.
This compendium uses the term small-scale mining (SSM) in reference to labour-
intensive mining activities that have low per capita productivity, employ unsophisti-
cated technology and require low capital investment. This includes artisanal mining
and low-technology SSM operations at the lower end of the scale, and, on the upper
end of the scale, formal mining operations employing basic mining and processing
technology such as mechanical drilling and water pumping, blasting, manual loading,
mechanical hoisting, mill with gravity concentrator and other similar techniques.
2.2. Significance of the sector
Despite the fact that each SSM operation is very small, the combined economic
and social impact is signifcant in many developing economies. It is estimated
that within sub-Saharan Africa, SSM produces gold and gemstones worth about
$1 billion. (ILO, 1999). Although statistics related to this sub-sector are diffcult
to ascertain, the economic impact on individual countries is signifcant.
Country/Organization Criteria
Cte dIvoire Level of mechanization
Ethiopia Annual production, level of
mechanization
Ghana Capital investment, number of
participants
Guinea Type of minerals exploited
Senegal Depth of working, crude
production levels
South Africa Capital investment
Tanzania Capital investment, labour and
technology requirements
United Nations Annual production capacity
Zambia Size of concession
Zimbabwe Size of concession, capital
investment
7
S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
:

G
e
n
e
r
a
l

O
v
e
r
v
i
e
w
In Tanzania, 70% of all mineral export earnings ($49 million) in 1992 came from
SSM activities. In Zambia, estimates show that small-scale miners account for
about 80% of the countrys emeralds production, which represents about 20% of
world production (MMSD, 2001). About 15% of gold exports from Zimbabwe in
1999 were estimated to come from small-scale mining (MMSD, 2001). Globally,
nearly 15-20% of the value of non-fuel minerals comes from SSM operations.
These activities provide considerable employment, especially in rural areas, and
contribute substantially to poverty alleviation. Table 2 shows the numbers of
participants in small-scale mining in the Southern Africa region.
ILO estimates that 3.0-3.7 million people are employed in small-scale mining in
Africa, 6.7-7.2 million in Asia/Pacifc countries, 1.4-1.6 million in Latin America
and 0.4-0.5 million in developed countries (ILO, 1999). In developing countries,
the number of those whose livelihoods in one way or another depend on SSM
activities is between 80-100 million people.
It is also a well-known fact that artisanal barefoot explorers discovered many
deposits mined by large-scale mining companies. A world-class deposit with
proven reserves of more that 12 million ounces of gold at Bulyanhulu in Tan-
zania was frst stumbled upon by herdsmen and was later exploited by artisanal
miners. In addition, marginal reserves that would otherwise be classifed as une-
conomical can be mined using SSM methods.
Table 2: Participants in small-scale mining sector within Southern Africa*
*Source: Small-scale Mining and Sustainable Development within the SADC Region, MMSD 2001.
Malawi Mozambique Tanzania South Africa Zambia Zimbabwe Total
Mining
contribution
to GDP 0.9% 2.0% 2.8% 8.0% 12.1% 8.0%
Formal large-
& medium-
scale mining
employment 14,000 87,000 365,000 1,350,000 300,000 350,000 2,466,000
Number of
small-scale
miners
(estimated) 40,000 60,000 550,000 10,000 30,000 350,000 1,040,000
% Informal
small-scale
miners
(estimated) 90.0% 95.0% 90.0% n.a. 60.0% 85.0% 84.0%
% women
in SSM
(estimated) 10.0% 30.0% 25.0% 5.0% 30.0% > 50% 25.0%
8
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
2.3. Negative aspects
Despite these positive contributions, SSM has a negative impact not only because
of the manner in which business is conducted, but also as a result of defciencies
in the system that tries to regulate it. Although an increasing number of coun-
tries have recognized small-scale mining as a signifcant sector of the economy,
there are still those who regard it as dreadful to mineral sector development.
In such countries, the activities are simply ignored and no institutional, techni-
cal, fnancial, legal and regulatory support is extended. Even in those countries
that have recognized the SSM sector as important, legal and fscal frameworks
designed specifcally for artisanal mining activities are absent. As a result, SSM
activities are carried out illegally, thereby reducing the possibility of rent capture
by the host government.
Due to this lack of adequate support and regulation, most artisanal mining activi-
ties are carried out in an uncontrolled manner. Miners and regulatory authori-
ties play a cat and mouse game with negative consequences to the environ-
ment. The combination of uncontrolled activities and the lack of technical
know-how and fnancial expertise have resulted in activities that have become
synonymous with ineffciency, poor health and safety standards, negative envi-
ronmental impacts and smuggling.
The uncontrolled use of mercury through amalgamation, haphazard location of
pits, increased siltation in rivers, accelerated erosion, degradation of river banks
and water sources, and deforestation are some of the common negative environ-
mental impacts associated with SSM. In addition, poor security, local infation
and social ills are all too common in SSM areas. Most of these factors tend to
reinforce one another, resulting in a vicious cycle that is diffcult to break.
Lack of technico-mining knowledge and lack of fnancial and advisory services
force miners to carry out ad hoc operations, largely by guesswork and trial and
error. As a result, mineral resources that could otherwise have been mined more
effciently by medium- to large-scale mining methods are sometimes rendered
non-viable by small-scale activities. Lack of adequate equipment, such as drilling
and pumping machines also leads miners to abandon their deposits prematurely,
once hard rock or water is encountered.
The use of child labour in SSM operations is a signifcant social issue. Children
as young as 6 or 7 years old have been found breaking rocks manually, and 9-year
olds have been seen working underground under poor health and safety condi-
tions. Although the risks faced by children working in mines are similar to those
faced by adult miners, their young bodies are still fragile and more vulnerable.
Children work in these risky conditions for little or no pay at all; most work just
to have enough to eat.
9
S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
:

G
e
n
e
r
a
l

O
v
e
r
v
i
e
w
2.4. Gender issues
A substantial number of women work in the SSM sector. Women are involved
in direct mineral production activities and in mining settlement-related activities.
Although taboos and socio-cultural factors, fnancial and economic capacity, and
technological and organizational aspects often curtail their entry into direct pro-
duction, their numbers have been increasing in many countries. The growth
of womens participation is often a necessity rather than choice, due to their
lack of alternatives. The increase in retrenchments from public employment as
a result of structural adjustment programmes, low commodity prices, prolonged
droughts, and other factors can be linked to this growth.
According to a recent survey by ILO, about 3.5-4.0 million women out of
11.5-13 million small-scale miners worldwide are directly involved in these activi-
ties (ILO, 1999). It has been estimated by the Economic Commission for Africa
(ECA) that 45-50% of the 3-3.7 million people engaged (directly or indirectly)
in small-scale mining in Africa are women. Despite these impressive numbers,
most women are still part-time workers, relegated to secondary activities such
as manual grinding of ore, and panning. This is more pronounced where some
degree of technology is employed, as in hard-rock mining.
In Zimbabwe, women represent only about 10% of the 30,000 formal miners.
Their representation among the 300,000 gold panners, who are mostly illegal, is
nearly 50%. In Ghana, the number of women who are concession holders, is
only 10%, but they represent more than 50% of those working in minor, illegal
mining activities. In Tanzania, the picture is the same. In all three countries,
women working in processing activities are usually engaged as part-time labour-
ers in manual grinding of ore, using pestle and mortar and gravity concentration
by wooden pans, in addition to their usual responsibilities in agriculture (food
security) and as home makers and care takers of extended families (This has been
exacerbated by the HIV/AIDS pandemic).
10
3.1. Criteria for selection of best practices
The selection and compilation of what are considered best practices involved
the identifcation of individual parameters and issues that have a bearing on the
development of the SSM sector (see table 3). These have been discussed in
the preceding sections. Although the parameters affecting SSM practices are all
interrelated, an issue-by-issue analytical approach was followed since it facilitated
accessing and analysing information. In addition, it should be noted that most
programmes for SSM promotion in individual countries are issue specifc. This
compilation does not pretend to be exhaustive and it has been limited by avail-
ability of reliable information on tested practices.
Furthermore, it should be observed that what constitutes a best practice in
a given environment or location may not necessarily be replicable in another,
depending on local conditions, institutional culture and capacity, as well as other
not so tangible factors. Whilst an attempt has been made to identify the success
factors for sustainable small-scale mining development, since those would invari-
able be location-specifc, in implementing the recommendations of the compen-
dium, there is need therefore to understand that they may not be universally
applicable and that they need to be adapted to the local context.
3
Selected Best Practices in Small-scale Mining
11
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
Table 3: Different criteria used in the definition of small-scale mining
Main Area Specific Issues
Mining policy Policy recognition of small-scale mining and its categories
Identification of government functions and roles
Policy objectives
Recognition of small-scale mining constraints
Policy directions and strategies
Mining legislation Country definition of small-scale mining
Specific legislation for small-scale mining
Types of mineral rights
Size of concessions
Duration of tenure and renewability
Entitlement to transfer and mortgage of mineral rights
Limitation of small-scale mineral rights to nationals
Upgrading of mineral rights
Designation of areas specific for small-scale mining
Decentralization of mineral rights allocation and administration
Informal/undocumented licensing
Technology Availability of channels for access to technology
Programmes for promotion of cleaner and more efficient technology
Technical training and awareness programmes
Promotion of value-adding techniques
Specific small-scale mining technologies
Environmental
management, health
and safety
Specific environmental legislation and regulations
Procedures for environmental impact assessment
Procedures and financing for site rehabilitation
Legislation on health and safety
Monitoring, reporting and data collection
Minerals marketing Regulation of minerals marketing
Licensing of private mineral dealers
Other forms of open local mineral markets
Local mineral pricing systems
Strategies/incentives to discourage illegal trading
Mineral export procedures for producers and dealers
Incentives to encourage value adding practices
Value-adding industries
Institutional capacity Institutional network
Adequate human and financial resources
Specialized small-scale mining units
Small-scale miners organizations
Access to credit and
finance
Loan-based financing schemes
Equity-based financing schemes
Hire-purchase schemes
Donor and government support schemes
Financing through cooperation between small- and large-scale miners
Buyer credit schemes
Technical assistance
programmes
Specific technical assistance programmes
Special unit for provision of extension services
Specialized training institutions
Miners access to information
Women in mining Addressing women issues in mining policies
Women Miners Associations
Specific assistance programmes to support women miners
Child labour Addressing child-labour issues in mining policies
Child-labour elimination programmes
Other parameters Small-scale mining research and development
Cooperation between small- and large-scale miners
12
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
3.2. Best practices identified
3.2.1. Mining policy
A sound mining policy should provide guiding principles, give directions for the
development of the sector and set clear objectives and strategies for realizing
those objectives. Policy directions, objectives and strategies should refect a non-
discriminatory development approach between large- and small-scale mining sec-
tors. Because small-scale mining activities are largely poverty-driven activities, it
is important that a mining policy acknowledges the needs of small-scale mining
and links the strategies for development of the sector to those for poverty alle-
viation. Based on this scenario, the following mineral policies have been identi-
fed as best practices:
Tanzania Mining Policy
Tanzania adopted a new mining policy in October 1997 as part of the countrys
ongoing economic restructuring. The mineral sector was identifed as a lead
sector in the overall economic restructuring programme. The mining policy
emphasizes the shift of the government economic policies from public sector-
led development to private sector-led development and market-oriented eco-
nomic management. The mineral policy clearly identifes the roles, objectives
and strategies for development of both small- and large-scale mining. With
regard to SSM, the positive features include:
Recognition of the SSM sector: Although small-scale mining is not clearly
defned, the policy consistently refers to artisanal and small-scale mining, a clear
recognition of the existence of the two categories.
Government function: This has been identifed as reinforcing the provision
of extension services and assistance to artisanal and small-scale miners in adopt-
ing safe and environmentally sound mining and processing practices.
Policy objectives: The policy has seven objectives, two of which directly address
the sector and aim to:
(a) Regularize and improve artisanal mining; and
(b) Alleviate poverty especially for artisanal and small-scale miners.
Two other objectives, addressing environmental impact and minerals marketing,
although general, are also applicable to small-scale mining.
Recognition of constraints: The policy discusses what it regards as being con-
straints to the development of the SSM sector.
Directions and strategies: Strategies aimed at developing a modern and eff-
cient SSM are set out clearly and can be summarized as follows:
13
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
Rationalization of artisanal and small-scale mining
The strategies aim to:
(a) Transform and upgrade the activities into organized and modernized
mining;
(b) Make available appropriate and affordable technology and encourage its
local production;
(c) Assist the transfer of technology by promoting partnership between
miners and large-scale investors;
(d) Provide extension services in mining, mineral processing and marketing;
(e) Streamline and simplify licensing procedures for artisanal miners and
mineral dealers;
(f) Prepare, disseminate and enforce a code of conduct for mining and
processing; and
(g) Promote marketing arrangements that are receptive to the needs of the sector.
Legal and regulatory framework
Strategies in this category are set out in general terms that apply to both large and
small-scale miners. The specifc strategies for small-scale mining aim to:
(a) Streamline the licensing procedures in order to harmonize small and
large-scale mining operations; and
(b) Ensure transparency and fairness by conferring ownership of mineral
rights on a frst-come, frst-serve basis.
Financial services
In order to improve small-scale miners access to credit, the strategies aim to:
(a) Support the formation of formal enterprise groups and formalize tradi-
tional funding systems, e.g., hire-cum-purchase, forward sales and mutual
group saving schemes;
(b) Encourage banks to develop mine fnance expertise, and establish mobile
and commercial banks in mining areas;
(c) Encourage fnancial institutions to support the sector through afford-
able credit schemes and start-up capital requirements;
(d) Promote the use of third party guarantees to enable institutions to assist
miners to get loans;
(e) Facilitate the creation of mineral property markets to enable discoverers
to sell their properties;
(f) Assist in the establishment of miners cooperative banks and informal
fnancial institutions;
14
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
(g) Establish trust funds to fnance simple equipment and other inputs and
devise mechanisms for its replenishment; and
(h) Promote a savings culture amongst miners through awareness programmes.
Establishing formal marketing systems
These strategies aim at ensuring the growth of both local and export markets, by:
(a) Simplifying licensing procedures for dealers and traders and rationalizing
and streamlining fscal terms;
(b) Providing extension services and instituting stiff penalties on mineral
smugglers;
(c) Facilitating establishment of competitive mineral markets close to mining
areas that are operated by the major stakeholders;
(d) Establishing a system of local marketing committees that will ensure
smooth and effcient operations of the mineral markets and keep statis-
tics;
(e) Facilitating access to up-to-date minerals markets information;
(f) Offering incentives to encourage export promotion activities;
(g) Promoting formal fnancing schemes and direct sales to foreign buyers;
and
(h) Utilizing the country foreign missions to identify markets, link them to
dealers and initiate promotional programmes.
Environmental management for small-scale mining
The policy sets out separate strategies for environmental management for small-
and large-scale mining. The SSM strategies aim to:
(a) Demonstrate and encourage the utilization of environmentally sound
technologies;
(b) Provide environmental information through leafets in national language
(Kiswahili) and improve awareness through the media;
(c) Build partnerships with different stakeholders with a view to improving
environmental awareness and management;
(d) Establish strict standards in densely mined areas and empower mining
extension offcers to carry out regular monitoring;
(e) Specify environmental control measures based on the polluter pays
principle; and
(f) Establish proper authority structures to uphold law and order and facili-
tate enforcement of health and safety regulations.
15
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
Health and safety
The policy recognizes that although advancement in technology and training of
employees have improved safety performance in large-scale operations, the same
is not true for small-scale mining. As such, it sets out general strategies aimed at:
(a) Establishing health and safety regulations and preventive measures for
accidents and other hazards;
(b) Strengthening and enforcing regulations and improving health and safety
education and investment in health care facilities;
(c) Encouraging mining communities to take private initiatives for private
provision of essential infrastructure and services;
(d) Incorporating the provision of social infrastructure and hygiene facilities
in community development plans in highly concentrated mining areas;
(e) Inspecting of mining sites by government health and safety staff; and
(f) Encouraging other stakeholders involvement in enforcing health and
safety standards.
Women and children issues
In order to address the social problems that limit effective participation of women in
mining and those that lead to children being employed in mines, the policy sets out
strategies aimed at:
(a) Encouraging and facilitating employment and involvement of women in
mining development;
(b) Alleviating barriers limiting women involvement as potential investors
and conducting awareness programmes in order to encourage women
participation;
(c) Enforcing regulations against child labour and imposing stiff penalties
on those miners who employ children;
(d) Addressing poverty problems and providing viable alternatives; and
(e) Promoting education for children in mining areas and supporting and
promoting productivity enhancement programmes, which would reduce
the need to employ children.
Institutional framework
The SSM strategies include:
(a) Improving information fow for sensitizing and creating awareness on
available opportunities and regulations governing the sector;
(b) Strengthening the existing training institutions and establishing voca-
tional training centres; and
16
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
(c) Bringing administrative and technical support services closer to the
mining centres.
South African Mining Policy
South Africa is in the process of developing its SSM sector. This is part of an
overall strategy aimed at addressing problems and opportunities confronting the
mining industry in the wake of changes in the countrys policy and institutional
environment. The process started with establishment of a Mineral Policy Proc-
ess Steering Committee in 1995. After going through a comprehensive consulta-
tive process, a White Paper on Minerals and Mining Policy was approved by the
Cabinet on 23rd September 1998. The most salient SSM aspects included:
Recognition of the SSM sector
In recognition of the signifcance of a fourishing small-scale mining sector, the
policy document:
(a) Considered small-scale mining as ranging from very small operations
that provide subsistence or artisanal livelihoods, to the junior compa-
nies for which subsistence is not the prime motivator;
(b) Recognized that small-scale mining is already practiced at a sizeable scale
in the country, especially in the exploitation of gold, diamonds, coal,
industrial minerals and in minerals derived from pegmatites; and
(c) Stated clearly that it is in the interest of the country and the community
at large that all forms of mining, whether large, small or artisanal,
should be subject to the same requirements in respect to licensing, safety,
health and the environment.
Directions and strategies
South African strategies for the development of an effcient small-scale mining
sector can be summarized as follows:
Mineral rights
To make relevant information accessible to small-scale miners on minerals rights
and mineral deposits available for development.
Financial services
(a) Encouraging and facilitating access to funding for small-scale mining
through appropriate and targeted institutions; and
(b) Carrying out cost/beneft analysis between providing state advice and
support to small-scale miners and providing similar support to other
mining and non-mining activities.
17
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
Access to technology
(a) The Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) to coordinate needs-
driven research to be carried out by the Science Council and disseminate
its results to relevant stakeholders; and
(b) The DME in consultation with relevant stakeholders, to investigate the
establishment of training facilities for small-scale miners both in South
Africa and in the southern Africa region as a whole.
Access to information
The DME to establish a one-stop-shop, to disseminate information to small-
scale miners on all aspects relating to mineral development and exploitation.
Institutional capacity
(a) All Government and development agencies to coordinate their SSM
activities. Municipalities to be encouraged to include small-scale mining
development in their local economic development strategies;
(b) The capacity of DME to be enhanced, to facilitate small-scale mining
support and establishment of self-sustaining institutional support mech-
anisms for the sector; and
(c) The Government to facilitate the mutually benefcial co-existence of big
and small-scale mining operations.
Legal and regulatory framework
(a) To ensure that mining regulations are administered consistently; and
(b) The DME, in conjunction with other relevant government departments,
to streamline the regulatory and administrative procedures for mineral
exploration and exploitation.
Health and safety
To maintain health and safety standards in small-scale mining operations.
Environmental management
(a) Small-scale mining, as the rest of the industry, to adopt measures that
promote environmental sustainability through application of consistent
standards and acceptance of the polluter pays concept;
(b) The Government to support the provision of training and skills devel-
opment in environmental management;
(c) To provide intensive environmental management guidance in areas with
high concentrations of small-scale miners; and
(d) To ensure that fnancial guarantees for rehabilitation are fexible and site
specifc.
18
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
In addition to the above environmental management requirements, small-scale
miners are expected to adhere to the overall mining industry environmental man-
agement requirements that are set out in chapter four of the policy document.
The requirement states that:
A consistent standard of environmental impact management will be
applied and maintained irrespective of the scale of the mining operation.
Special attention will be afforded to the education and the provision of
guidelines for mining entrepreneurs concerning environmental manage-
ment, especially for small-scale miners. Furthermore, intensifed attention
and guidance will be provided in areas where a high concentration of
small-scale mining activities occur.
These environmental provisions are not considered a best practice because they
do not recognize that large- and small-scale mining operators have different tech-
nological and fnancial capabilities and should not be subject to the same require-
ments.
3.2.2. Mining legislation
The recognition of SSM as an important sector of the economy and an engine for
poverty alleviation has led many countries to draft specifc laws for its manage-
ment. However, there are still some countries that have not followed this trend.
In Sudan, for example, where more than 100,000 miners are engaged in the South-
ern Blue Nile and Eastern Bayuda Desert areas, there is no single legislation for
managing the activities. Miners are required to enter into agreements negotiated
according to the provisions of Section 10 of the Mines and Quarries Act, 1972
and the associated regulations, Mining and Quarries Regulations, 1973, with the
Ministry of Energy and Mining through the Geological Research Authority of
Sudan, (Mutagwaba, 2000). As a result, most miners end up operating illegally.
There are other countries that have enacted mining laws with specifc provisions for
managing small-scale mining that are detrimental to the development of the sector.
The Cte dIvoire Mining Code which recognizes two SSM categories namely,
small-scale mining and semi-industrial mining, states clearly that an authoriza-
tion for minerals exploitation for the two categories gives no right to the benefci-
ary for obtaining a mining title and that it is a real estate right that may not be
transferred or mortgaged. It also requires that large deposits discovered by a small-
scale miner must be declared to the Minister of Mines who will decide on the condi-
tions under which they can be exploited. These are defnitely counter-productive
measures that aim to control rather than to encourage development of the sector.
It is perhaps diffcult at this early stage of the transformation of the sector to iden-
tify a single legislation in any specifc country, which qualifes in its totality as a best
19
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
practice. With that in mind, this review looks at components of legislation that are
regarded as best practices. The review is limited to Cte dIvoire, Ethiopia, Ghana,
Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe from where relevant information could be col-
lected. The parameters used for comparison are presented in table 4.
Country defnition of small-scale mining
Although it is now widely acknowledged that a universal defnition for the sector
is not possible due to country-specifc parameters that affect it, such as level of
advancement of the sector, economic variability, mining experience and other
considerations, it is, however, imperative for a country to have a clear understand-
ing of what it refers to by artisanal, micro-scale, small-scale, semi-indus-
trial, or other terms that may be used in the country. Such clear defnitions are
important for directing assistance to the intended areas, including assistance pro-
vided by governments, donors, NGOs and international organizations. The fol-
lowing are good examples of country-specifc defnitions of small-scale mining.
Cote dIvoire (Mining Code)
(a) Small-scale mining - any extraction of mineral substances which use
manual and traditional methods and processes.
(b) Semi-industrial mining - any extraction of mineral substances which
use simple and little mechanized methods and processes.
Ethiopia (Mining Proclamation No. 52/1993 and Mining Regulations)
(a) Artisanal mining means, unless otherwise specifed by a Ministerial direc-
tive, non-mechanized mining operations of gold, platinum, precious min-
erals, metals, salt, clay, and other similar minerals, essentially manual in
nature, carried out by Ethiopian individuals or groups of such persons.
(b) Small-scale mining operations means any mining operation of which
the annual run-of-mine ore does not exceed:
(a) Regarding gold, platinum and silver and other precious and semi-
precious minerals: 100,000m3 for placer operations and 75,000
tons for primary deposit mining.
(b) Regarding metallic minerals such as iron, lead, copper, nickel:
150,000 tons for open pit mining and 75,000 tons for underground
mining operations.
(c) 120,000 tons per year for industrial minerals such as kaolin, ben-
tonite, diatomite, dolomite, quartz and coal.
(d) Regarding construction minerals: 80,000 m3 for sand, gravel,
pumice, stone, clay and the like, and 10,000 m3 for dimension
stones such as marble and granite.
(e) 20,000 m3 for mineral water.
20
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
*

I
n
d
u
s
t
r
i
a
l

a
n
d

C
o
n
s
t
r
u
c
t
i
o
n

M
i
n
e
r
a
l
s
*
*
E
a
c
h

l
i
c
e
n
s
e

a
r
e
a

i
s

l
i
m
i
t
e
d

t
o

5
,
0
0
0

m
2

b
u
t

a
r
t
i
s
a
n
a
l

m
i
n
e
r
s

a
r
e

l
i
m
i
t
e
d

t
o

t
w
o

l
i
c
e
n
s
e
s

w
i
t
h

a
n

a
r
e
a

n
o
t

e
x
c
e
e
d
i
n
g

1
0
,
0
0
0

m
2
.
?

C
o
u
l
d

n
o
t

b
e

e
s
t
a
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
.


T
a
b
l
e

4
:

P
a
r
a
m
e
t
e
r
s

f
o
r

c
o
m
p
a
r
i
s
o
n

o
f

m
i
n
i
n
g

l
e
g
i
s
l
a
t
i
o
n
C
o
u
n
t
r
y
M
i
n
e
r
a
l

R
i
g
h
t
s

C
a
t
e
g
o
r
y
T
e
n
u
r
e

P
e
r
i
o
d

(
y
e
a
r
s
)
C
o
n
c
e
s
s
i
o
n

S
i
z
e

(
h
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
)
R
e
n
e
w
a
b
l
e
A
s
s
i
g
n
/

T
r
a
n
s
f
e
r
R
e
s
t
r
i
c
t
e
d

t
o

L
o
c
a
l
s
C
a
n

b
e

M
o
r
t
g
a
g
e
d
C
o
t
e

d

I
v
o
i
r
e
S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

A
u
t
h
o
r
i
z
a
t
i
o
n
2
2
5

-

1
0
0
2
-
y
e
a
r

p
e
r
i
o
d
s
N
o
Y
e
s
N
o
S
e
m
i
-
i
n
d
u
s
t
r
i
a
l

A
u
t
h
o
r
i
z
a
t
i
o
n
E
t
h
i
o
p
i
a
S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

L
i
c
e
n
s
e
1
0

o
r

l
i
f
e

o
f

d
e
p
o
s
i
t
-

R
e
a
s
o
n
a
b
l
e

f
o
r

t
h
e

o
p
e
r
a
t
i
o
n
s
-

2
0
,
0
0
0
m
2

I
N
D
&
C
M
N
*
<
=

5
-
y
e
a
r

p
e
r
i
o
d
s
Y
e
s

(
m
a
y

a
l
s
o

b
e

i
n
h
e
r
i
t
e
d
)
Y
e
s
N
o
t

S
p
e
c
i
f
i
e
d
A
r
t
i
s
a
n
a
l

M
i
n
i
n
g

L
i
c
e
n
s
e
1
5
,
0
0
0

1
0
,
0
0
0
m
2

*
*
I
n
d
e
f
i
n
i
t
e

1
-
y
e
a
r

p
e
r
i
o
d
s

G
h
a
n
a
R
e
s
t
r
i
c
t
e
d

R
e
c
o
n
n
a
i
s
s
a
n
c
e

L
i
c
e
n
s
e

1
<
=

1
0
0
0
Y
e
s

d
e
p
e
n
d

o
n

p
e
r
f
o
r
m
a
n
c
e
D
i
s
c
r
e
t
i
o
n

o
f

t
h
e

M
i
n
i
s
t
e
r
Y
e
s
U
n
s
p
e
c
i
f
i
e
d
R
e
s
t
r
i
c
t
e
d

P
r
o
s
p
e
c
t
i
n
g

L
i
c
e
n
s
e

2
<
=

1
0
0
0
R
e
s
t
r
i
c
t
e
d

M
i
n
i
n
g

L
i
c
e
n
s
e
1
5
<
=

1
0
0
0
P
e
r
i
o
d
s

o
f

<
=

1
5

y
e
a
r
s
S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

G
o
l
d

M
i
n
i
n
g

L
i
c
e
n
s
e
3
-
5
3

2
5

a
c
r
e
s
P
e
r
i
o
d
s

o
f

3
-
5

y
e
a
r
s
N
o
Y
e
s
T
a
n
z
a
n
i
a
P
r
i
m
a
r
y

P
r
o
s
p
e
c
t
i
n
g

L
i
c
e
n
s
e
1
<
=

1
0
1
-
y
e
a
r

p
e
r
i
o
d
s

-
Y
e
s
-
P
r
i
m
a
r
y

M
i
n
i
n
g

L
i
c
e
n
s
e
5
<
=

1
0
5
-
y
e
a
r

p
e
r
i
o
d
s

Y
e
s
Y
e
s
Z
a
m
b
i
a
P
r
o
s
p
e
c
t
i
n
g

P
e
r
m
i
t
2
1
0
0
0
N
o
?
?
S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

L
i
c
e
n
s
e
1
0
<
=

4
0
0
Y
E
S
?
?
A
r
t
i
s
a
n
a
l

M
i
n
i
n
g

R
i
g
h
t
2
<
=

5
N
o
?
?
G
e
m
s
t
o
n
e

L
i
c
e
n
s
e
<
=

1
0
<
=

4
0
0
Y
E
S
?
?
Z
i
m
b
a
b
w
e
R
e
c
o
n
n
a
i
s
s
a
n
c
e

L
i
c
e
n
s
e
?
Y
e
s
P
r
o
s
p
e
c
t
i
n
g

L
i
c
e
n
s
e
?
M
i
n
i
n
g

L
i
c
e
n
s
e
2
0
0
m

x

5
0
0
m

A
l
l
u
v
i
a
l

G
o
l
d

P
a
n
n
i
n
g

P
e
r
m
i
t
P
e
r
m
i
t

i
s
s
u
e
s

t
o

R
u
r
a
l

D
i
s
t
r
i
c
t

C
o
u
n
c
i
l
s

w
h
o

a
r
e

r
e
s
p
o
n
s
i
b
l
e

f
o
r

a
l
l
o
c
a
t
i
n
g

a
r
e
a
s

t
o

m
i
n
e
r
s
21
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
(f) Regarding thermal water: 2,000,000 m3 for bathing, recreational
and medicinal purposes and 25 mega watt or geothermal steam
capable of generating equivalent power for industrial and other
purposes.
(g) 14,000 tons for salts extracted from brines.
South Africa (Minerals and Mining Policy - White Paper)
(a) Artisanal mining means small-scale mining involving the extraction of
minerals with the simplest of tools, on a subsistence level.
(b) In South Africa, small-scale mining ranges from very small operations
that provide subsistence living (artisanal mining), to the junior compa-
nies for which revenue is such that subsistence living is not the prime
motivator.
Specifc legislation for small-scale mining
Tanzania Mining Act (1998): The mining legislation in Tanzania combines
both small and large-scale operations, but group-specifc provisions for each
sector are separate. For example, Division D of the Act discusses mineral rights
for SSM only. Similarly, the mining regulations, which are printed in different sec-
tions on mineral rights, health and safety, environmental, and others, provide spe-
cifc provisions for SSM. The environmental regulations, for example, provide
11 specifc regulations under the heading Requirements for Artisanal and Small-
Scale Miners that regulate the SSM sector. This is regarded as a good example
of legislation that is transparent and sub-sector specifc.
Ethiopia Mining Proclamation No 52/1993: The Ethiopian mining legislation
also combines both small and large-scale mining operations in one document, but
has specifc sections for each sector. In addition to providing clear defnitions of
the different categories of small-scale mining, the legislation has specifc chapters
specifying mineral rights, procedures for application and issuance, rights and obli-
gations and other considerations for administration of the law. For example, the
defnition of artisanal mining is given under part I of the Act, and, sections I and
II of chapter 3 under part II defne the mineral rights (type, duration, renewal, etc.)
for artisanal and small-scale mining respectively. Likewise, the mining regulations
provide clear and separate guidance for the application procedure, size of conces-
sions, renewal, transfer and revocation of licenses for each sector.
The Mining (Alluvial Gold) (Public Streams) Regulations, 1991 -
Zimbabwe:These regulations were enacted to deal with the worsening situation of
illegal panning of gold. Although it could be categorized as a crisis measure rather than
a planned legislation for the promotion and development of the sector, it is a good
example of how to bring the best out of a bad situation. In addition, these are pro-
vided in a form that can be amended from time to time to achieve the intended goal.
22
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
But more importantly, the specifc regulations provide a unique example of decentral-
ized administration on the low end of the SSM sector. Whilst still overseen by Cen-
tral Government, the regulations put control and day-to-day administration of gold-
panning activities in the hands of the Rural District Councils (RDCs).
Types of mineral rights
In almost all the legislation reviewed, mineral rights of different categories are
issued to small-scale miners. In countries such as Tanzania, mineral rights are issued
irrespective of the category of the small-scale mining operation or type of minerals
mined. In Zimbabwe, mineral rights for small-scale mining (except gold panning)
are based on the same categories as those of large-scale mining, but the terms of
tenure, size of the concession and other factors are different. In Cte dIvoire,
Ethiopia and Zambia, mineral rights for artisanal and small-scale mining are differ-
ent. In Ghana, the differentiation is based on the type of minerals mined.
Mineral rights should be simple to administer, easily understood by the miners and
provide for upgrading to other types. On this basis, the following types of mineral
rights are considered best practices although each has inherent defciencies, which
will be discussed in the coming chapters.
Mineral rights under the Ethiopian Mining Proclamation: Two types of min-
eral rights are issued under the Ethiopian Mining Law, namely:
(a) Artisanal mining license; and
(b) Small-scale mining license.
The duration of tenure, concession sizes, application, issuance and transfer pro-
cedures and other provisions are provided for each type of mineral right.
Mineral rights under the Zimbabwean Mining Act: SSM mineral rights include
reconnaissance prospecting and mining licenses. For artisanal mining, a
gold-panning permit is issued by RDCs. The Zimbabwean legislation accords
the same type of mineral rights for both small- and large-scale operators, and it
allows small-scale miners to function by the same norms as the big operators.
Size of concessions
In most legislation, the size of the concessions granted to small-scale miners is
small. This limits their capacity to develop effcient mining projects. In some
cases, the shape of the concession is defned on the basis of surface features (e.g.
proximity to one another), without regard to the confguration of the mineral
deposit underground. There are, however, some countries that have started to
address this issue and have established that the size of the concessions should
depend on the type of permit issued. In this regard, best practices have been
identifed in the Zambian Mining Act, which differentiates the concession sizes
for mineral rights and mineral types as follows:
23
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
(a) Prospecting Permit - An area of ten square kilometres (10km2);
(b) Small-scale Mining License: An area not exceeding 400 hectares;
(c) Artisanal Mining Right: An area not exceeding 5 hectares; and
(d) Gemstone License: An area not exceeding 400 hectares.
Duration of tenure and renewability
The duration of tenure for most SSM mineral rights is usually very short with
no guarantee for renewal. This is unattractive to prospective investors, fnanciers
and developers. Whilst most countries are now offering longer tenure periods
to the small-scale mining category, the problem with the artisanal category
remains. Some good examples of longer tenure period include the following:
Tenure periods issued under the Ethiopian Mining Act: The following tenure
periods are given under the mining proclamation:
(a) Small-scale Mining License - 10 years or the life of the deposit, which-
ever is shorter and renewable for maximum periods of 5 years; and
(b) Artisanal Mining License - 1 year and may be renewed indefnitely for
similar periods.
Tenure periods issued under the Zambian Mining Act: The Act offers the
following tenure period for different mineral rights:
a) Prospecting Permit - 2 years non-renewable;
b) Small-scale Mining License - 10 years;
c) Artisanal Mining Right - 2 years non-renewable; and
d) Gemstone License - not more than 10 years - renewable.
Tenures of 1-2 years are common during the prospecting period even for large-
scale mining to discourage companies from holding large areas for too long. How-
ever, the weak point in this legislation, like many others, is the short tenure period
accorded to artisanal mining.
Tenure Periods under the Tanzanian Mining Act: Probably, the best option
for the low end of small-scale mining (artisanl mining) is offered by the Tanzanian
Mining Act. This Act does not have different categories for small-scale mining and
hence, offers 5 years for a Primary Mining License, irrespective of the mineral
type mined.
Entitlement to transfer and mortgage mineral rights
The ability to transfer and mortgage mineral rights is signifcant for it can enable
miners to raise fnance for project development and secure their investments.
Although many mining laws and regulations now recognize small-scale mineral
rights as transferable assets, which can also be mortgaged with government
24
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
approval, there are still laws that do not guarantee this. These include laws in
countries such as Ghana, Namibia, Senegal and Morocco. The legislation of
Cte dIvoire categorically denies small-scale miners the right to transfer and
mortgage their mineral rights. On the opposite side is the Tanzanian Mining
Act.
Transfer of Mineral Rights under the Tanzania Mining Act: The small-
scale mineral rights under this Act can be transferred and mortgaged. Since the
enactment of the Mining Act in 1998, small-scale miners have been selling their
properties either through outright sale or through development agreements. This
has enabled credible joint ventures to be formed between small and large-scale
operators and mobilization of investment fnance by small-scale miners. On the
negative side, it has encouraged speculation on mineral titles.
Limiting small-scale mineral rights to nationals
As shown earlier, in most countries, mineral rights for small-scale mining are
limited to nationals of that country. This is done to support the development of
local industry and to alleviate poverty. However, care is required, as the sector
needs fnancial and technological inputs, most of which are not available locally.
A blanket ban on foreign participation might limit the sectors ability to access
fnance and technology through joint ventures and other similar arrangements.
Best practices that allow limited foreign participation with control resting with
nationals, include the following:
The Tanzania Mining Act (1998): The Act requires that when the proprietor
is a company, foreign participation is allowed as long as Tanzanian nationals hold
majority shares in the company.
Upgrading of mineral rights
Transition from one category of small-scale mining to another and even to large-
scale is important since it allows the sector to grow and contribute to building
confdence amongst participants. For example, due to limitations of foreign par-
ticipation in SSM, it is sometimes necessary for a small operator to upgrade to
another level in order to attract more investment in his venture. This is allowed
in the case of the Tanzania Mining Act.
Upgrading of Mineral Rights - Tanzania: The legislation in Tanzania states
clearly that the holder of a Primary Mining License may apply to the Com-
missioner to convert the License or Licenses to a Mining License or Gemstone
Mining License. These are categories for large-scale operations. Also, in con-
verting to a license issued to large-scale operators, small-scale miners are allowed
under the law to amalgamate their licensed areas into one large block.
25
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
Designation of areas specifc for small-scale mining
Setting aside areas to be used specifcally for SSM is provided for in most legislation
in Africa. Most legislation gives the Minister responsible for mining the power to
declare an area a designated area for small-scale operations if it is considered to
be in the public interest to encourage prospecting and mining by methods suitable
for small-scale mining only. If used properly, this power can enhance the develop-
ment of the sector. As described below, best practices in the management of desig-
nated areas can be drawn from Ghana and Tanzania where allocation and manage-
ment procedures are provided for in the mining legislation.
Allocation of designated areas - Ghana: Under the Small-scale Gold Mining
Law, the Minerals Commission is empowered to monitor small-scale gold mining
operations and to establish in a designated area, a Centre known as the District
Small-scale Gold Mining Centre. The law also requires the establishment of a com-
mittee to assist the Centre to monitor, promote and develop SSM operations in the
designated area effectively. Such a Small-scale Mining Committee consists of:
(a) The District Chief Executive or his representative who presides as the
Chairman;
(b) The Offcer-in-charge of the District Centre; and
(c) A representative of the Development and Planning Committee of the
district.
Allocation of designated areas - Tanzania: In Tanzania, once an area has
been declared designated area by the Minister, the Commissioner for Mineral
Resources is then required to divide the area into numbered blocks, publish a map
of the divided area for public information; and exhibit a copy at the zonal mines
offce responsible for the designated area. The Minister then appoints an Alloca-
tion Committee for the designated area, composed of the following:
(a) The District Commissioner who presides as the Chairman;
(b) A Member of Parliament for the area;
(c) The Zonal Mines Offcer;
(d) The Chairman of the local council; and
(e) Three persons from the regional authority
Unlike the case in Ghana, the Allocation Committee in Tanzania is only responsible
for allocation of areas to eligible persons who must make their application and pay the
required fees for primary mining licenses through normal channels. In allocating the
areas, the committee is expected to take into consideration the following:
(a) Technical competence of applicants;
(b) Relevant experience of applicants;
26
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
(c) Financial resources of applicants; and
(d) Ensure that a reasonable part of the land is allocated to people living in
the vicinity or in the missing area.
Decentralization of mineral rights allocation and administration
Decentralization of the allocation and administration of mineral rights is still a
new phenomenon and is not widely practiced by many countries. If used prop-
erly, decentralization reduces delays in processing license applications and facili-
tates the control and management of environmental impact. In addition, it can
contribute to reducing illegal activities and security problems in mining camps
and surrounding areas. The case of Zimbabwe is self-revealing.
The Mining (Alluvial Gold) (Public Streams) Regulations, 1991- Zimbabwe:
The system was introduced as a way of controlling illegal gold panning, which is
rampant along almost 4,600km of the countrys rivers. These activities were put
under the responsibility of the local authorities through the above law. In accord-
ance with Section 274 of the Mines and Minerals Act, the regulations allow RDCs
to apply for special grants for the working of alluvial gold deposits in public streams
fowing through their areas. In turn, the councils are empowered to issue permits,
monitor and control gold panning in those areas. The regulations require that
mining should take place only within the riverbed and not closer than 3 metres to
either bank. They also prohibit undercutting and require that all excavations should
not be deeper than 1.5m. They further require artisanal miners to backfll all the
mined-out areas and that all the recovered gold should be sold to the Reserve Bank
or its agents. All these requirements are supposed to be monitored and supervised
by the RDCs.
Informal/undocumented licensing
This is the type of licensing where a formal or written document is not issued; neither
does it involve any formal licensing procedures. Licensing is done through provisions
provided in a particular legislation allowing the exploitation of certain minerals by
specifc groups of the population. Where practiced, these provisions allow indigenous
members of the population and landowners to exploit specifed minerals for their own
consumption, i.e., not for commercial use. A best practice was identifed in Ghana.
Minerals and Mining Law (1986) - Ghana: Under this law, Part X - Building
and Industrial Minerals and Small-sale Mineral Operations, Section 76 discusses the
Special rights of landowners with regard to building and industrial minerals as:
Nothing in this Law shall prevent (a) a local authority on land owned
by it; (b) the owner or lawful occupier of any land owned or occupied
by him; or (c) the holder of any mineral right on land to which
the right relates, from prospecting for and mining any building or indus-
trial minerals to be used by such owner, occupier or holder solely for
27
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
building, road making or agricultural purposes on such land, so long as the
exercise of such right is not inconsistent with or detrimental to the right of
any other person holding a mineral right in respect of such land.
3.2.3 Technology
Technological issues feature among the top constraints that limit small-scale
mining from attaining its full potential. Although it is diffcult to separate the
mechanistic and social aspects of technology, this section will limit itself to the
mechanistic features, e.g., extraction methods, equipment, support and ventila-
tion in working areas. The social aspects, such as organization of production
and labour, will be discussed in separate sections. Best practices associated with
technology are discussed in consideration to different parameters associated with
technology as detailed below.
Availability of channels for access to technology
Most countries lack local capacity to produce appropriate technology for small-
scale mining due to a number of reasons including their poor level of industri-
alization, economic performance and mining experience. In addition, several
countries have restrictive fscal terms imposed on importation of technology,
e.g., high import duties, sales tax, VAT and others. Also, the desire of most
developing countries to attract investments in the large-scale mining sector at
the expense of SSM, have resulted in incentives being given to large-scale opera-
tors that include importation of capital equipment free of duty and sales tax and
capital allowances for development capital expenditures. Such incentives are usu-
ally not extended to small-scale miners and suppliers of technology.
There are, however, exceptions worth mentioning. These include a plant hire-
purchase scheme in Zimbabwe. Small-scale miners can access mining equipment
through a plant-hire scheme managed by the Mining Department. The system
operates from three regional depots (Harare, Gweru and Bulawayo) chosen on the
basis of local intensity of SSM activities. From these depots, miners have access
to crushers, compressors, stamp mills, concentrating tables, diamond drills, chain
blocks, shear legs and other equipment and tools.
In order to hire equipment, a miner has to apply to the Regional Mining Engineers
offce, which should in turn satisfy itself of the need for the applied equipment.
The offce will then make a report to the Mining Commissioner for the region
who should satisfy himself of the miners ability to pay. An agreement between
the miner and the Ministry is then entered into and it allows hiring with eventual
purchase of the particular equipment.
However, equipment or plants that are in frequent demand are mostly limited to
hiring. The hire-purchase terms are offered for 12 months for low-cost equipment
28
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
items (up to Zimbabwean dollars $Z300), 24 months for items costing up to $Z600
and 36 months for equipment valued above $Z600. An interest rate of 10% annu-
ally is charged on top of the monthly hire charges. Any equipment returned before
the hire-purchase term expires, is regarded as having been hired only.
Assay and testing facilities in Zimbabwe: The facilities and services are man-
aged by the Department of Metallurgy of the Ministry responsible for mines and
offers free assaying and testing services to miners. Staff from the department can
also be called on site to offer free technical assistance.
Shamva Mining Centre (SMC) - Zimbabwe: SMC was set-up with the objec-
tive of assisting small-scale gold miners in the Shamva/Bushu mining areas to
acquire and use appropriate technologies and skills in the mining and processing
of gold, (Svotwa et al., 1993). The centre is also intended to encourage estab-
lishment of viable, safe and environmentally sound mining operations that con-
tribute towards sustainable rural development. It was set up through technical
assistance from the Intermediate Technology Development Group, UK, in col-
laboration with the Small-Scale Miners Association of Zimbabwe (SSMAZ) and
the Zimbabwe Ministry of Mines. However, the uniqueness of the service at the
time also attracted donors willing to fnance the centre, including the German
Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ), Gate, European Union (EU), the UKs
Department for International Development (DFID), Comic Relief and others.
On the technology front, the centre offers ore-processing (custom milling) serv-
ices, provides hired drilling and blasting services, sale of explosives, arranges
transport to ferry ore from the mines to the centre and provides technical exten-
sion services. In the initial phase (1989-1990), the installed milling and ore-
processing facilities included a 4 t/day 3 stamp mill, a low-cost shaking table, an
amalgamation barrel, settling pond and a retorting facility. By 1990, it was real-
ized that the demand for the services exceeded the capacity of the centre. Phase
two of the project was then initiated by installing a ball mill with the capacity to
process 1 ton of ore per hour. A VAT leaching plant with a capacity of 100 tons
per month was also installed.
The centre employs drillers and their assistants in order to provide drilling and
blasting services to the miners. The extension services are usually limited to
the Shamva/Bushu area and include services on safe working habits, choice of
mining methods, simple sampling methods, underground support systems and
boosting production. In its frst 5 years of operation, the centre was well utilized
by the miners in the area and processed 8,519 tons of ore yielding 40kg of gold.
In order to ensure commercial sustainability of SMC, a commercial company
was set up to run the project. A manager and secretary were appointed under
the guidance of a 7-member Board of Directors consisting of representatives
from SSMAZ (4), fnance and legal experts (2) and ITDG (1). In 1999, the
29
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
management of the centre was transferred to SSMAZ. The centre is still run-
ning, but on a much-reduced scale due to a number of problems including lack
of managerial experience and the economic problems that the country is facing
at the moment.
Demonstration projects - Ghana (Davidson, 1993): The Ghana Minerals Com-
mission set up the Tarkwa Mining Centre which houses among other things, an
assay laboratory and a permanent demonstration processing plant. In addition
to the centre, the Commission has set-up equipment in various feld sites. This
approach has been well received by small-scale miners and aims at providing cus-
tomized equipment packages that refect the cost constraints and technical needs
of the individual mines. Equipment is made available on cash sale or loan basis, and
is manufactured in collaboration with local fabricators.
Programmes for promotion of effcient and cleaner technology
Miners need to be encouraged to adopt affordable, effcient and cleaner tech-
nologies through demonstration of the benefts for changing from their tradi-
tional techniques to the cleaner ones. The benefts have to be monetary since
miners are usually not concerned with long-term effects. For example, small-
scale miners have resisted using mercury retorts for gold amalgamation because
the effects of the mercury on their health are of a long-term nature. Most
programmes for promotion of effcient and cleaner technologies come through
aid programmes promoted by donors and international agencies. They are nor-
mally not sustainable without donor funding. The countries concerned lack both
capacity and political will to initiate follow-up programmes and hence ensure
long-term impact. In few countries, a more long-term approach has been fol-
lowed. These include:
GTZ - University of Zimbabwe Riverbed Mining Project - Zimbabwe: Fol-
lowing the enactment of the The Mining (Alluvial Gold) (Public Streams) Regula-
tions, 1991 which put the control of alluvial panning for gold in the hands of rural
district councils, a number of projects have been initiated to support the move. One
such project is funded by GTZ and executed by the Mining Department of the Uni-
versity of Zimbabwe. The project initially started in the Insiza RDC and is now about
to go national. Through the project and in consultation with gold panners, new and
effcient sluice boxes were designed and their usage demonstrated to the miners. The
demonstration also included techniques to rehabilitate mined riverbanks.
The project, which has already achieved fairly high productivity of around 4 tons
per miner/shift, requires minimum ore grades of 0.25g/t to be commercially
viable. This is due to the capital investment, which is between $ US 10,000 and
$15,000 (that is, $500-$750 per person) per panning group of 20 people, (Dresch-
ler, 2001). However, despite the success, there is danger that leaving behind materi-
als of less than 0.25g/t will bring back illegal panners in the near future.
30
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
The Uis Tin Mining Project - Namibia: This project was initiated by former
employees of a large-scale tin mine in Uis, Namibia who were left jobless after
the mine closed. A small group of small-scale miners, a core of them women,
organized themselves and requested the support of the Ministry of Mines and
Energy in Windhoek. A joint project between the Raw Materials Group of
Sweden and the Ministry was initiated in 1994 with funding from the Swedish
International Development Co-operation Agency (SIDA). The main aim was to
create stable employment and develop a framework for legal and safe ways of
carrying out SSM. Technologically, the project developed methods to improve
productivity while retaining as much manual labour as economically justifable.
Miners were trained in mining, drilling, blasting, sorting, hauling and concentrat-
ing techniques. A drilling and blasting team from the project was able to offer
services to other claim holders and thus generate extra income. The technology
employed included drilling and blasting, hand sorting and cobbing, mechanical
concentration that involves two-stage crushing, a jig and a shaking table to
extract cassiterite.
The plant was constructed from materials and equipment available locally. The
project has the potential to employ 100-150 people and productivity is 1 kg of
tin concentrate per day, per person. Tin and tantalite are extracted in parallel in
order to improve the feasibility of the project, since tantalite commands a much
higher price than tin. The Uis project is a good example of a multidisciplinary
approach linking technical (geological, engineering) and socio-economic issues
(organization, training and women participation). This was achieved with a total
investment of $ US 132,000 and provided an annual income for each miner of
$330 -$440 (1996 fgures).
However, when the fnancial support from SIDA dried up, the project ran
into problems. The Raw Materials Group then requested the Government of
Namibia and the Namibia Small-scale Miners Association Centre (NSMAC),
a registered company, to take over the project under the EU-Sysmin loan
repayment arrangement. Through this arrangement, subsidies to the tune of
N$20,000 per month were provided to the project. This enabled miners to con-
tinue operating, until stopped due to continuous losses incurred by the project.
The project has now been taken over by NSMAC who is investigating and
exploring for tantalite deposits with fnancial assistance from CDI. The operation
employs 30 people for digging trenches and winnowing. Pending the success of
the exploration work, CDI is willing to fnance the project which will use a mobile
plant for dry pre-concentration and then an improved existing plant to produce
a fnal concentrate. The plan includes running the new Uis Tantalite Project as a
joint venture between NSMAC (70%) and a miners cooperative, SMU (30%).
31
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
Technical training and awareness programmes
The following programmes have been selected as good examples of technical
training and awareness programmes designed to build the capacity of small-scale
miners to achieve higher productivity without increasing negative environmental
impacts and health and safety problems.
UNIDO Abatement of Mercury Pollution programme - Ghana and Tanzania:
Between 1998 and 2001, the United Nations Industrial Development Programme
(UNIDO), in collaboration with the Governments of Ghana and Tanzania, initi-
ated programmes with the objective of assessing among other things, the envi-
ronmental and human health effects caused by mercury; introducing effcient and
cleaner technologies; promoting training, and raising awareness on the dangers
associated with uncontrolled use of mercury. Training programmes included both
formal and informal methods to ensure that a large number of miners were
reached. Training covered technical and non-technical issues including:
Mineral policy, mining law and regulations;
Geology and exploration techniques;
Mining and mineral processing technology;
Occupational health and safety;
Environmental management and mercury hazards;
Organizational planning, business and fnancial management; and
Rural development, cultural and social issues (with emphasis on womens
aspects).
To be effective, the training component included training of trainers who were
selected through miners associations, cooperatives and representatives of other
mining groups. Demonstration videos from Minamata and from Brazilian gold
mining areas were used as part of the training and awareness-raising campaigns.
Leafets and posters written in national languages were prepared and distributed
to participants and offces of the miners associations. Copies of videos were also
made available to all participants.
Given the known resistance of miners to use retorts for fear that their gold will
disappear in it, specially designed glass retorts were secured and used for demon-
stration and training. These glass retorts known as ThermEx, are produced by a
Germany company, Metall Technic mt, and enabled miners to observe the entire
process of separating gold and mercury from the amalgam.
ITDG promotion of mercury-saving retorts: Following successful develop-
ment and feld-testing of this retort in Zimbabwe, ITDG prepared a concise leafet
containing practical information for miners and decision makers (Twigg, 1996).
The leafets contained details on the dangers of mercury, the need for a closed
32
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
retort, the materials and parts required to make one, procedure for making and
using one and frst aid treatment for mercury poisoning. The fabrication process
of the retorts was explained in steps that could easily be followed by miners and
contained six illustrations:
The whole unit in operation;
The individual parts;
Diagram explaining stage one of the fabrication of the retort;
Photograph of the components assembled;
Photograph of the components before assembly; and
A sketch showing how to collect mercury after use.
The leafet was produced in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Kiswahili and Bahasa. An
A3 coloured poster aimed at supplementing the leafets was produced with one side
containing warnings about the dangers of mercury and the reverse side, showing
practical information. The poster has so far been printed in English, Spanish and
Portuguese. The leafets and posters have been distributed to miners in different
countries through mining departments, NGOs and private agencies. There is no suf-
fcient evidence that better practice resulted from the dissemination of these leafets.
DFID, GSD and SSMAZ Training Seminars - Zimbabwe: In 1991, a series
of training seminars were funded and organized by DFID, in conjunction with
the Zimbabwe Geological Survey Department (GSD) and the Small-scale Miners
Association of Zimbabwe (SSMAZ), (Campbell et al., 1991). Representatives
chosen from each of the regions in which SSMAZ is active attended the semi-
nars, which were aimed at training trainers. The seminars were run by experts
from the British Geological Survey and were held at four different locations
namely, Bulawayo, Gweru, Chengutu and Shamva. The courses were intensive
and emphasized practical work. They were each conducted for 12 continuous
days and with up to 25 participants per course. Training was biased towards gold
since it is the mineral most produced by small-scale miners. The course intro-
duced participants to:
Basic principles of geology, particularly gold mineralisation;
Identifcation of rock types and minerals common to gold belts;
Map reading and interpretation;
Simple surveying, using tape and compass methods;
The nature of orientation of veins and shear zones;
Sampling, mine evaluation and planning;
Simple exploration techniques; and
Basic fnancial planning.
33
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
Practical work was carried out in small-scale mines located in close proximity to
the training centres and addressed key practical problems, e.g., pegging of claims,
preparation of a plan map, sampling and interpretation of assay results, arsenic
testing in gold exploration and others. A visit to one of the large working gold
mines in the country was an integral part of the course. There, a demonstration
of techniques that can beneft small-scale gold production, e.g., heap leaching, was
also carried out.
Mintek Training Programme - South Africa: Mintek is in the process of set-
ting up an Artisanal and Small-scale Miners Training Programme that will intro-
duce the SSMs to:
How to obtain a permit for prospecting or mining;
Rehabilitation and how to draw up an EIA;
Basic geology/mineralogy;
Mining methods;
Minerals processing;
Benefciation or adding value to products;
Safety;
Health and understanding AIDS; and
Brick-making.
SEAMIC Training Programmes - Tanzania: The Southern and Eastern Afri-
can Mineral Centre (SEAMIC) was established as an independent regional centre
of knowledge and information for southern and eastern Africa. The centre,
which operates under the umbrella of ECA, is located in Dar-es-Salaam, Tan-
zania. The centre was founded by three countries, Ethiopia, Mozambique and
Tanzania, which were later joined by Angola, the Comoros and Uganda. Mem-
bership is open to all other countries of the eastern and southern African subre-
gion.
Amongst the many activities carried out by SEAMIC is the provision of special-
ized training services consisting of short, targeted courses. Although the training
programme includes advanced courses on many geoscience subjects such as data
processing and management, laboratory techniques, mineral processing technol-
ogy, instrumental analysis and environmental technology, other courses such as
pottery and ceramics, and gemmology are relevant to small-scale miners. For exam-
ple, the one-week short course on Introduction to Gemmology, targets mineral
technicians, small-scale miners, mineral dealers and brokers and other interested
parties. The main goal of the gemmology training course is to enrich participants
with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary for the examination
and identifcation of gemstones, diamond and their numerous simulants.
34
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
Given the increasing demand for gemstones in the region, there is a growing reali-
zation that the lack of skills to identify, grade and value gemstones and the use of
inappropriate terminology hamper business transactions. More than 12 gemmol-
ogy courses have been conducted so far (Pedro, 2001) and more than 100 small-
scale miners from Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya have been trained.
Promotion of value-adding techniques
The poor technology employed in the recovery of most small-scale minerals
leads to poor grades of the fnal products. Most miners produce mineral concen-
trates, gold containing impurities including mercury, raw gemstones and other
impure mineral products that command low market prices. While many countries
are keen on improving the technology used by small-scale miners, emphasis has
been placed on improving productivity, ensuring high health and safety standards
and minimizing environmental impact, without consideration of the quality of
the output and value added. Exceptions have been identifed in Tanzania, as
described below.
Gemstone Cutting Training Centre - Tanzania: Under the small-scale mining
component of the Mineral Sector Development project fnanced by the World
Bank and the Government of Tanzania, funds were set aside to set up a centre
for training small-scale miners on gemstone cutting techniques. The centre, which
will be based in Arusha - famous for its production of Tanzanite - is expected to
be operational before the end of 2002. The primary objective of the centre is to
equip Tanzanian nationals with lapidary and stone-carving skills so as to add value
to gemstone and mineral production in the country.
Specifc SSM technologies
The assessment of best practices on specifc technologies applied by small-scale
miners across the continent takes into consideration the type of minerals being
mined and the extraction method utilized. Where necessary, consideration has
also been given to the infuence that variations in the properties of the ore being
mined have on the technology employed. This is relevant for example in the case
of gold, where processes for recovering alluvial, free milling or sulphidic ores
and refractory ores are analysed differently. It should be noted that although gold
and gemstones are the minerals widely exploited by small-scale miners, other
minerals such as industrial minerals, building materials and base metals are also
covered.
Mining technologies
Rock drilling
Surface drilling - hand-held jackhammers: These are widely used in SSM to
drill holes of diameters between 28-45mm (with consideration of the diameter of
35
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
explosives used). Depending on the hardness of the rock, rotary or percussion
drilling machines may be used. Rotary hand-held drills are usually suitable for
drilling softer rocks, e.g., coal, rock salt, gypsum, soft limestone, and others. Most
hand-held rotary drills weigh between 9-15kg and can achieve outputs of between
20-50m per person/per shift, (SADC, 1994). Percussion jackhammers are suitable
for drilling in hard rocks and weigh between 18-25kg. Due to good natural ventila-
tion in surface mining, air fushing of drill holes is very common in surface drill-
ing. These machines can be operated by one miner although it is common to have
an assistant or spanner man. Jackhammers are powered by compressed air gen-
erated through mobile diesel compressor units. Examples of best practice in the
application of these machines are found in the Uis small-scale tin mining project in
Namibia. Drilling was used at Uis to prepare holes for blasting the hard rock bear-
ing the tin ore. Prior to utilization of drilling, the rocks were dislodged manually,
at low productivity. A well-trained team of two people per machine carry out both
drilling and blasting at Uis and are capable of selling their services to nearby small-
scale mines.
Underground drilling - jackhammer with airleg: Jackhammers mounted on
airlegs (jacklegs) weighing between 18-25kg are widely used in underground SSM.
The machine is usually operated by one driller and an assistant and is powered by
compressed air of 6-7 bars. Given the confned working space in underground
mines and poor ventilation, these machines use water to fush out the cuttings, sup-
press dust and cool the drill bit and steel. Depending on rock hardness, they have
performances of 15-25m in hard rock, to 40-50m in dolomite rock per machine-
shift, (SADC, 1994). Stopper drills mounted with fxed airlegs are also available for
drilling vertical holes, e.g., in raising. Because of the fxed airlegs, these machines
weigh more than jackhammers that are mounted on removable airlegs.
Rock blasting
Blasting is gaining wide application as a mechanism to break rock despite some
countries (e.g., Ghana) legislating against its usage in SSM. Explosives are available
in different countries with varying commercial names depending on the manufac-
turers. However, the commonly used explosives in SSM belong to three main cat-
egories, namely:
(a) Ammonium nitrate blasting agent, which consists of a mixture of
ammonium nitrate and fuel oil (ANFO) - safe and cheap but effective in
dry conditions only;
(b) Ammonia dynamite cartridged high explosives - high-density explosives
suitable for both underground and surface-mining operations; and
(c) Waterproof dynamite - cartridged explosives (sizes of 25mm x 200mm
(130gm) and 32mm x 200mm (200gm)) - commonly used in South
Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
36
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
The wide range of explosives, initiating and timing products that are available
on the market shows the need for training and enforcement of strict regulations
on the handling of these dangerous, but necessary mining inputs. Most countries
using explosives in SSM have strict regulations that require the user to be trained
and to hold a blasting permit (e.g., in Zimbabwe) or blasting certifcate, (e.g., in Tan-
zania). Transportation procedures and storage facilities for explosives are another
setback in the handling of explosives by small-scale miners, who can hardly afford
to build magazines as per required standards. Practices considered good examples
in explosives usage by small-scale miners include the following:
Mobile explosives storage boxes - Tanzania: The Department of Mines has
designed and commissioned explosives storage boxes that small-scale miners can
acquire from the department. The storage boxes are made of metal with the inside
lined with timber and is sold at a nominal fee aimed only at recouping production
costs.
Sharing explosives storage facilities with large-scale miners - Zimbabwe:
This has been demonstrated in the Shamva area in Zimbabwe as an example of
good cooperation between large and small-scale miners. Prior to establishment of
the SMC, the owner of one large-scale mine in the area allowed small-scale miners
to store their explosives in his magazine.
Sharing explosives storage facilities between miners - Tanzania: The
National Services (Army) runs a small-scale limestone quarry in Kunduchi, Dar-
es-Salaam with a crushing plant and uses explosives for rock blasting. The quarry
operation also has its own explosives magazine located in the mining area. Close
to the National Services quarry, there is a group of artisanal miners exploiting the
same limestone reserves for feeding the Dar-es-Salaam market with aggregates.
Miners employ manual drilling followed by blasting of a few holes at a time to
dislodge the limestone blocks. A contractor who has a blasting certifcate and is
paid by the miners after they have sold their aggregates usually carries out blasting
in the area. However, the big problem in the area was the storage of explosives. The
National Service quarry unit made available its facilities to the small-scale miners.
They lock their explosives in portable authorized explosive boxes.
Drilling and blasting - Gemstone Mining (Merelani, Tanzania): Blasting can
be effectively used in gemstone mining; though great care must be taken. In order
to avoid fracturing the gemstones, the effect of the detonation shock wave must be
reduced. This can be achieved by using decoupled charges, i.e., explosives having
much less diameter compared to blast hole diameters. Other effective techniques
include placing explosives and stemming materials with air gaps between the rocks,
fring one or very few charges at a time or the application of explosives with very
low velocity of detonation (e.g., ammonium nitrate emulsion slurries).
37
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
Tanzanite miners in Merelani, Tanzania, apply the technique of fring one or very
few charges at a time in order to loosen the gemstone bearing ore without damag-
ing the Tanzanite gems. This is regarded as best practice as it has enabled those
miners utilizing explosives to improve their productivity to around 1.8 tons per
person/day compared to 0.7 tons per person/day for those using manual drilling
followed by blasting, (Mutagwaba, 1997).
Surface mining techniques
Quarrying of dimension stones / gemstone mining: Quarrying of dimension
stones requires different techniques from those used for rock breakage. The fol-
lowing techniques are commonly used in small-scale dimension stone quarrying:
Rock fragmentation by wedging (SADC, 1994): This is achieved by drilling a
row of plug holes and inserting wedges to dislodge the rock block. Drill holes
spaced 10-20cm apart depending on the rock hardness and penetrating at least
2/3 of the thickness of the block are commonly used. Pneumatic or petrol driven
breakers are effciently used to drive the wedges into the holes. The method can
also be used in gemstone mining, e.g. for breaking hard but brittle core quartz.
Hydraulic rock splitting (SADC, 1994): This technique is based on the above
principle, but instead of using wedges, it employs a hydraulic unit of 3-5kW, diesel,
air or electric-driven to power-splitting cylinders, which exert pressure of between
850 - 2,500kN to split the blocks. Hand or pedal-driven pumps are also available.
Like the wedging method, this technique can also be used in gemstone mining or
dyke chrome mines such as those in Zimbabwe.
Hoisting of rock blocks - Mutoko Black Granite - Zimbabwe (SADC, 1994):
Derrick cranes are used at this black granite quarry to lift heavy blocks of up to 20
tons. These cranes can be built locally and they do not require much maintenance.
Derrick cranes can be used in clay, oxidic zinc ore or amethyst on karstic surfaces,
small diamond pipes or even in alluvial diamond mining where skips containing
gravel have to be lifted.
Sand mining - The Panel Method - Ghana: Mining of sand in Ghana is carried
out in both artisanal and mechanized SSM operations. The difference between the
two groups lies in the excavation methods employed. While artisanal miners use
shovels, ground chisels and pickaxes to remove the overburden, dig and load the
sand, mechanized operations employ excavators for stripping, digging and loading.
However, a unique feature of the sand-mining operations is the application of the
panel method, which is supervised by the Minerals Commission.
This method requires that miners divide their areas into blocks prior to any mining
operation. Once the area has been divided into blocks, the overburden is stripped
from one block and deposited onto the next block. The mining of sand is then
carried out in the frst block. After the frst block is exhausted, the overburden
38
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
material is then returned to fll the hole left behind. The procedure is then repeated
in the subsequent blocks. This minimizes adverse environmental impact.
Kaolin Mining - Pugu Area, Tanzania: The Pugu Kaolin mining project is
a small-scale mining project employing open cast techniques to mine raw kaolin.
With production capacity of approximately 50,000 tons per annum, the project
employs one bulldozer and one front-end loader. For both soft and kaolinite rock
material, light blasting is used to loosen the material which is then bulldozed into
hips before being moved to an ore stockpile by a front-end loader. Hand-held jack-
hammers are used to drill and remove cuttings. Light blasting is usually employed
in order to loosen the hard kaolin ore ready for dozing. Soft kaolinite rock is exca-
vated directly by a bulldozer with a ripper. The bulldozer carries out stripping
where necessary.
Underground mining of thin orebodies
Many ore bodies mined through SSM underground techniques are usually thin in
dimension, which makes the application of most mining methods diffcult. The
following example in Zimbabwe shows the approach used to mine a fatly inclined
chromite orebody with thickness ranging between 20 - 40cm. It should be noted
that the project was properly designed with the assistance of the Mining Depart-
ment.
Small-scale mining of thin chrome seams at Ngezi - Zimbabwe (Phimister
et al.): This is a good example of a well-designed, small-scale underground mine
extracting a very thin seam. The set-up of this mine can be used to mine any other
orebody of similar features, particularly thin gold veins mined by most small-scale
gold miners. The key features that make it a good mining practice are outlined
below:
Mine design: - The mine has three inclined shafts, with the central shaft equipped
with rail tracks, compressed air and water and the other two equipped with 20lb,
45cms-gauge rail tracks laid on treated timber sleepers. With a 6m thick crown
pillar, the mine has levels with intervals between 12-17metres. At full production,
200t/month of chrome will be produced with a workforce of 15 people.
Shafts and drive levels: The central shaft is equipped with permanent air and a water
service line and an air hoist capable of lifting a 1-ton cocopan or side-tipping cars
from 60m down. The excavation dimensions were kept to a minimum (1.3 -1.8m)
in order to reduce the amount of excavated waste.
Stope raises: The mine utilizes stope raises for the commencement of mining and
they are located strategically so that production is not delayed by development
work. The raises are mined on the hanging wall waste on the seam contact and after
waste has been trimmed out, chrome is mined.
39
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
Resuing - mining method: Resuing was chosen as the mining method for the 20 - 40cm
width ore bodies and consists of drilling and blasting the hanging wall waste to
the full length of the stope face. The generated waste is then packed between the
supporting props in order to fll the stope completely. The exposed chromite seam
is then mined by using a paving breaker with the chipping hammer. Controlled
blasting is also employed where the seam is frozen to the footwall. One-metre
holes are drilled with an inclination of 70o to the stope face and each charged
with one 22 x 200mm explosive cartridge. With the remaining length tamped, the
charges are timed by using slow-burning ignitor cords.
The resuing mining method is well known for mining thin ore bodies including
gold veins. It allows alternative cutting of waste to create working space and
expose the ore that is then cut during the second phase.
Hoisting system: Given the remote location of the project and the lack of electricity,
a diesel-powered hoisting system was sought. Other considerations in selecting this
and other equipment included the limited skills of the miners, equipment mobility
and the cost element. An ATLAS COPCO (type A10) compressed air-driven hoist
that requires minimal maintenance and that is easier to operate was selected and
installed. It is suitable for operation in confned spaces and is very easy to operate
and maintain. The specifc features of the hoist include:
A vane-type motor mounted inside the rope drum with low speed performance
that can be easily started on load;
An automatic strap brake released by a manual push button; and
An operating control with poppet valves working on a lone valve seat, which results
in minimal wearing.
The hoist, with a capacity to lift 1 ton and consume 42 litres per second of com-
pressed air with pressure between 4.5 - 7.5 bars, is usually operated on loads of not
more than 0.5 tons. Given the limit of the rope length, if the incline gets deeper
than 70 metres, another hoist must be acquired.
Supply of compressed air: Compressed air is used in the mine to power the drilling
equipment (jackhammers) and the hoist. As such, a reliable source of compressed
air was sought in order to ensure uninterrupted operations. Selection of the com-
pressor was done by taking into consideration consumption of the relevant equip-
ment, i.e., hoist consuming 85cfm and jackhammers 95cfm at a pressure of (+-)
7 bars. However, the mine was set up in such a way that jackhammers and a hoist
would not be operated at the same time. In view of that, an Ingersoll Rand com-
pressor was selected. It is capable of producing 66 litres per second of free air
delivered at an operating pressure of 7 bars. The compressor was driven by a Per-
kins three-cylinder diesel engine capable of producing 33.2kW at a speed of 2500
revolutions per minute. The compressor and engine system are designed for very
40
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
simple operations, require minimal maintenance and can be easily towed from one
place to another.
Human resource allocation: The development of the mine (sink shaft and lateral devel-
opments) was carried out by 10 workers selected from members of the coopera-
tive. These consisted of:
- 1 team leader, a holder of a mine blasting certifcate;
- 1 assistant to the team leader, who operates both the compressor and the
drilling rods sharpener;
- 2 machine drilling machine operators;
- 1 machine assistant with no experience; and
- 5 general workers who carry out cleaning and rock transportation from
the face. They also assist the team leader with the installation of timber
sets, tracks and any other jobs that may arise.
Material transport: Wheelbarrows move rock materials from the face and from the
levels by shovelling. Half-ton cocopans are manually loaded with shovels before
being hoisted to the surface through a hoist. Generally, wheelbarrows with all steel
bodies, roller bearings and wide rubber tyre wheels have been found to allow one
man to move up to 1-2 tons per shift over a distance of 100m, (SADC 1994).
Support of workings: Single props of untreated timber with headboards are used as
support in the stopes and are placed at intervals of 1.5m on both dip and strike.
Treated timber, 100mm to 125mm in diameter, is used for support in the shafts and
levels. Off-cuts from the treated timber are used for sleepers.
Underground lighting: Miners relied on carbide lamps and, sometimes, candles were
used due to lack of electricity and cap lamps.
Additional small-scale underground mining equipment: Apart from the equip-
ment used in the above example, there are other equipment and tools that could ft
into a small-scale underground working environment effectively. These include:
Hoisting - safety windlasses (SADC, 1994): Small-scale miners commonly use these
although their improvised designs make them ineffcient. A simple windlass that
can be fabricated in any small metal workshop is described by the SADC Mining
Coordinating Unit as consisting of an 8 pipe, 30mm rounds and a channel iron.
This can be attached with a simple band brake to be used when lowering the kibble.
Side chains can be fxed for securing the handle, which is attached to the pipe via
a drop-in bearing. With a hoisting capacity of 55-60kg loads at a time, the windlass
can deliver 0.3-0.5 tons per hour.
Hoisting - diesel/petrol engine winders: Small winders powered by a diesel or petrol
engine with a clutch or friction wheel drive, low rope speeds of around 0.3 m/sec,
and only one gear with no gear shifting, are also available.
41
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
Lighting - compressed air lamps: Due to lack of electricity in most SSM areas, and
the fact that the traditional cap lamps are usually expensive, compressed air lamps
provide a good alternative. There are several products including the mercury
vapour or fuorescent lamps that provide strong enough lighting for underground
workings and can be fxed directly on the supply line for the jackhammers and
other compressed air-powered equipment.
Ventilation of underground mines: Adequate supply of air in underground working is
required in most countries health and safety legislation. Enough airfow is essential
for removal of gases, fumes and for meeting demands of air for those doing physi-
cal activities. Whereas shallow mines (<20m) can be ventilated through natural fow
of air, deeper excavations need mechanical means of air supply. Whereas some
small-scale miners use compressed air for direct ventilation, (e.g., in the tanzanite
mines of Merelani, Tanzania), this practice is wasteful if one considers the power
consumption of the compressor. Small fans that can be locally made are good and
a cheap alternative, as is the case in the Mugusu mine in Tanzania.
Blower manual-driven fan - Mugusu Mine - Tanzania: Miners at Mugusu in
the Lake Victoria Goldfelds area mine gold from underground excavations as deep
as 100m. Although the mining area is located on the high Geita Hills and water
infow is not a problem, the depth of working makes ventilation one of their wor-
ries. Miners have designed a manually driven blower fan that has six to eight blades
of thin pieces of metal sheet welded on a 16-19 long shaft. The driving mecha-
nism utilizes a bicycle wheel and a rubber drive belt, which connects the wheel
to the shaft of the fan. A 25mm diameter PVC pipe is then connected from the
fan down to the working face. This provides enough air to a single face although
it takes a long time to remove fumes after blasting. A more improved version is
used in Colombia, where the drive utilizes a bicycle frame and drive mechanism. A
gasoline engine can also be adapted to drive the blower fan.
Mine drainage: Mine drainage, especially in underground mines, is usually necessary
due to either water accumulating from drilling operations or from groundwater
infow. The Red Rose gold mine near Bulawayo is said to have water infows of
around 500 l/minute, which, for a small-scale mine, is a large infow. In surface
mines, water infows usually derive from the collection of surface water during
rainy seasons due to the shallowness of most pits. In surface excavations, the frst
precautionary step that has to be taken is to stop surface water from entering the
mine by constructing water-catching ditches. Benches should be provided with an
adequate inclination for water fow with ditches on the sides.
Similarly, underground drifts and crosscuts should also be sloped and provided
with side ditches to allow water to fow to a catchment sump. Underground sumps,
large enough to keep a maximum infow of between 8-24 hours, are usually con-
structed close to a shaft from where it can be pumped to surface. Compressed air
42
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
pumps are convenient in SSM where electricity is not always available and these
may have heads of up to 60 metres depending on air pressure. In open pit mines,
pumps driven by diesel or petrol engines may be used. A good example of such
pumps is a pump manufactured locally in Zimbabwe, which employs little petrol
for starting the engine, and then runs on kerosene, (Hollaway, 1993).
Mineral benefciation technologies
The review includes such techniques as crushing, grinding, sizing, foatation and
gravity concentration.
Comminution
Comminution processes involve crushing and grinding in order to liberate valuable
minerals from the gangue.
Crushing - impact crusher - Filabusi Gold Project - Zimbabwe: Most small-scale miners
now employ crushers as the frst stage in size reduction. For crushing of hard rock,
a small hard rock impact crusher with 800 or 1000mm rotor beater bar circle x
500 or 600mm width has found wide applications. The Filabusi gold project design
incorporates a small hard rock impact crusher with the size of 850mm diameter
rotor x 670mm width powered by a 25kW drive. The crusher with the capacity
to produce 20 -30 tons per hour is the smallest in the range of impact crushers.
The advantage of impact crushers is that they produce cubical or spherical shaped
grains unlike platy or elongated pieces produced by jaw crushers. They are also
cheaper, simple to maintain and can be manufactured locally, as done in Zimba-
bwe.
Grinding - ball mills - Mugusu Mine - Tanzania: Ball mills have become common with
most SSM operations and are used for fne grinding. At Mugusu Mine in the Lake
Victoria Goldfelds in Tanzania, 1-ton capacity batch mills are used as custom mills
and operated by Meremeta, a gold-buying company. The feed material is either
manually crushed fresh ore rock (<5mm) or screened tailings from sluicing opera-
tions. The mills are driven by diesel engines and most are designed and built in
Zimbabwe and South Africa. Ball mills in the diameter size range between 0.76 and
1.5m and with throughput capacities between 0.5 to 3 tons per hour are produced
by a number of manufacturers in Zimbabwe (Hosford, 1993).
To reduce the cost of liners, sections of railway tracks can be used with these
mills as effective liners. The 1-ton capacity ball mills are mounted on steel frames
located on a concrete foor. Given the smaller size of the mills, they have proved
effcient for batch milling operations and they can be easily moved from one place
to another.
Grinding - stamp mills - Zimbabwe: An axifow 3 stamp mill is a 3-in-series mill
that is capable of treating 3 to 5 tons per 24 hours, depending on the feed size
43
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
and type of material, (Hosford, 1993). The mills, which are manufactured in Zim-
babwe, are commonly powered by a 15HP diesel engine or 11HP electric motor.
The axifow stamp mills that produce fner grind than conventional stamp mills
have been installed in Zimbabwe, Tanzania and other SADC member countries.
Sizing and classifcation
Sizing: Screening is the common sizing method that is applied in order to separate
particles in individual sizes. It employs various screen designs including grizzlies,
trommels, rigid screens, vibrating screens, etc. and may be used with dry, damp
or completely wet ore. A simple screen can be done through shaking by hand or
by placing the ore at an inclined position so that fne particles pass through the
screen and coarse fractions are retained and remain on top of the screen. Different
particle sizes can be separated through a series of successive stationary screens. In
small-scale operations where material is fed manually to the screens, throughputs
of up to 500 kg/hr can be achieved (depending on the size of the feed).
Classifcation: Classifcation is usually applied effectively to separate particles that are
too fne for effective screening. Classifcation methods work on the basis of velocity
whereby particles fall through a fuid medium, mainly water. There are basically two
main types of classifying equipment namely, mechanical and hydraulic classifers.
The classifcation equipment commonly used in small-scale mining include:
Hydrocyclones: These are continuously operating hydraulic classifers that
utilize centrifugal forces to accelerate the settling rate of particles. While
hydrocyclones mostly work in closed circuit grinding operations, they are
also used for de-sliming and thickening. This equipment is widely used in
small-scale mining operations due to their cheapness, simplicity, absence of
moving parts and fexibility.
Sluice box: Small-scale miners use sluice boxes both as classifcation equip-
ment as well as for concentration of minerals (see details in following sec-
tions).
Concentration methods
Once the minerals have been freed in the ore through crushing, grinding and clas-
sifcation, they must then be separated from the gangue. There are different con-
centration methods even for the same type of mineral depending on the type of
ore, particle size, and other considerations.
Gold concentration techniques
In addition to the particle size, gold recovery techniques are dependent on the ore
type, e.g., alluvial/eluvia, free milling or sulphidic ores and refractory ores. Table 5
provides a comparison of some gold concentration methods, their costs (capital
and operating) and their potential environmental impact.
44
The above parameters vary from one country to another depending on availability
and prices of capital equipment and reagents on the local market, among other things.
As such, a process looking expensive in one country may turn out to be cheaper in
another. Selection of a recovery method should take into consideration the associated
environmental impact. The use of mercury in amalgamation by small-scale miners has
been extensively documented as a cause of severe environmental impact. On the other
hand, it has been noted that cyanidation and froth foatation have less negative impact
compared to amalgamation if proper measures are taken so that cyanide and froth
foatation reagents do not enter the environment. In countries such as Zimbabwe and
the Philippines, cyanidation is a widely used process in small-scale gold mining.
Some of the gold-processing methods used around the continent that may be consid-
ered best practices, include the following:
Sluice Boxes - Insiza Riverbed Mining Project - Zimbabwe: A sluice box is one
of the oldest gold-processing types of equipment, and is described by Agricola (1556)
in his famous book, De Re Metallica. Well-designed and operated sluice boxes have
been shown to offer recoveries of up to 98% of gold coarser than 100m, (Appleton
et al., 1998). This has been demonstrated in a project fnanced by GTZ, operated by
the Department of Mining Engineering of the University of Zimbabwe and imple-
mented by the Insiza Rural District Council in Zimbabwe. Improvements in the sluice
box design generated fairly high productivity of around 4 tons per miner/shift and
recoveries of around 70%.
Table 5: Relative* cost and potential environmental impact of gold recovery methods
Source: (Appleton et al., 1998)
* Qualitative ranking from low (1) to high (4).
Recovery method Relative* cost Relative* potential
environmental impact
Sluice box 1 1
Jig 3 1
Shaking table 2 1
Spiral 3 1
Rotating cone 2 1
Bowl 4 1
Drum 4 1
Magnetic separation 4 1
Electrostatic separation 4 1
Hydrocycloning 2 1
Froth floatation 3-4 3
Amalgamation
(mercury)
2 4
Cyanidation 3-4 3
45
The effciency of sluice boxes has also been tested by a combination of labora-
tory and feld experimentation carried out by the British Geological Survey (BGS)
through work done in the Philippines (Appleton et al., 1998), Guyana and Zimba-
bwe (Styles, 2001) on small-scale gold mining. The feld tests conducted on several
ores with varying gold grain size distributions in Guyana were able to show that
the perceived problem of major losses of very fne-grained gold had no factual
basis. Based on the Guyanese feld test recommendations, it was concluded that
sluice boxes are capable of achieving 80% gold recovery. The results of the BGS
work in the Philippines were also interesting. The following recommendations for
improving gold recovery using sluice boxes are based on those results:
(a) Wet screening to remove material coarser than 500m (which should be
passed over a sluice box to recover gold coarser that 500m);
(b) Material fner than 500m to be passed over a second sluice, to recover
gold coarser than 200m; and
(c) Tailings from stage (b) to be wet screened to remove material coarser
than 200m (ideally free of gold) and then passed over a shaking table
(to recover gold to 50m).
Further recommendations included:
(d) The time interval between cleaning-out operations should be short to
enhance recovery of fne gold, which would otherwise be lost due to
solids packed around the riffes;
(e) The inclination angle of the box should be increased by particle size.
Experience elsewhere has shown that angles of 7o - 12o and 12o-- 14o
are suitable for materials fner and coarser than 1mm respectively;
(f) The feed and wash water rates should be high enough to enable effcient
separation of coarse-grained gold without excessive loss of fne-grained
gold;
(g) Gold ore with a signifcant proportion of clay-bound and weakly
cemented material should be washed (scrubbed) and screened prior to
sluicing in order to liberate gold trapped in clay;
(h) Ore should be screened prior to sluicing and the resulting coarse and
fne streams should be diverted down different sluices (see (e)) in order
to improve overall gold recovery; and
(i) The use of alternative riffes would enable a higher recovery of gold.
Expanded metal riffes are recommended for gold fner than 1mm and
angle iron riffes for gold coarser than 1mm.
Shaking tables - The British Geological Survey (BGS) shaking table:
Effcient recovery of fne gold (<100m) was achieved by the use of a shaking
table type of gravity separator. Shaking tables are simple devices consisting of a
46
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
fat deck with parallel riffes that are effective for processing of materials in the
size range of 3mm to 50m and are capable of recovering 90 wt.% of the gold
present in that size range, (Appleton et al., 1998). Gravity separation is achieved
through the action of shaking the table longitudinally, which allows heavy miner-
als to migrate along the riffes to the end of the deck, leaving light minerals to be
washed over the riffes.
The BGS shaking table (Appleton et al., 1998) was designed and tested using ores
obtained from the Philippines SSM areas. The table is based on a simple design
of a riffed-deck using widely available materials and a manual driven mechanism.
It consists of a frame and supporting base made out of hardwood with a formica
deck surface slightly roughened with wet and dry abrasive paper. The drive mecha-
nism consists of bicycle gear wheels and chains, with an appropriate gearing ratio
to step up the manual drive input. Reciprocal motion required for shaking the
table is achieved through the use of an eccentric cam, which is attached to the
shaking table via a universal ball joint. The rotation of a handle at a speed of 1
revolution/second produces longitudinal motion of about 300 strokes per minute,
which is suitable for separation of fne particles. The end-knock effect is then
produced by the sudden release of a stronger rubber band that is stretched by the
eccentric cam. This simple design is completed with sloping of the deck controlled
through appropriate wedging of the deck sub-base, wash water supplied through
plastic piping and by using suitably partitioned plastic drainpipes to collect tailings
and concentrate.
Field trials have proved that the simple shaking table, if set-up properly, can recover
fne-grained gold. This was demonstrated through recovery of fne-grained gold
from miners tailings where the grain size was only around 30m. Miners who oper-
ated the table were impressed by its performance, which is important for technol-
ogy dissemination. Based on the outcome of the feld trials, a more comprehensive
approach which combines three processes namely, washing to remove fnes and
slimes; washing on a sluice box; and treatment on shaking table, was recommended
as shown in fgure 1.
47

F
i
g
u
r
e

1
:

P
r
o
c
e
s
s

s
t
a
g
e
s

f
o
r

e
n
h
a
n
c
e
d

r
e
c
o
v
e
r
y

o
f

f
i
n
e
-
g
r
a
i
n
e
d

g
o
l
d
.
S
o
u
r
c
e
:

A
p
p
l
e
t
o
n

e
t

a
l
.
,

1
9
9
8
.
F
i
n
e
s
/
s
l
i
m
e
s
(
<
1
0

m
i
c
r
o
n
s
)
G
o
l
d

c
o
n
c
e
n
t
r
a
t
e
(
C
o
a
r
s
e
r

t
h
a
n

5
0
0

m
i
c
r
o
n
s
)
G
o
l
d

c
o
n
c
e
n
t
r
a
t
e
(
F
i
n
e
r

t
h
a
n

5
0
0

m
i
c
r
o
n
s
)
F
i
n
e
s
/
s
l
i
m
e
s
(
<
1
0

m
i
c
r
o
n
s
)
C
y
a
n
i
d
a
t
i
o
n
(
I
f

s
i
g
n
i
f
i
c
a
n
t

p
r
o
p
o
r
t
i
o
n

o
f

g
o
l
d

<
3
0

m
i
c
r
o
n
s
)
F
i
n
a
l

c
o
n
c
e
n
t
r
a
t
i
o
n
o
f

g
o
l
d
O
r
e

e
x
t
r
a
c
t
i
o
n
T
a
i
l
i
n
g
s

(
F
r
e
e

o
f

g
o
l
d
?
)
M
i
l
l
i
n
g
W
a
s
h
i
n
g
/
f
i
n
e
s

r
e
m
o
v
a
l
C
o
a
r
s
e
-
g
r
a
i
n
e
d

g
o
l
d

r
e
c
o
v
e
r
y

(
S
l
u
i
c
e

b
o
x

s
t
a
g
e
)
T
a
i
l
i
n
g
s

(
C
o
n
t
a
i
n
i
n
g

g
o
l
d
<

5
0
0

m
i
c
r
o
n
s
)
F
i
n
e
-
g
r
a
i
n
e
d

g
o
l
d

r
e
c
o
v
e
r
y
(
S
h
a
k
i
n
g

t
a
b
l
e

s
t
a
g
e
)
48
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
Gravity concentration - jigs: Jigs have also been shown to be effcient in the recovery
of fne gold down to 75m and they can be used as a replacement to sluice boxes
(Appleton et al., 1998). Jigs are devices that use the force of water to separate
the heavy minerals from the lighter ones. The simplest of this equipment is the
hand jig, with moving bed operation used for sorting coarse grains and which
may be applied for separation of alluvial gold, gemstones, etc. The jig is capable
of separating up to 5-10kg per man-minute. Other jigs include:
(a) Hand Piston Jig, which is constructed as a double jig box. The move-
ment of the piston creates a longitudinal fow of the slurry through the
jig and thus a lateral component. The up and down motion of the slurry
results in a faster separation of light and heavy particles
(b Mechanized Piston Jig (Harzer Jig), which works like a hand piston jig,
but is equipped with a mechanized drive system. An internal combus-
tion engine can drive it via transmission or hydromechanical energy. The
throughput capacity is about 1.0 tons per hour.
Gravity concentration - Knudson Bowl - Zimbabwe: The Knudson Bowl is one of the
centrifugal concentrators that have found wide application for the recovery of
fne gold in small-scale mining in Zimbabwe (Hosford, 1993). The popularity of
the bowl can be associated with its simplicity and lesser reliance on water quantity
and pressure. It consists of a rotating steel open-topped bowl ftted with a ribbed
rubber insert. The material is usually fed from the top and overfows the sides
allowing gold to collect between the ribs. It is operated in a batch mode, with
the rubber insert removed periodically for cleaning. Other successful centrifugal
concentrators used in Zimbabwe include a Knelson separator (imported mainly
from Canada) and a Centrasep Concentrator.
Gravity concentration - the plane table - Zimbabwe: Small-scale miners in Zimbabwe
use plane tables to treat mill and discharge material (Hosford, 1993). The unit
consists of two inclined tables covered with strakes - ribbed rubber sheets with
ribs arranged in the line of pulp fow. The tables are arranged such that the frst is
slightly elevated and overlapping the other with the concentrate launder located
between the two. With the pulp fowing over the top table, water is added to wash
the gold particles collecting in the strakes down to the concentrate launder. From
the launder, the concentrate is directed to a collection box for later treatment.
The tables that have been installed in Zimbabwe and Tanzania achieved recover-
ies of between 30 to 70% at throughputs between 2.6 to 10.5 tph/m in width
depending on the type of ore.
Floatation methods - Zimbabwe: Concentration of fne sulphide minerals can be
easily achieved using foatation methods. A good application of the technique
is found in one small-scale Zimbabwean gold mine treating 50 tons per day of
sulphidic ore grading approximately 4g/t of gold, 1% copper (as chalcopyrite)
49
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
and some arsenopyrite (Hosford, 1993). The mine developed a Jameson-type cell
to produce a gold-copper (10% Cu, 20g/t Au) concentrate suitable as feedstock
for a nearby smelter. The cell consists of a feed pipe made out of empty cya-
nide drums, which contains a nozzle through which pulp from the CIP tailings
is pumped. The pulp is conditioned to reduce pH, and collectors and froth are
added. The nozzle allows the jet impingement of the pulp into the froth column
in the feed pipe. This creates a tall froth column, which allows effective particle
cleaning and separation. The concentrate overfows the launder and is allowed
to dewater in settling ponds prior to transportation to the smelter. The unit can
be operated with very little supervision and only basic maintenance of the feed
nozzles.
Cyanidation - Zimbabwe: Cyanidation methods are widely used in small-scale gold
mining in Zimbabwe. The advantage of this technique is that cyanide decomposes
very rapidly in solution, especially when exposed to sunlight. In addition, despite
the high toxicity of cyanide, it is not a cumulative poison like mercury. Its low acci-
dent rate is demonstrated by the example of Zimbabwe, where nearly 6000 tons
of cyanide is imported into the country annually for its gold mines and there have
been only two accidental fatalities in 40 years, (Hollaway, 1993).
Amalgamation - Gattling Hill-6 Mill - Zimbabwe: Small-scale miners continue to use
mercury for the recovery of gold without taking any protective measures despite
the dangers to human health and the environment. The attraction of mercury
is based on the fact that it is readily available, cheap and effcient in recovering
fne-grained gold. Best practices in the application of amalgamation as a gold-
recovery technique can be found at Gattling Hill-6 Mill in Zimbabwe. The mill
is operated by B&K Syndicate and utilizes a 2x1350 lb stamp mill to crush the
ore, which is then passed over a copper plate. A quell bowl placed in series with
the copper plate is used to concentrate gold that is not collected by the copper
plate.
The collected concentrate is then poured into an amalgamation barrel containing
mercury and left to mix for several minutes while the barrel rolls. The amalgam
is then taken out, placed inside a retort and heated to evaporate the mercury. The
escaping mercury condenses inside the piping of the retort and is collected in a
container flled with water. Gold is then recovered from the retort pot after cool-
ing. The retort used is locally made and in March 1999, costed $Z2000.
The Gattling Hill example is a best practice, which unfortunately is not followed
by every small-scale miner. As used normally by small-scale miners, mercury is
hazardous. Miners distil the mercury in open air and inhale its poisonous fumes.
Mercury distillation retorts protect the miners from the fumes and also allow the
re-use of the mercury. Although there are many types of retorts used in many
countries, the following qualify as good practices:
50
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
ThermEx retort - Ghana & Tanzania: This retort is probably the frst com-
mercially available glass retort ever produced. It is compact, with dimensions
compared to 2 cigarette packets, and weighs approximately 1kg. The retort has
been successfully tested in Tanzania and Ghana where it is now widely marketed.
The recommended selling price is $US520. Apart from the environmental impact
resulting from heating the amalgam in open air, the ThermEx manufacturers con-
tend that miners lose up to 12% gold during the amalgam burning process. Such
losses are said to occur through:
(a) Spattering during the burning process;
(b) Contrary to metallic retorts where the gold becomes darker or browner
due to its reaction to iron, in the glass retorts, there is no colour change;
and
(c) There are less gold losses than in metallic retorts where gold infltrates
into iron surfaces.
In addition to allowing miners to observe the entire process of separation of
mercury and gold from the amalgam, the Therm Ex glass retort also has the fol-
lowing advantages:
(a) The retort warm-up time is shorter compared to metallic retorts (7-12
minutes);
(b) It avoids the change in colour of the gold which occurs in metallic
retorts due to gold reacting with iron and thus becoming darker or
browned; and
(c) A clean glass avoids gold losses that occur due to gold infltrating into
iron surfaces. Such lost gold is commonly recovered by using fles.
Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) Retort - Zimbabwe:
The ITDG researched and developed a simple retort based on materials that can
be picked up from any plumber shop. The retort, which was developed between
1990-1991, was tested successfully in the feld in Zimbabwe during the same
period. The retort parts consist of a pipe and fttings made of ordinary galvanized
iron, thus avoiding the use of copper or other metals that readily combine with
mercury. The retort is based on a do-it-yourself principle and consists of:
(a) One 20-inch length of 1-inch-diameter galvanized iron pipe with a
screw thread at one end. If a 1-inch diameter pipe is not available, a
1-inch pipe is recommended, although the smaller the pipe diameter,
the better;
(b) One 1-inch to 1-inch galvanized iron-reducing bush;
(c) One 1-11-inch galvanized iron reducer;
(d) One 11-inch galvanized iron plug; and,
51
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
(e) A wooden stopper to ft the 1-inch pipe (or 1-inch) at the discharge end.
Having gathered the above parts, the retort can be easily assembled by bending
the pipe 4 inches from the threaded end into a smooth curve with an angle of
60-70o. A smooth pipe bend can be achieved by using a pipe-bending machine,
if available, or through clamping the pipe over a larger pipe (4-6 inches) and then
manually bending it. It is recommended that the pipe and fttings be heated until
red hot to burn off the zinc, which reacts with mercury. After cooling, the parts
are washed prior to assembling them into a retort. The retort is then assembled by
connecting the 1 to 1-inch-reducing bush to the pipe and screwing it tightly.
Note that the reducing bush is not required if a 1-inch diameter pipe is used.
Once the 1-inch to 11-inch reducer is connected to the reducing bush and the
11-inch plug to the reducer, the retort is ready for use. A leafet showing the
retort parts, assembly procedure, step-by-step instructions on how to use it, and
frst-aid instructions for mercury poisoning have also been prepared by ITDG.
It could not be established, however, whether these retorts have been widely
accepted by miners. Its costs may have been a signifcant deterrent to a wider
use by the small-scale mining community.
Small-scale gold processing plant - Filabusi Gold Project - Zimbabwe
The Filabusi gold project in Zimbabwe is a small-scale gold project with capac-
ity to treat 40-50 tons of ore per day. The gold ore consists of oxidic and sul-
phidic quartz reef and oxidic-banded ironstones. The processing fowsheet was
designed by the SADC Mining Sector Coordinating Unit and consists of the fol-
lowing (SADC, 1994):
Sizing: The run-of-mine ore is passed over 150mm grizzly from where large boul-
ders are broken before entering the hopper.
Feeding the Crusher: Material is fed from the hopper to a conveyor belt via a fnger
grizzly with bigger pieces falling on top of fnes, thus facilitating hand sorting. In
addition, the inclined conveyor is slow running which facilitates hand sorting.
Crushing: A hard-rock impact crusher of smallest available size: 850mm diameter
of rotor x 670mm, 25kW drive, 20-30 t/hr. The circuit contains a vertical bucket
elevator feeding the crushed material to a vibrating screen, 5mm, polyurethane
where the oversize material is sent back to the crusher and the undersize to the
holding bin. Crushing is carried out during the day shift only.
Classifcation: Material from the holding bin is passed over a vibrating screen
(0.8mm, polyurethane, slotted, wet) with the undersize material being passed to
the concentrator section and the oversize to the grinding section.
Grinding: Grinding is carried out by grinding rolls, 600mm diameter x 300mm
face width powered by 2 x 4kW drive. The water-sprayed rolls have a narrow
52
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
setting and discharge into a sump with circulating pump. The pump returns the
roll mill product to the 0.8mm-vibrating screen.
Concentration: 1 pair of Bambazonke sluice boxes (while one is in operation, the
other one is being cleaned) extracting 1.0-1.5 tons per day pre-concentrate consist-
ing mainly of sulphide and heavy minerals and 300-400 gm/tons of gold. The
tailings from the sluice box (with about 2g/t gold) are passed through a pair of
330mm bowl diameter centrifugal concentrators (1 working, 1 being cleaned) scav-
enging about 0.5 tons per day pre-concentrate with 100-150 gm/ton. The fnal tail-
ings contain approximately 0.5g/t gold which is not amenable for cyanidation. The
pre-concentrates, about 1.5-2.0 tons per day are upgraded in a small (260mm bowl
diameter) centrifugal separator to 10kg concentrates, with 4-5% gold and interme-
diate tailings of about 15gm/ton, requiring about 10 runs per day.
The concentrates are further upgraded in a small machine to 0.8 - 1.0kg fnal
concentrate with 40-60% gold and some 8-12kg intermediate tailings, with per-
haps 100gm/ton. The intermediate tailings 1.7 - 2t/day, with 15 - 20gm/ton are
either retreated in a centrifugal separator or added to feed or stored for oxidation
in order to liberate gold locked in sulphide and later retreated. About 6% gold is
present in the intermediary tailings of which 50% can be recovered, leading to an
overall plant recovery of 92.5%. The concentrate is then roasted (when neces-
sary), acid treated and melted to gold bullion.
Small-scale treatment of copper sulphide ores - Mufumbwe Copper
Project - Zambia (SADC, 1994):
Small-scale mining of copper sulphide ore is limited to uncomplicated ores that
do not require very fne grinding. The Mufumbwe Copper Project located in the
northwest province of Zambia, is a good example of a small-scale copper sul-
phide treatment plant. The process involves manual sorting of ore, an open cir-
cuit impact crushing followed by a closed circuit grinding ball mill with cyclone,
followed by foatation. A small amount of concentrate is collected in settlers
that are decanted and cleaned by hand when full. The concentrate is stored and
allowed to dry on drying pads and loaded into trucks for transportation to the
smelter. The tailings are thickened in the tailings thickener and clear overfow
water re-circulated back to the process with the underfow sent to a slimes dam.
Gemstone processing
Processing of aquamarine, beryl, tourmaline, topaz and similar minerals -
SADC Mining Coordinating Unit (SADC, 1994): - This is a process proposed
by the SADC Mining Coordinating Unit based on experience from the St. Annes
Mine in Zimbabwe. The selectively mined gemstone containing ore is taken to
the plant where it is manually broken into 80 -120mm pieces while watching out
for good gem crystals. The material is then washed in trommels to dissolve the
53
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
clayey materials and break weak rocks, and is then passed through 4 and 9mm
screens. The fne tails from the 4mm screen (<4mm) are passed through a sluice
box for recovery of tantalite and the coarser fraction (4-9mm) kept for later par-
tial picking of small stones. A rotary pan followed by a screen for the concentrate
is recommended, especially in the case of tourmaline.
The coarse fraction from the 9mm screen (>9mm) is taken to a sorting conveyor
belt where without cobbing or knocking, raw gem minerals are sorted including
any other ore/minerals. The remaining material on the sorting belt is passed
through an impact crusher with the crusher product joining the new feed to the
washing trommel. This simple approach reduces damage to the gemstones or
aggregates containing gemstones.
Treatment of limestone - Lirangwe (Women) Lime Makers Association -
Malawi: Through funding from the European Union and technical assistance
from the ITDG, the association managed to build a modern kiln for continuous
lime production. This replaced the brick-built, batch-processing-based feld kilns
that women miners were operating in the past. The traditional kilns took 1-3 days
to charge, several days to heat, burn and cool and several more days to remove
the burnt lime. The new kiln is charged with limestone sized 40 - 50mm from the
kilns top, alternately with soft wood for the production of building and agricul-
tural lime or with charcoal when producing lime for the sugar industry. The kiln,
which has the capacity to produce 5 tons of lime per day, needs forced draft by
air injection from the bottom. The kiln has 1.0m inside diameter, is 7m in height
and requires 13 to 14 hours retention time.
3.2.4. Environmental management, health and safety
Specifc environmental legislation/regulations
Small-scale mining environmental regulations requirements - Tanzania: Mining
environmental issues in Tanzania are regulated according to The Mining (Envi-
ronmental Protection and Conservation) Regulations, 1999 which form part of
The Mining Act, 1998. Like the principle act, the regulations incorporate both
small and large-scale mining operations. However, the provisions specifc to SSM
are addressed separately (see box 1)
54
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
1. The holder of a Primary Mining Licence shall ensure that washing or settling
ponds are constructed in his Primary Mining Licence area to provide for washing
and sluicing, and no such washing and sluicing shall be done along or close to
rivers, streams or any other water sources. Where a settling pond is used as part
of the mine drainage system, all channels discharging into the river system must
be covered and the slopes protected from erosion.
2. Vegetation clearing will NOT be undertaken within twenty metres (20m) from any
stream or riverbank.
3. The holder of a Primary Mining Licence shall NOT heat mercury amalgam to
recover the gold without using a retort.
4. The holder of a Primary Mining Licence shall NOT use cyanide leaching without
the written approval of the Chief Inspector.
5. No holder of a Primary Mining Licence shall commence development of new
workings in his primary mining licence area without backfilling or fencing the
abandoned previous workings developed by himself or his agent.
6. Prior to the commencement of mining in any area that may have been environ-
mentally damaged, the Primary Mining Licence holder shall request an inspec-
tion of the same area by an inspector to confirm environmental disturbance. Any
area, for which the authorities have not received a request for an inspection, shall
be considered as normal.
7. The holder of a Primary Mining Licence shall ensure that tailings are disposed of
at a proper place in a manner approved by the inspector.
8. No holder of a Primary Mining Licence shall allow children below the age of 16
to be employed or be engaged in any mining or processing operations in his
primary mining licence area.
9. Every Primary Mining Licence holder shall ensure that pit latrines are constructed
and maintained at a distance of not less than one hundred (100m) metres inland
from any water source other than washing or settling ponds.
10. Every Primary Mining Licence holder shall ensure that each employee is provided
with protective gear and no person shall handle any toxic substance without using
appropriate gear.
11. Any person who contravenes any provision under this part shall be guilty of an
offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding Tshs.50, 000/=
(US $62.50) or imprisonment not exceeding 3 months, or both.
Box 1: Environmental regulations for SSM in Tanzania
55
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
Mercury Law - Ghana: The Mercury Law was enacted in 1989 with the aim of
regulating the distribution, use, storage and trading of mercury. According to this
law, it is a punishable offence to import, possess, buy, sell or transfer any mercury
without a licence, which can be obtained from the Minister of Trade. Buying know-
ingly from a person who is not licensed, is also a punishable offence. Small-scale
miners are allowed, under the law, to buy mercury from licensed mercury dealers
in such reasonable amounts, as are necessary for their mining operations. A gold
miner will also have committed an offence if found selling or dealing in mercury; in
possession of more mercury than he needs; heating an amalgam without a retort;
or if he does not observe good mining practices in the use of mercury.
Similarly, goldsmiths and gold dealers will have committed an offence if found
processing mercury containing gold-sponge or metals without using a retort or if
they do not observe best practices in the handling of mercury. Any person found
guilty under this law shall on conviction be liable to a fne not exceeding $US1000
or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both.
The Department of Minerals and Energy - Kimberley Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) requirements - South Africa: The National Envi-
ronmental Management Act of 1998, the Mining and Minerals Act of 1991, EIA
guidelines of 1997, the Environmental Conservation Act of 1986 and the Aide
Memoire requirements of 1992 govern environmental legislation in South Africa.
The provisions provided in these laws/regulations are unintelligible to small-scale
miners. For example, the latter fnd it diffcult to adhere to the requirement to
conduct EIAs or establish a fund to cover the cost of post-mining rehabilitation.
As a result, most miners decide to ignore them and opt for illegal mining oper-
ations. In recognition of these diffculties, the regional administration of the
Department of Minerals and Energy in Kimberley has developed simplifed EIA
requirements applicable to artisanal miners (defned as non-mechanized opera-
tions). However, it should be noted, that SSM projects that receive assistance
from NSC must follow the standard environmental requirements.
The DME now has a Standard Environmental Management Programme in a
simple 50-page format, for use by the SSMs when applying for a mining permit.
The Regional Offces of the DME are prepared to assist these potential miners
in flling in the form.
Procedures and fnancing for site rehabilitation
ZimAlloys Scheme - Zimbabwe: Chrome mining on the Great Dyke in Zim-
babwe is mainly carried out by small-scale miners (cooperatives) who in turn
supply chrome pre-concentrates to smelters such as Zimbabwe Alloys (ZimAl-
loys) and Zimbabwe Mining and Smelting (Zimasco). This arrangement, which is
also known as tribute mining, has created a near full-time dependency on mining
56
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
and a reliable market for the mining co-operatives in the area. In order to ensure
that the mined areas are rehabilitated as mining proceeds, ZimAlloys developed
a scheme whereby the company deducts $Z20 per ton of chrome received from
the supplier as environmental rehabilitation charge, (Dreschler, 2001).
After the site has been rehabilitated, the company pays the miner $Z35 for every
ton sold. Calculations have shown that while it costs the miner $Z25 per ton
to carry out rehabilitation, it would cost ZimAlloys $Z50 to achieve the same.
As a result, the scheme enables the miner to gain $Z10 per ton for carrying out
rehabilitation and ZimAlloys saves $Z15 per ton.
Minerals Commission - Ghana: In order to facilitate rehabilitation in SSM
areas, the Government (through the Minerals Commission and the Precious
Minerals Marketing Corporation) retains 3% of the value of the mineral prod-
ucts sold by a small-scale miner for the Land Reclamation Fund. Estimates
show that the procedure has generated approximately 120 million cedis to the
rehabilitation fund, (Sackey, 2002). The Government uses the rehabilitation fund
to rehabilitate mined-out areas.
Legislation on health and safety
Specifc legislation addressing issues on health and safety for small-scale mines
is rare. Most countries have health and safety issues covered under general regu-
lations addressing the entire mining industry. A few exceptions are described
below.
South Africa Mineral and Mining Policy (white paper): Health and safety
issues in mines in South Africa are regulated according to the Mine Health
and Safety Act, 1996. However, the draft Mineral and Mining Policy recog-
nizes that there are health and safety problems specifcally associated with SSM
that the current legislation and Government policies do not adequately address.
In addressing this shortfall, the draft policy contends that whilst maintaining
health and safety standards in the small-scale mining sector, the Government will
review the current legislation to ensure that relevant provisions are practically
applicable.
Mining regulations - Zambia: As in many other African countries, SSM
mining health and safety issues in Zambia are regulated as part of the overall
mining sector regulations. However, the Zambian regulations have specifc sec-
tions addressing the needs of small-scale mining. The health and safety issues
are regulated according to The Mining Regulations (1971). Section IX of the
regulations is specifc to SSM and addresses issues of ventilation and air pol-
lution arising from dust, fumes and other toxic gases. It provides measures for
determination of concentrations of such pollutants and sets standards for air
quality and measures for minimizing their generation.
57
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
The following health and safety rules/regulations are to be strictly observed by each
member of a mining team involved in tanzanite production:
1. Following a mining disaster, all mine waste must be cleared in the area con-
cerned and thrown into the identified pits, which must then be sealed and aban-
doned.
2. Walls/shaft collars of timber or concrete at least 1 metre high must be built
around all openings of the Merelani mines.
3. All mines must have ladders to allow miners access in and out of the mines.
4. The mining area must be kept tidy at all times; narrow tunnels should be widened
to allow free movement within the mines while working. Leaving heaps of waste
inside the mines is not allowed.
5. Walls that appear weak need to be strengthened with pillars made of strong
timber.
6. On all mine openings/entrances some kind of shade must be built to prevent rain
from entering the mines. Cottages must be built around the mining area for mine
caretakers to use them as shelter for rain or sun, as well as a resting place for the
miners themselves, to avoid that they use mine pits for that purpose.
7. During the actual mining exercise, two holes/mines may be joined together. If this
happens while it is raining, all work must be stopped immediately.
8. For the mine owner to monitor who is in and out of the mines, he has to have
an attendance registry and at any specific time must be aware of the number of
workers inside or outside the mines.
9. Mine owners must, henceforth, provide/install communication systems so that
miners at work can communicate more easily with those outside the mines (e.g.
battery-operated bells, hand telephones). The use of messengers to carry mes-
sages to and from the mines is strictly forbidden.
10. Mine owners must provide each miner/employee with proper protective tools for
working (helmets, boots, gloves, etc.).
11. Tunnels that were built during the mining work prior to the accident must be
strengthened and maintained.
12. Mine owners must provide toilets for their employees.
13. It is prohibited to use/employ children under the age of 16 in the mines.
14. Every mine owner must have a first-aid kit.
Source: ILO, 1999.
Box 2: Health and safety rules in small-scale mines at Merelani
58
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
Section VI covers the hazards from dangerous surface excavations such as large
cracks, subsidence, pits and protection of surface features. Safety in working
areas is covered under section VII of the regulations. Given the changes in
the SSM sector, especially the expansion of operations in small-scale gemstone
mining in the country, these regulations need to be reviewed in order to address
the current situation on the ground.
Localized regulations - Tanzanite mining - Merelani, Tanzania: In 1998,
heavy rains in the region of Arusha, in north-east Tanzania, led to fooding
of tanzanite mines, killing about 70 people. Following the accident, the Arusha
Miners Association and the Mines and Construction Workers Union, in collab-
oration with the Mines Zonal Offce (located a few kilometres from the site)
assembled and drafted regulations aimed at avoiding similar accidents (see box
2). Although the regulations might not be ideal and did not impede the occur-
rence of another fatal accident in 2002, they are a departure from previous prac-
tices. More important, in their design there was consultation and broad partici-
pation of small-scale miners.
ILO - Safety and health in small-scale surface mines (Walle et al., 2001): In
2001, ILO released a handbook (Working Paper WP.168), which provides a set of
health and safety guidelines for small-scale surface mines. This is in addition to
ILOs Convention on Safety and Health in Mines, 1995 (No. 176), which covers all
mines and provides the minimum requirements against which all changes in mining
operations should be measured. Convention No. 176 is accompanied by Recom-
mendations, No. 183, which provide more specifc guidance to the Convention.
The handbook of guidelines is probably the frst of its kind that addresses health
and safety issues specifc to small-scale mines. Although it does not cover under-
ground operations, it is a start in the right direction. In addition to the general
principles and provisions of health and safety in small-scale surface mines, the
regulations also address:
(a) Mining accidents and dangerous occurrences;
(b) Hazards in the working environment;
(c) Health, welfare and hygiene of mineworkers;
(d) First aid;
(e) Personal protection equipment;
(f) Safety when mining;
(g) Mechanical equipment;
(h) Explosives and blasting; and
(i) Mine closure.
59
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
The handbook is illustrated and can serve as a source document from which indi-
vidual countries can develop regulations that address special requirements for the
SSM sector. The ILO guidelines cover duties and responsibilities of the mine
operator, mining authority and mineworkers, and sets out basic principles that can
be used in the absence of specifc regulations, which is the case of most countries.
Different countries around the world are moving towards the introduction of
health and safety legislation that are specifc to the requirements of the SSM
sector. Examples of such national legislation include the Philippines Small-scale
Mine Safety Rules and Regulations, 1997; and Chinas- Safety Regulations of
Small-scale Coal Mines.
3.2.5. Minerals marketing
Small-scale miners have many diffculties in fnding adequate markets for their
minerals. The proliferation of parallel markets, especially in high-value minerals,
is testimony that there are problems with existing formal minerals-marketing
arrangements. A number of measures have been taken by different countries to
address the problem. Best practices in small-scale minerals marketing have been
identifed in Tanzania and Ghana, including the following:
Regulation on minerals marketing by a Central Government - Tanzania:
In Tanzania, the Minerals Resources Division of the Ministry of Energy and
Minerals regulates the marketing of minerals. The Division has three depart-
ments, namely, Mining, Minerals Development and Geological Survey. The
Mining Department is responsible for the regulation of minerals marketing. It
has a network of 11 regional or zonal and 12 district offces located strategically
in the major mining centres of the country. The department has a section of
minerals marketing that is located at the headquarters in Dar-es-Salaam and is
responsible for monitoring and keeping records of minerals marketing through
liasing with the regional and district offces. People who actually do the monitor-
ing and data collection are the offcers in charge of the zonal and district offces
who are also inspectors within their jurisdictions.
It is required by law that all licensed mineral dealers, brokers and mineral rights
owners submit returns indicating, among other things, data on minerals bought
(brokers and dealers) and sold. Authorised offcers can inspect these purchase
and sales records without prior notice.
Licence applications for mineral dealerships are made to the Minister, although
the offce of the Commissioner for Mineral Resources is responsible for process-
ing the applications. As part of the procedure, the Commissioner instructs the
mines offcer in charge of the area to assess the adequacy of the applicants facili-
ties for conducting minerals dealership business. These include adequate offce,
60
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
location, mineral storage facilities and other considerations. These conditions apply
only to large operators (Dealer and Master Dealer Licence) and not to Brokers
Licences. Upon receipt of a report from the mines offcer, the Commissioner
makes a recommendation to the Minister for issuance or refusal of the licence.
According to the mining legislation, foreign dealers and mineral buyers are not
allowed to go to SSM areas to do their business. They can only operate from
district and regional centres. In order to ensure that this does not deny small-
scale miners access to potential buyers/dealers, brokers were introduced to serve
as a bridge between the two. However, miners are allowed to go to the district
and regional centres to sell their products directly to foreign dealers.
Regulation on minerals marketing by a parastatal - Ghana: Ghana enacted
the Precious Minerals Marketing Corporation Law, 1989, that established a
parastatal organization, the Precious Minerals Marketing Corporation (PMMC).
PMMC oversees, regulates and participates in the marketing of precious min-
erals. It deals mainly with the marketing of gold and diamonds. The corpora-
tion issues buying licenses to both foreign and local companies to buy diamonds
directly from the miners. It supervises the purchases and arranges all the neces-
sary documentation for export, when the licensed buying company is ready to do
so. The only requirement for a company to be licensed is that all purchases must
be pre-fnanced through the Bank of Ghana and the buyer has to pay an annual
Licence Fee of $ US 10,000. The cost of the services offered by PMMC is 2%
of the total value of rough diamonds exported at any given time.
For gold, the corporation operates through a main buying centre in Accra, a
branch buying offce in Tarkwa and an Agency Offce in Kumasi. In addition,
the corporation licenses local agents and sub-agents to buy gold from small-scale
miners all over the country and sell it to more established agents or at any of
its branches. The corporation sends all the gold bought through its offces to
an assay laboratory, which is responsible for weighing and analysing the gold to
evaluate its purity, upon which payment is made. It takes about thirty minutes for
the agent or customer to collect his cash/cheque. Customers cash their cheques
in a bank located within the corporations building.
Private minerals dealers - Tanzania: The Tanzanian minerals market is one of
the most open and competitive in Africa. The Mining Act (1998) and the associ-
ated regulations require that private dealers be licensed to carry out the business
of minerals trading. The Government does not participate directly in any form of
mineral trading and its role is limited to regulation, promotion, facilitation and pro-
vision of support services. There are 3 types of licensed mineral dealers, namely:
Mineral rights holders: All holders of mineral rights are allowed by law to sell (locally
or export) their commodities without requiring an additional licence. This applies
equally to small and large-scale producers.
61
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
Dealers: These are licensed to deal in gold, gemstones or any other mineral as
approved by the Minister for Energy and Mines. Dealers licences can only be
issued to persons who can also meet the requirements for holders of a small-
scale mining licence (Primary Mining License). As such, dealers licenses are lim-
ited to Tanzanians only and are issued for renewable periods of 18 months.
Brokers: Unlike a dealers licence, which must be issued by the Minister, the Com-
missioner for Mineral Resources issues Brokers Licenses. These authorize the
holder to deal in raw gold and gemstones. Brokers buy and sell gold locally and
the license does not entitle one to export minerals. Brokers Licenses are issued
to Tanzanians and are valid only for 15 months, on a renewable basis.
Private Dealers and Government Agency - Ghana: In Ghana, the law allows
minerals to be traded through PMMC and private dealers. The small-scale gold
mining law of 1989 allows the Minister in consultation with the Minerals Com-
mission to provide licence to any person he may consider ft, to buy and deal in
any type and form of gold. On the other hand, PMMC buys gold from licensed
agents who get their supplies directly from the small-scale miners. Miners can
also sell their gold directly to PMMC through its branches.
Gemstone auctions - Tanzania: One of the mineral policy objectives in Tan-
zania is to promote and develop Tanzania as the gemstone centre of Africa. In
pursuing this goal, the country, through the Ministry of Energy and Minerals and
the Tanzania Mineral Dealers Association (TAMIDA), organizes open gemstone
auctions, which bring together producers and buyers from all over the world.
The auctions, which are organized once or twice a year, are usually conducted in
Arusha. During auctions, miners bring their stones and display them openly for
buyers to inspect and make bids. The forum also provides the Government with
a good opportunity to collect its revenue directly as members of the Tanzania
Revenue Authority are always present and monitoring all the sales.
Strategies/incentives to discourage illegal trading
Precious Minerals and Marketing Corporation (PMMC)-Ghana: Prior to
regularization of the small-scale mining sector, gold was being sold to middle-
men who in turn smuggled it out of the country in search of foreign exchange.
The strategy adopted by PMMC in order to discourage illegal trading was to offer
attractive prices that would lure miners away from the middlemen. The offered
price was determined from the London A.M. Fix for gold for the day converted
at the ruling Foreign Exchange Bureau rate of exchange of the day. Based on
this, a minimum guaranteed price was announced weekly for 22-carat gold and
it remained an assured price even if the world price for gold would fall. Prices
for 18-24 carat gold were calculated on this basis and announced accordingly. In
addition, the following incentives were also used to discourage illegal business:
62
(a) Pre-fnancing selected licensed buying agents;
(b) Procurement and supply of basic tools like weighing scales, shovels, pick
axles, etc.; and
(c) Institution of an Annual Award to honour the best small-scale miner in
terms of quality and value of minerals sold to PMMC.
Incentives to encourage value-adding practices
Fiscal incentives for export of cut gemstones - Tanzania: Tanzania encour-
ages the exportation of cut gemstones through removal of duty, which is oth-
erwise paid for exporting raw gemstones. In addition, lapidary equipment is
exempted from import duties. This has encouraged the establishment of lapidar-
ies by most gemstone dealers and the number has increased from 5 in 1996 to 32
in 1999, (Phillips et al., 2001).
Mineral export procedures for producers and dealers
Unrestricted export by producers and dealers - Tanzania: All legal mineral
producers, i.e., holders of mineral rights, are entitled to export their minerals
without any questions asked. The only requirement is to inform the Commis-
sioner for Mineral Resources of the amount being exported. In this regard, a
special form is flled and one is issued with an export permit, which has to be
presented to customs offcials at the time of export. The permit can be obtained
on the same day and it can be processed at any regional mine offce. Regional
mines offcers are empowered to verify and seal any parcel due for export and to
issue an export permit on behalf of the Commissioner.
However, exporters of gemstones are required to declare an estimated value
of the stones being exported, for calculating the duty to be paid. After the
sale, invoices should then be used to adjust the actual duty that should be paid.
Exporters are allowed to request for compensation where the value of sales was
less than that declared and vice versa.
The Department of Mineral Resources now acts as a one stop-shop for
exporters of minerals so that one does not have to run between the central bank,
customs offces and other government institutions looking for all kinds of per-
mits. All the papers required by these agencies are kept in the Department, which
is also responsible for sending them back as a matter of information. All that the
customs offcials at the point of exit (port or airport) need to see, for example, is
the export permit and a package containing a Government seal.
Value-adding industry
Almost all countries with SSM production of precious minerals have some
form of value-adding industry. Walking around the streets of the capitals of
Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and other precious minerals
63
producers, one can see endless chains of jewellery shops selling products made
from locally produced minerals. However, most of these do not meet the stand-
ards of the lucrative international jewellery market and they are simply initiatives
of local entrepreneurs. What are recorded as best practices here are the initiatives
of government or non-governmental agencies to build capacity for developing a
value-adding industry that can compete at international level.
PMMC - Ghana: In addition to purchasing and exporting gold and diamonds,
PMMC is also engaged in the jewellery business. This is in line with the Govern-
ments policy on local value addition of minerals. PMMC refnes gold and cuts
diamonds to manufacture jewellery mainly in traditional Ghanaian and African
designs/motifs, e.g., designs of Adinkra symbols and in other African motifs
in 14-karat and 18-karat gold. Gold jewellery in 20, 21 or 22-karat and in other
designs can be made on request. The corporation runs an exclusive jewellery
show room and shop for refned jewellery made of Ghanaian gold and dia-
monds. In order to expand its business, the corporation is 1ooking to market its
jewellery abroad through distributorship, agency or joint ventures.
Arusha Gemstone Carving Centre - Tanzania (MEM, 2002): The Govern-
ment of Tanzania is building a gemstone centre whose primary objective is to
equip Tanzania nationals with lapidary and stone-carving skills so as to add value
to gem-mineral products. The centre, which is being built in Arusha, will oper-
ate as a joint venture between the Government and a selected private consult-
ant. The joint venture arrangement will see the government shares reduced from
80% at the beginning of the operation to 20% in its third year. The initial 80%
share of the Government consists of:
(a) Buildings;
(b) Equipment, materials and installation costs; and
(c) Initial operating costs and salaries for employees.
The private consultant will provide expertise for training, selection and fabrica-
tion of equipment. The consultant will also be responsible for identifying and
selecting personnel to establish and run the centre. The running cost borne by
the Government in the frst year will be progressively reduced as the centre
begins to operate commercially. During the second year, the share holding is
expected to be 50/50 between the Government and the consultant. In the third
year, the Government may sell its share to the public.
SEAMIC - Tanzania: In addition to providing training, SEAMIC carries out
pilot manufacturing of ceramic and other prototypes using a wide range of non-
metallic mineral compositions made from a range of industrial minerals found
in the area. The industrial minerals laboratories have equipment suitable for
bench-scale product development with pilot-scale facilities for body forming and
64
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
determination of fring characteristics. These facilities allow the centre to for-
mulate ceramic bodies and glazes for sanitary ware, tableware and low-tension
electrical insulators including production of their prototypes.
3.2.6. Institutional capacity
In most countries, the capacity to oversee the small-scale sector is limited, par-
ticularly because of lack of fnancial and human resources especially qualifed
and experienced personnel. Some best practices worth mentioning include:
Minerals Commission - Ghana: The Minerals Commission was established
under the Minerals Commission Law, 1986 with the responsibility for regu-
lation and management of the mineral resources sector of Ghana. The com-
mission is also responsible for co-ordination of policies for all minerals in the
country, which makes it the main promotional and regulatory agency in the min-
eral sector. The commission functions through a secretariat and consists of six
departments, namely:
(a) Planning and Policy Analysis;
(b) Monitoring and Evaluation;
(c) Finance;
(d) Marketing and Research;
(e) Personnel and Administration; and
(f) Legal and Small-scale Mining.
In 1989, the commission launched a SSM project aimed at administering the
mining law and providing technical and marketing assistance to small-scale
miners. Under the project, the commission established eight district mining cen-
tres in the southern part of the country, each staffed with a Mining Engineer (as
Project employee) and a Mines Inspector (from the Department of Mines). The
centres were responsible for registering claims and providing technical assistance
to local mines. The commission also established a mining centre in Tarkwa, with
facilities for training, demonstration and administration. The district mining cen-
tres also house PMMC offces.
To meet its fnancial requirements, the commission is allowed to receive grants,
loans, gifts and funds from any other source as well as any money accruing to it
from its activities or investments.
Mineral Resources Division (MRD) - Tanzania: The Mining Department of
the Mineral Resources Division of the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Tan-
zania is directly responsible for the day-to-day management of the small-scale
mining sector. In order to accomplish its activities, the MRD has established a
very extensive network of mining offces in all mining regions across the country.
65
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
The country has been divided into 11 zones, and depending on the level of activi-
ties in each zone, a number of district offces are established. For example, the
Lake Victoria Goldfelds, which is the most active mining region in the country,
has two zonal offces, in Mwanza and Shinyanga (160km from each other) and fve
district offces (three for Mwanza and two for Shinyanga). The fve district offces
are the busiest in the country and collect most of the government revenue.
Other closely monitored areas are the gemstone mining areas of Arusha, which
is a zone in itself, and Tanga, which is a district offce reporting to the Eastern
zonal offce located in Dar-es-Salaam. Licence applications for small-scale miners
can be submitted to any zonal or district offce and are issued by the zonal mines
offcer. As the network of offces can be adjusted in accordance to changing
intensity of activities, (e.g., there were 8 zonal offces in 1998 compared to 11 to
date), the current set-up looks adequate to properly manage the sector.
MRD derives its fnancial resources from its annual budget allocation, but more
important from retentions of collection of royalties, mineral rights annual rents,
fees for preparation of mineral rights and any other revenue collected directly by
regional and district offces.
Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development - Zambia: The Ministry of
Mines and Minerals Development consists of three departments, namely, Geo-
logical Survey, Mines Development and Mines Safety. In the past, the structure
of the Ministry was geared to meeting the needs of the large-scale mining sector.
Now, the new structure also aims at reaching small-scale miners in the major
mining centres of the country. In order to achieve this, the Mines Development
Department has been subdivided into regional bureaux located in strategically
selected districts near major mining areas. The department has the main co-ordi-
nation and operation offce in Lusaka City, from where monitoring of mining
operations in central and parts of western and southern provinces is also carried
out.
Department of Minerals Development and Energy - South Africa: The
Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) has regional offces in all the
nine provinces of the Republic of South Africa. All regional offces have a Direc-
tor for Minerals Development who is responsible for prospecting and mining
authorizations. The offces in Klerksdorp and Kimberley have sub-offces in
Mmabatho and Springbok, thus making a total of 11 regional DME offces. In
order to enhance SSM development, the DME has created the National Small-
Scale Mining Development Framework. The Directors for Minerals Develop-
ment in the relevant regional offces are responsible for the administration of the
framework.
A National Steering Committee of Services Providers (NSC) was established
to provide technical, managerial and fnancial support to small-scale mining
66
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
projects. The NSC is made up of parastatal institutions including the Council
for Geosciences, the Industrial Development Corporation, Khula Enterprise
Finance, Minerals and Energy Policy Centre, CSIR-Miningtek, Ntsika Enterprise
Promotion, MINTEK and the South African Diamond Board. The work of the
Committee is co-ordinated by a Secretariat at DME.
Mintek has a Small-scale Mining division that assists SSMs to make their projects
viable. Its policy is to develop rural communities and therefore a lot of empha-
sis is placed on benefciation and added value. This division is mainly funded
from various State grants. The European Union through Godisa has funded a
non-proft making, section 21 company called Zenzele Technology Demonstra-
tion Centre. This company assists SSMs by demonstrating the viability of their
projects; they handle about 36 projects each year.
Small-scale miners organizations
Small-scale miners associations, unions and cooperatives can be effective as
lobby groups, giving voice and representation to miners when dealing with the
Government and handling issues of mutual interest, e.g., security, training, mobi-
lizing infrastructural support and other socio-economic issues. The provision of
assistance to the sector can be easily mobilized through the miners organizations
rather than through individual groups. However, lack of trust in leaders, coupled
with poor fnancial resources and lack of managerial skills, make most small-scale
miners associations ineffective. There are a few good examples of effective asso-
ciations that are contributing to the development of the sector. These include:
The National Miners Association - Zimbabwe: The National Miners Asso-
ciation (formerly The Small-Scale Miners Association of Zimbabwe), has a
membership of 5000 miners (Svotwa, 2000) which is less than 2% of the total
estimated number of small-scale miners in Zimbabwe (350,000). Despite the
small membership, the association has been very active in mobilizing and con-
ducting activities aimed at benefting its members and industry as a whole. The
main contributions of this association include its participation in the develop-
ment of the Shamva Mining Centre. The association is the offcial owner of the
centre and oversees the management of its operations.
In addition, it has been able to mobilize and organize training programmes for
its members and beyond. A good example is the training programme, which
was organized in 1991 in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Geological Survey
Department and funded by DFID. A more recent example of the effectiveness
of the association was the mobilization of funding from GTZ for the Insiza
gold panners project, which provides training, demonstrates the use of effcient
technology and advises on the rehabilitation of mined areas.
67
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
Ngezi Small-scale Miners Cooperative - Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe has about
100 registered mining cooperatives with a total membership between 4000 - 5000
miners. Although most have performed poorly due to lack of management skills,
others like the Ngezi Small-scale Miners Cooperative have done well. About
100 miners, former employees of a chromite company that went out of busi-
ness, established the Ngezi cooperative. The cooperative applied and acquired
mining claims and started extracting the ore through pig-rooting mining meth-
ods. Slowly, the group advanced to a stage where they were able to acquire equip-
ment like compressors, percussion drills, a portable explosives magazine and a
large articulated vehicle and trailer. Having acquired the claims over an area origi-
nally owned by their former employees, the cooperative benefted from the infra-
structure that was left behind which included a school, clinic, running water,
ablution blocks, mine road network and a large number of thatched huts. With
the help of the Mining Department, the cooperative secured a loan of Z $ 15,000
from the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation to develop a small-scale
formal underground chromite mine. Advisory and extension services were pro-
vided by the Mining Department.
Having secured a market with smelting companies (Union Carbide), the coop-
erative started a monthly production of about 200 tons of clean, high-quality
chrome, 16 months after commencement of operations. Ten members of
the cooperative were trained in most of the underground mining operations
during the mine construction phase. The success story of the Ngezi coopera-
tive attracted more people to chrome mining and nearly 2000 people are now
involved in the production of chrome in Gweru and Kwekwe. The chrome is
sold to Anglo American and Union Carbide, respectively.
The Ntuthuko-Blaaubosch Mining Trust - South Africa: With the help of
the Department of Minerals and Energy, a group of about 110 brick-making,
small-scale miners in Osizweni township (located to the east of Newcastle in
northern Kwazulu-Natal) constituted themselves into the Ntuthuko-Blaawbosch
Mining Trust with a board of 15 Trustees. The Trust then signed an agreement
with the NSC with the aim of promoting the Osizweni brick-making operation
as an NSC pilot project.
The people of Osizweni have been mining clay at a subsistence level for over
thirty years in support of a community of about 2,300 people. The new busi-
ness will be owned by the Trust, which, in turn, will employ some, if not all
the members. The project is being relocated to a new area because the current
site has been overworked and can no longer sustain the operation. Fortunately,
AMCOAL, who owns the mining rights to the adjacent site, has consented to its
use for brick making by the Trust.
68
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
3.2.7. Access to credit and finance
In an ILO survey in 1999, small-scale miners identifed access to credit as a major
obstacle to successful development of the sector. The following are some good
examples of programmes initiated to address the problem:
Loan-based fnancing schemes
This category includes funds that can be accessed through loans from special
Government schemes, fnancial institutions, and other lending institutions.
Government supported loan schemes - Zimbabwe: The Government of
Zimbabwe has, over the years, implemented a number of support programmes
aimed at promoting the development of the SSM sector. Some of these support
programmes include loan fnancial schemes as detailed below (Svotwa, 2000):
Loans to purchase mines: Immediately after independence, the white owners, who
did not trust the new regime and decided to emigrate to South Africa and other
countries, closed a number of small-scale formal mines. The new Government
provided loans limited to $Z25, 000 each, exclusive of the cost of plant and
machinery at the mine, to enable new owners to purchase the mines. Repayment
was over fve years with a fxed interest rate of 9% per annum.
Loans to develop mines: This is aimed at developing new mining projects and covers
costs for sinking of shafts, and raising or developing a reef. This loan can be
written off if the work fails to expose workable ore.
Loans to set up extractive plants: This loan also provides assistance to new
mining projects through provision of cash to cover up to 6 months operating
costs with the aim of bringing the mine into proftable production.
Out-of-hand emergency loans: This is a loan of up to $Z4, 000 (nominal terms) that is
made available by the District Advisory (Mining) Board and is repayable within
one year. It is aimed at addressing any emergency that can bring a mining project
to a halt.
Mining Industry Loan Fund (MILF) - Zimbabwe: The Zimbabwe Ministry of Mines,
Environment and Tourism created the Mining Industry Loan Fund (MILF) in order
to assist small-scale miners, (Drechsler, 2001). The fund, which is administered by
the Mining Affairs Board (MAB), amounts to around $Z 2 million a year.
The establishment of a large number of small-scale formal mines in Zimbabwe
is credited to these fnancial schemes, as well as to the overall assistance offered
through hire/purchase schemes and extension services. Although most of these
schemes are currently not operational due to the economic diffculties affecting
the country, they nevertheless represented best practices in addressing the issue
of shortage of fnance by small-scale miners.
69
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
The Fundo de Fomento Mineiro (FFM) - Mozambique (Drechsler, 2001):
The FFM is a mining development fund set up by the Government of Mozam-
bique to help small-scale miners gain access to fnance. Applications for funds
have to be made to the president of the FFM, with details of the project attached
and the intended usage of the funds. For example, if the funds are required
for the purchase of equipment, price quotations from the suppliers must be
attached. In addition, the following is also required:
(a) Copy of the mining licence;
(b) Feasibility study of the project;
(c) Proof of availability of a collateral representing 20% of the amount
requested;
(d) Guarantees in properties equivalent to the requested amount (mort-
gage);
(e) Plan of payback of the credit; and
(f) Proof of market for the product to be mined.
Financing by the National Steering Committee of Service Providers
(NSC) - South Africa: Under the South African framework for SSM develop-
ment, the NSC is responsible for provision of technical, managerial and fnancial
support to selected small-scale mining projects. Two departments of the Minis-
try of Trade and Industry, which are members of the committee, provide fnan-
cial assistance, (i.e., Khula - which provides loans and Ntsika-which provides
services in kind such as training and capacity building). Another member of the
committee, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), provides commer-
cial bank loans. Once a pilot project has been identifed, a business plan is pre-
pared and then submitted to IDC for evaluation. If approved, IDC grants 90%
of the loan and the project promoters (usually in the form of a co-operative)
are responsible for raising the remaining 10%. A number of projects across the
country have already benefted from this arrangement.
Equity-based fnancial schemes
This group includes fnancing that can be accessed through joint venture part-
nerships, venture capital funds, investment banks, unit trust or mutual funds,
stock exchanges and others risk sharing schemes. These funds impose similar
conditions to those demanded by commercial banks for a bankable project. Such
conditionalities make access to these funds by small-scale miners diffcult. How-
ever, there are a few instances where small-scale miners have been able to access
these funds successfully. These include:
Joint ventures - The Mwaca Amethyst Project - Zambia (SADC, 1999): The
Amethyst Project is located in the Mapatizya area in Kalomo, Zambia. In order
to fund the project, the project promoters approached HIFAB International, a
70
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
Swedish donor agency. HIFAB agreed to give the project a loan on condition that
they agree to go into joint venture with a Swedish partner. On establishment of
a joint venture company with 50/50 equity split between the two partners, a loan
of $ US 50,000 was advanced to the Zambian registered company and the Swed-
ish partner raised equity capital of the same amount.
The company then employed a qualifed gemmologist and embarked on a vig-
orous campaign of fnding markets for their amethyst production. This has
resulted in the establishment of business relationships with amethyst buyers in
Tucson, Arizona (USA), Jaipur in India, South Africa and Hong Kong. The com-
pany is now struggling to meet the high market demand that has emerged for
their products, which now include the Zebra Amethyst (highly marketable in
Hong Kong). The project is currently seeking additional funding to purchase
equipment that will enable them to meet the new market demands.
Equity sharing - The Zinc Tailings Recovery Project - Sable Zinc Kabwe
Ltd., Zambia (SADC, 1999): Some 15 ex-miners of the defunct Kabwe Division
of the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Ltd. formed a company named Kabwe
Power and Metals Ltd. (KPM), and acquired 6 million tons of tailings rich in zinc
and lead. In addition, the company acquired metallurgical plants consisting of a con-
centrator; leach plant, waelz kilns, a char plant and offces. KPM consulted the Com-
monwealth Development Corporation (CDC) venture capital subsidiary for fnanc-
ing. A joint venture company, Sable Zinc Kabwe Ltd. (SZK) was formed between
KPM and CDC. In order to run the operations effciently, a technical partner with
experience in the processing of zinc was sought on agreement for equity sharing.
The equity in the project was then shared 40% to CDC, 40% to the technical part-
ner and 20% for KPM (15 miners). This arrangement has enabled the company to
raise funds required to rehabilitate the plant. The company is now planning to raise
production from the current 500 tons/year to 5,000 tons/year of zinc.
The project, which employs about 100 people, raised a total of $ US 3.4 million
with $3 million being capital investment and the rest working capital. The 15
miners that started the project contend that it is better to own 20% of an eff-
ciently operating project than 100% of a limping one.
Hire/purchase schemes
Plant hire/purchase scheme - Zimbabwe: The scheme is administered by the
Chief Government Mining Engineer and enables small-scale miners to acquire
mining and metallurgical equipment on condition that they present a sound mining
proposal. Once the proposal is approved, the payback period is set at 1 to 3 years
at 10% interest per annum. The payback period is fxed according to the value of
the equipment, i.e., 12 months for equipment for low-cost items (up to $Z300), 24
months for items costing up to $Z600 and 36 months for equipment valued above
$Z600.
71
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
Financing through cooperation between small- and large-scale
miners
Dumpco Project - South Africa: This is a diamond tailings re-treatment project
which is owned by 36 members of the Dumpco Trust. This is constituted by
ex-employees of De Beers who were retrenched in 1992. De Beers and the
National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Retrenchment Fund extended a R1.2
million interest-free loan with a payback period of 4 years. Despite having
adequate fnancing to invest in heavy equipment, the project makes deliberate
efforts to maximize employment by using labour-intensive techniques. For exam-
ple, instead of using front-end-loaders, tailings are loaded and hauled manually
using wheelbarrows. The tailings are transported from 6km away at Beaconsfeld,
where they have been deposited for nearly a century, and De Beers pays the Trust
for each ton removed.
The project treats 439 tons per day to produce an average of 6 - 8 carats per
100 tons. They have occasionally managed to produce about 75 carats per day.
The Trust has reached an agreement with De Beers that allows them to operate
within De Beers claims. This arrangement entitles the Trust to up to 50% of the
profts. Every member gets paid an equal salary of R2000 per month and at the
end of the year, 75% of the profts are shared among trustees as dividends. With
tailings dumps of more than 20 million tons, the project life looks indefnite.
Buyer credit schemes
Meremeta Gold Buying Schemes - Tanzania: Meremeta is a 50/50 joint ven-
ture company formed in 1998 between the Government of Tanzania and Trien-
nex, a South African company. The main objective of the company is to provide
assistance to small-scale miners and market their gold. The operation includes:
(a) Provision of equipment such as pumps, compressors and drilling equip-
ment;
(b) Installation of custom grinding equipment, which miners use for grind-
ing and processing ore; and
(c) Buying gold directly from the miners at a 20% reduced price to cover the
cost of grinding with no questions asked about the source.
Given the lack of access to fnance and equipment that affect small-scale miners,
the scheme was popular and expanded to nearby districts although at a much
slower rate than anticipated. The scheme also attracted other local entrepreneurs
who brought in their own locally made grinding mills, which run on engines of
tractors and lorries. These entrepreneurs pose stiff competition to Meremeta
despite the fact that they apply a fxed charge per kilogramme of ore ground.
72
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
3.2.8. Technical assistance programmes
Specifc technical assistance programmes
The National Steering Committee of Service Providers (NSC) - South
Africa: Individual members of NSC contribute towards the development of
the sector according to their areas of expertise. For example, the Council for
Geosciences is responsible for conducting geological surveys for identifed pilot
projects, the outcome of which is then incorporated into the overall business plan.
The Council for Scientifc and Industrial Research (CSIR) through its Miningtek
branch has the responsibility to develop mine plans and the technology to be
deployed.
Mintek is responsible for the processing of the mined ore and for adding value
to the product. Examples of this are fne milling of mica, manufacturing bricks,
leaching of copper oxide ore and cementing out copper metal to manufacture
curios, making pottery rather than just selling the clay, etc. Other members of the
committee, MEPC, Ntsika and Industrial Development Corporation then take on
the organizational development, training and marketing aspects of the project.
Technical Extension Services - Zimbabwe: The Ministry responsible for
mining through the departments of Mines, Geological Survey and Metallurgy offers
free technical advisory services to small-scale miners in Zimbabwe. The services
are provided through a network of regional mine offces located across the coun-
try. There are also sub-offces or district offces depending on the size and level of
activities in a particular region. The regional offces each have a regional geologist,
mining engineer, metallurgist and a mining commissioner. The services include geo-
logical surveys, assaying, advice on mining techniques and other technical services.
Special units for provision of extension services
These include the Small-scale Mining Department of the Minerals Commission in
Ghana and the Small-scale Mining Unit of the Mineral Resources Division in Tanzania.
Specialized training institutions
Zimbabwe School of Mines - Bulawayo: The school offers two-year diploma
courses in mining engineering, surveying and metallurgy.
Madini Institute - Tanzania: The Madini Institute is located in Dodoma, Tan-
zania and trains mining technicians most of whom are absorbed by the regional
and district mines offces and the private sector. The Institute, which has recently
been upgraded to provide training leading to a full technicians certifcate, is to be
converted into a specialized Government agency.
Vocational Education Training Authority Institute - Tanzania: The Voca-
tional Education Training Authority (VETA) in Tanzania runs vocational tech-
nical training through training institutes located in almost all regions of the
73
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
country. The training usually targets primary and secondary school leavers. As part
of its expansion programmes aimed at reaching all the important sectors of the
economy, the Authority has secured a loan from the East African Development
Bank to build a full-fedged mining vocational training institute in Shinyanga.
3.2.9 Women in mining
Although provisions prohibiting women from working in mines are slowly dis-
appearing, women still face a multitude of obstacles in their bid to participate
fully in small-scale mining activities. However, there are already efforts in some
countries to provide equal opportunities for women miners. The practices below
represent a sample of such initiatives:
Addressing women issues in mining policies
The Mineral Policy of Tanzania - Women and Children Issues: The Mineral
Policy of Tanzania, 1997 recognized the social problems that evolve in the process
of developing mining projects, especially those that limit effective participation of
women and those that lead to the premature introduction of children to the harsh
conditions of mining. In the case of women, the policy aims to alleviate barriers
that limit their participation in mining by encouraging their employment and making
other participants aware of the need to provide them with equal opportunities.
Women Miners Associations
SADC Women in Mining Trust - Zambia: The Trust was formed in 1997 as a
regional association in order to promote networking at a regional level. The Trust
has been instrumental in the formation of a number of women miners associa-
tions in the region and in mainstreaming gender.
Tanzania Women Miners Association (TAWOMA): TAWOMA was formed in
1997 at the initiative of women miners. The association has 192 members and
headquarters in Dar-es-Salaam (August 2001). It has established branches in almost
all major mining centres in the country. Its mission is to facilitate women miners to
organize and access required fnancial, technical and marketing services so that they
can carry out mining activities that are both economically and commercially viable
and environmentally sustainable and thereby raise the standard of living for women
miners and their families. The goals of the association are to:
(a) Lobby for support of women miners nationally, regionally and interna-
tionally;
(b) Identify training and technical needs and organize resources to meet them;
(c) Provide relevant marketing information and facilitate minerals marketing;
(d) Set up a revolving fund to enable women access funding; and
(e) Serve as an advocate for women in mining to the Government.
74
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
The association has, amongst its priorities, the establishment of a gem-cutting unit
and a resource and information centre. Over the long-term, it plans to establish
equipment-hire, a testing-centre, lapidary and jewellery production units and a skills
training-centre. TAWOMA is a member of the SADC Women in Mining Trust.
Specifc programmes to support women miners
Assistance to women miners - South Africa: A group of rural, small-scale women
miners have been mining kaolin from the mountainside in Nwdedwe, Kwa Zulu
Natal. The kaolin is mostly sold through intermediaries to the pharmaceutical, cos-
metics and pottery sectors within the local community. The miners managed to
secure assistance from NSC to develop a business plan to ensure that the project
operated within the legal framework and that it produced a product that would attract
potential customers. NSC also agreed to assist in providing technical backup, includ-
ing drilling, ore body assessment and others. Eskom (South African Electricity Com-
mission) agreed to provide a new site for the project and facilitate market access.
SAWIMA Alluvial Diamond Project - South Africa: A group of women who
are members of the South African Women-in-Mining Association (SAWIMA),
own a diamond claim in Lichtenberg Area in Northwest Province. Their claim
is in close proximity to another claim, which belongs to a prominent local
family (the Visser family). SAWIMA mobilized assistance from the offce of
the Regional Commissioner, the Department of Energy Affairs for North West
Province and the Visser family, to secure access to heavy equipment for mining
activities.
For example, it was agreed that a front-end loader could help in digging the dia-
mond-bearing gravel after which the women would carry out panning, washing
and sorting. The Visser family operates a fairly large operation employing nearly
50 people operating 2 front-end loaders, 4 pans with throughput of 150 tons per
hour and 1 excavator. Given the small volume of production from the SAWIMA
project, there is no confict of interest, especially in the use of equipment.
3.2.10 Child labour
The employment of children in SSM is very common in most countries in Africa.
Young children break rocks manually and work underground in poor health and
safety conditions. There are already efforts being made by a number of countries
to eliminate this problem. The following are examples of such best practices.
Addressing child labour issues in mining policies
The Mineral Policy of Tanzania - Women and Children Issues: Part of
the mining policy strategies aim to address social problems that lead to children
being employed and thus exposed to harsh mining conditions at tender ages.
75
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
Whilst enacting and enforcing regulations and stiff penalties against the practice,
the policy also aims to provide alternatives as a way of addressing poverty prob-
lems that lead to the practice in the frst place.
Child labour elimination
International Programme on Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) - ILO:
ILO launched the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour
(IPEC) in 1992, with funding from 17 industrialized countries and the European
Commission (ILO, 1998). IPEC is part of a direct intervention strategy in com-
bating child labour. Other approaches include legal and market-based initiatives.
The SSM aspect of the programme, which is being implemented in Africa, Asia
and Latin America, has already initiated gathering of sound data on the extent
and nature of child labour in Madagascar and Burkina Faso. In Tanzania, the
programme has been sensitizing all those concerned with child labour and sup-
porting the withdrawal of children from mining areas.
3.2.11 Research and development
There are a number of initiatives to research and develop technologies that are
amenable to SSM working conditions. Most of the work, however, has had
little impact. Very few initiatives have adopted a participatory and long-term,
impact-oriented approach. Such approaches include collaboration with small-
scale miners in data gathering, feld testing and commissioning of the product.
However, the following projects are worth noting:
Small-scale Mining and Processing Technologies - MINTEK, South
Africa (Guest, 2002): - MINTEK of South Africa is developing a number of
processes and equipment for application in the SSM sector. Some of the tech-
nologies include the following:
(a) The iGoli mercury-free gold extraction process: The iGoli process is a
gold- recovery technique that has been developed at MINTEK to elimi-
nate the use of mercury by small-scale miners. The process, which was
launched in March 2001, makes use of simple household chemicals such
as pool acid (HCl) and bleach (NaOCl) to dissolve the gold. This is fol-
lowed by fltration and gold precipitation with sodium meta-bisulphate.
In order to reduce the possibility of accidents with acids, MINTEK has
developed a training programme for miners. At least one miner from a
given small-scale mining community would be trained by MINTEK at
their laboratories so that he/she can train other miners back in the com-
munity.
The training course includes practical test work, a visit to a small operating
mine, engineering design drawings for the manufacture of strakes and a
76
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
simple booklet giving details of the process. According to MINTEK,
this new chlorine leaching technology has already been tested with small-
scale miners in Tanzania where recovery of gold of up to 99.9% purity
was achieved.
(b) Electricity-free processing equipment: Some equipment is being devel-
oped for small-scale miners who have no access to power. One such
example is the development of strakes, which are already in use with the
MINTEK iGoli process. In order to recover fne gold, strakes need to
be vibrated. More research work is underway to develop ways of vibrat-
ing the strakes without using electricity.
(c) Effcient comminution techniques: The application of conventional ball
mills in the grinding of ore leads to loss of gold behind the liners.
Old-fashioned stamp mills, which were designed to crush and grind, do
not suffer from such a problem. As such, research is being conducted
to look at the application of centrifugal forces to increase recovery or
develop a more simplifed comminution system.
Mercury-free recovery of gold - University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
(UDSM, 2002) and Imperial College, London (Pratt, 2002): This research
project aims at developing an appropriate, simple, robust and effective non-polluting
gold recovery technique that can replace amalgamation. The method being pro-
posed is based on the Coal Gold Agglomeration (CGA) process developed by Brit-
ish Petroleum (BP) in the 1980s as an outcome of studies on the formation of
spherical coal-oil agglomerates as a means of recovering coal fnes. The process was
then successfully developed further as an alternative to the traditional cyanidation
process for large-scale plants due to increasing environmental concerns. In 1994, the
Centre successfully tested the process for SSM application for mineral technology
in Brazil.
The project is still in its initial stage. Test work conducted at the University of Dar-
es-Salaam in Tanzania has established parameters linked with agglomeration size
distribution and the requirements for the initial rate of agglomeration. By using
locally produced coal and light gas (diesel) on one hand and then coal and kerosene
on the other, different process parameters of agglomeration, were established. Tests
on gold recovery were carried out using a synthetic mixture (Graphite-ESCAID
agglomerate) and recoveries of up to 99.8% (reproducible) were achieved. In
tests using coal-diesel agglomerates (20% agglomerates to ore ratio), recoveries of
between 99.1 - 99.8% (100% reproducible) were achieved. In order to study the
process parameters further, more tests on gold recovery using coal-diesel agglomer-
ates with both synthetic and natural ore will be conducted. This will lead to develop-
ment of a pilot plant designed according to the established optimum parameters.
77
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
Improved Gold Recovery Project - British Geological Survey/Intermediate
Technology Development Group (ITDG) - Zimbabwe (Styles, 2002): This
project being carried out in Guyana and Zimbabwe aims at developing tech-
niques for improved gold recovery and achieving environmentally friendly SSM
practices, by paying particular attention to resistance to change. Following feld
visits and desk reviews, it was concluded that improved gold recoveries could be
achieved with the use of more effcient sluice boxes. The Zimbabwean branch
of ITDG designed such sluice boxes and tested and distributed them in small
numbers to mining groups for long-term assessment of their quality. The initial
reactions from these groups are good.
Mercury-free gold recovery - Tarkwa School of Mines25, (University of
Science and Technology-Kumai), Ghana (Sackey, 2002): The technology
was developed with funding from the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID), in collaboration with a SSM community in Dompim,
near Tarkwa - a major mining town in Ghana. Although lack of further funding
has hampered efforts for the countrywide testing and dissemination of the tech-
nology, a cross-section of small-scale miners in the Tarkwa area are successfully
using the technology to win gold from their concentrates. The technology is
based on the following:
The gold ore is fnely ground, water is added to the ground material to
form a slurry which is then washed and concentrated by using a sluice
box;
The sluice box matting is removed and cleansed to dislodge gold and
other heavy minerals trapped in it;
The collected sluice box concentrate is upgraded further by panning;
The concentrate collected from panning (heavy mineral black sands and
gold) is then dried;
The dried concentrate is spread on clean paper or cardboard from where
it is blown gently whilst a small brush is used to sweep aside gold parti-
cles from the heavier black sand;
Blowing and brushing is continued until complete separation between
gold and the black sand is achieved; and
Gold is smelted and sold.
3.2.12 Co-operation between small and large-scale miners
The relationship between large and small-scale miners is usually of a suspicious
nature, to the detriment of both groups. Large-scale operators regard small-scale
mining as being synonymous to illegal mining and small-scale miners accuse large
companies of denying them access to potential mineral resources by tying up large
78
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
tracts of land. It is now increasingly recognized, even at the highest level (see Box
3), that there is scope for mutually advantageous co-operation between the two
groups. Such co-operation creates a conducive mining environment for large-scale
companies and it allows small-scale miners access to appropriate technology, mar-
kets and training. In this regard, best practices have been documented in:
Ingwe Coal Mining Company - South Africa (ILO, 1999): The Ingwe Coal
Mining Company leased a small area that was unsuitable for large-scale under-
ground mining to a small-scale mining company, Kuyasa which belongs to a group
of ex-workers. Ingwe provided bridging fnance and has also agreed to buy all the
coal produced by Kuyasa. Kuyasa pays royalty to Ingwe who is the owner of the
mine lease. The loan is being paid through a fee on its production.
Sadiola Gold Mining Project - Mali (Keita, 2002): As part of the expansion of
the AngloGold mine in Sadiola, Mali, villagers of Sadiola and Farabakouta had to
be relocated to new sites in order to limit the negative impact of the mine expan-
sion on the local communities. A support project was instigated by AngloGold
Mining Company to promote orderly artisanal mining and develop sustainable
revenue-generating activities. The project, which is located almost 250 km from
Bamako in the West part of Mali, covers the villages of Sadiola, Farabakouta,
Medina and Neteko and includes a gold mining population of nearly 300 miners.
The project started with identifcation of the strengths and weaknesses of the
existing artisanal mining activities. In addition to the 300 members of the co-
operative, consultations were also carried out with other socio-economic groups to
identify alternative revenue-generating activities. Other activities included working
with local NGOs to identify potential partners; geological evaluation of the Fara-
bakouta deposit; identifcation and testing of mining equipment and establishment
of a communal development fund based on a monthly budget of US$ 5,000.00.
Furthermore, in the operational stage, geologists from AngloGold provided tech-
nical assistance to the miners in terms of alluvial and underground mining and
extraction techniques, operation and maintenance of equipment, security measures
and rehabilitation of mined sites. The socio-economic activities include:
Encouraging market gardening, and fabrication of dyes and soaps by
women groups;
Initiating fruit-tree planting and fsh farming as part of the rehabilitation
of mined areas;
Organization and management of grain banks and communal stores;
Providing fnancial support to small projects such as bakeries, rural res-
taurants, woodwork shops, jewellers, and metalwork shops (64 loans
were provided and 15 local enterprises were created);
Supporting the construction and organization of a communal market;
79
S
e
l
e
c
t
e
d

B
e
s
t

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e
s

i
n

S
m
a
l
l
-
s
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g
Construction and organization of a rural school and a learning centre
for adults; and
Providing support for construction and running of a communal health
centre.
Communities around Sadiola Gold Mining project have achieved 60% of school
enrolment and 80% of vaccination of local children, a comparatively good
achievement in relation to other rural communities in Mali.
These important social and community programmes form a solid foundation for increased
mutual understanding and trust between the mining companies and local communities
and, therefore, make the new mines more socially and politically acceptable in the areas
they are in. I urge you to continue fostering the systematic integration of mining projects
into local communities, by establishing supportive relationships for harmonious coexistence
and improvement of rural life and economic diversification.
In this regard, I urge mining companies to work closely with district councils to plan and
identify social, infrastructural and community programmes, which when financed by the
mining companies or jointly, will have the intended impact. For instance, companies could
assist communities located along a water pipe line to establish well-planned villages and
other infrastructure, and support various self-development initiatives planned and owned
by the people themselves. Another area where the people of Tanzania can expect to ben-
efit from the incoming investments in the mining sector is job creation, skills development
and opportunity to provide auxiliary services and consumer goods to the mines.
I wish to emphasize the need to ensure that whenever trained and qualified personnel are
available locally you should accord them preference.
Let me also remind the mining community in Tanzania that our mineral policy recognizes
the positive contribution to the economy of both large and small-scale miners. Mining
companies should, therefore, not forget that they are operating amongst local communi-
ties with small-scale miners whose livelihoods depend on mining. It should be helpful,
and indeed it should be the goal of each large-scale mining operation, to foster relations
of constructive co-operation and partnership with small-scale miners. I urge you to assist
Governments efforts to transform and rationalise them into an organised, modem and
environmentally sound mining sub-sector.
Box 3: Extracts of the Speech by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania,
His Excellency Benjamin William Mkapa at the Inauguration of Bulyanhulu Gold Mine,
Kahama, 18th July 2001
80
Individually, the best practices selected in this compendium may have positively
contributed to the improvement of specifc processes. However, overall the
small-scale mining sector in the countries described in the compendium is still
beset with serious problems. Even where some practices could have had a long-
term impact, because of poor institutional effectiveness and capacity, as well as
limited funding, they could not be sustained overtime. Furthermore, some initia-
tives were ad-hoc in nature and not part of a comprehensive plan to promote
small-scale mining.
The problem is further compounded because there has been poor understand-
ing about the livelihoods of small-scale mining communities and, in many cases,
cross-cutting issues (gender, environment, health, human and institutional capital
creation, etc) and other social variables and community dynamics have not been
considered in an integrated manner during the design and implementation of
programmes to support the sector. There has been little consultation and partici-
pation at grass roots level in the process of promoting some of the practices. As
a result, small-scale miners have not been empowered and do not have ownership
of the processes.
For example, conceptually, the mining policy and legislation of Tanzania are
good examples of best practices required for the development of the small-scale
mining sector, at least on paper. The mining policy identifes all issues pertinent
to the development of the sector. In addition, the legislation with its regulations
has established an appropriate regulatory framework for the management of the
sector. Notwithstanding, lack of adequate human resources and support infra-
structure at local level to administer the system and to provide assistance to the
miners, have, to a certain extent, rendered these laws and regulations less effec-
tive in practice.
4
Success Factors
81
S
u
c
c
e
s
s

F
a
c
t
o
r
s
In Ghana, despite the passing of the Small-scale Gold Mining Law in 1989,
which legalised small-scale mining and the establishment of demonstration cen-
tres aimed at enabling miners to acquire training and access to technology, there
are still serious problems affecting the sector. Trust among authorities, small-
scale miners and large-scale operators is not always present and, as a result, land-
use competition and disputes between large- and small-scale miners are ubiq-
uitous. On the other hand, the demonstration centres established by govern-
ment have not improved productivity of small-scale mining operations drasti-
cally and some have even closed-down. The provision of technical assistance to
the miners, which was assigned to the Mines Department and to the Geological
Survey Department, has been fraught due to fnancial constraints. To a certain
extent, the same problems affected the Minerals Commission.
The Shamva mining centre in Zimbabwe, which was publicized as an example
of what-to-do to facilitate access to appropriate technology and equipment and
develop mining skills of small-scale miners, has failed to operate in a sustainable
manner, due to hasty disengagement of its main funding agency, mismanage-
ment and lack of institutional support.
The examples above illustrate how complex the small-scale mining sector is and
how diffcult it is to have practices that holistically contribute to development of
the sector. Table 6 below is an attempt to identify the success factors that con-
tribute to promoting sustainable SSM development. The importance of baseline
studies to identify user needs and profle the sector (including identifcation of
local socio-cultural traits) should not be underestimated. This should form the
basis upon which any successful programme to develop the sector should be
designed and launched.
82
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
Table 6: Success factors for SSM development
Main Area Success Factors
Mining policy Baseline studies to identify user needs and profile the sector;
Simple and transparent licensing system for small-scale mining;
Applications for licenses are handled by district and regional offices;
Licensing system for minerals trading that is handled at the regional
level; and
Simple environmental management regulations specific to small-scale
miners.
Mining legislation Clear rules to access and use mineral rights and land;
Application of mineral rights within district and regional offices located
within mining areas;
Issuance of mineral rights based on first-come-first served approach;
Small-scale mining licenses do not need the Ministers approval;
The all process takes between two weeks to four weeks;
Maintain the same mineral rights categories as those issued for the
large-scale operators to make administration less cumbersome;
Maintaining a single system minimizes the pressure on human and
financial resources;
A single system enables miners to acquire experience on mine project
development;
Large concession sizes and long tenure periods allow easy access to
finance and attract investors;
A system allowing transfer and mortgage of mineral rights allows miners
to raise financing through outright sale, transfer of shares (in Joint
ventures) or selling part of the mineral rights;
Designation of specific areas for small-scale mining allows easy
management and enforcement of regulations; and
Decentralization of mineral rights allocation and administration allow
the local government to participate in administration.
Technology Allocate adequate funding for centres of innovation and adaptation of
(appropriate) technology;
Replicate tested models of equipment-hiring, pay-back or hire-to-pay
schemes from other countries;
Programmes for promotion of efficient technology which enable miners
to identify and operate them with the aim of improving productivity and
hence earnings;
Technical training programmes:
o Provide training to trainers to access more miners;
o Raise awareness on the negative health and environmental issues;
o Establish baseline data regarding mercury levels in miners, water, fish
and sediments in the mining areas;
Develop mining methods that can be easily adopted to mine other
minerals;
Application of equipment that:
o Is simple in design and can be produced locally;
o Use accessories, e.g., grinding media that are readily available;
o Is mobile and easy to install and operate;
o Is powered by small diesel engines (diesel is available in most mining
areas);
o Is cheap and can be afforded by individual miners;
o Is efficient and have minimum environmental impacts;
o Has low power consumption;
Utilize selective mining techniques that allow focusing on particular types
and grade of ore; and
Apply methods that combine both manual and mechanized processing
techniques.
83
S
u
c
c
e
s
s

F
a
c
t
o
r
s
Main Area Success Factors
Environmental
management, health and
safety
Health and safety legislation establishes control over distribution and
trading of dangerous chemicals;
Legislation allows users to be known and hence can be easily
monitored for compliance and assistance;
It allows data on the amount of chemicals entering the country,
amount used and other relevant information to be accessed;
Legislation that leads to increased use of safe methods and reduction
of health and environmental negative impacts.
Establishment of locally enforced safety security systems which allow
miners to watch each others mining practices to ensure that the set
safety standards are adhered to;
Establishment of regulations that contribute to improved working
relations between miners, authorities and their organizations; and
Regulations specific to small-scale mining operations.
Minerals marketing Simplified licensing of minerals marketing by processing applications
at district and regional offices;
Monitoring is localized and more efficient;
Data collection is simplified as officers have to cover smaller areas
within their jurisdictions;
Establishment of a one-stop-shop where mineral traders can easily
access information and process their exports;
Establishment of a specialized body in minerals marketing that is
capable of offering more specialized services to mineral traders;
Mineral rights holders do not require another license to market or
export their minerals;
Establishment of gemstone auctions that:
o Provide producers direct contact with international dealers;
o Allow miners to gain experience of gemstones grading and
evaluation through contact with experienced dealers;
o Enable miners get access to information on international gemstone
markets and pricing systems;
o Accord Government a direct chance to collect revenue.
Develop strategies to curb illegal mineral trading so that:
o Miners get good prices and hence have no incentives for trading
illegally;
Establish gemstone cutting centres in order to:
o Create jobs by training gemstone cutters and rock carvers;
o Improve quality of the cut gemstones for export and thus earn more
revenue; and
o Promote local consumption of gemstone products through improved
quality.
.
Providing continuous training to small-scale miners in gemmology
and processing of industrial minerals.
Institutional capacity Establishment of offices that are close to major mining areas and that:
o Are well-funded;
o Can recruit adequate well-trained personnel;
o Can collect revenue effectively and retain part of it for SSM
activities;
o Can provide extension services, monitor the activities of small-scale
miners; and
o Well-distributed and known by the end-users.
Create small-scale miners organisations that:
o Are the mouthpiece of small-scale miners in the country especially
in handling negotiations with the Government, NGO and the donor
community; and
o Can mobilize assistance to small-scale miners.
84
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
Main Area Success Factors
Access to credit and finance Draft a small-scale mining lending policy;
Establishing loans targeted to specific needs of small-scale mining
projects;
The government is the grantor so that small-scale miners do not have
to have a collateral when applying for loans;
Amount of loan based on actual requirements following an assessment
by mining experts from the government;
Establishing equity-based financing to promote joint-ventures; and
Establishing hire/purchase schemes that enable small-scale miners to
access and acquire equipment through payment of small affordable
instalments.
Technical assistance
programmes
Establish assistance programmes:
o That allow miners to get assistance from specialized institutions;
o That start from project conceptualisation to full implementation;
o Where miners can get services paid at a nominal fee; and
o Where miners can access assistance quickly because the district/
regional mines offices are located close to mining areas.
Establish specialized training institutions:
o That offer full-certificate level training to technicians who can then
go and work directly with small-scale miners, without any further
training;
o That provide specialized training to small-scale miners either
through formal training or on-the-job training; and
o That offer students practical training by facilitating attachment to
small-scale mining operations with a view to impart on the students
a better understanding of SSM needs and problems.
Women in mining Enacting mining policies that: bring to the forefront issues limiting
women participation in mining and help to raise awareness of the
miners and the public;
Establishment of women miners organizations that:
o Provide a single voice for women miners;
o Are able to encourage and mobilize women to take-up mining as an
economic activity; and
o Are active in organizing members in trusts so as to promote group
mining projects and are mobilizing assistance.
Child labour Enacting mining policies that:
o Enable miners and the public in general to become more aware
of the dangers of employing children under dangerous mining
environment; and
o Can attract support to eradicate child labour, e.g., the Tanzania/IPEC
Programme supported by the International Labour Organization.
Other parameters Promote research and development programmes that:
o Encourage production of safe and efficient technologies;
o Develop technology that can be used with the same or improved
efficiency in environments without electricity, which are common in
small-scale mining areas;
o Provide training to miners on the safe use of technologies
developed;
o Focus on the integration of mining projects with rural development
programmes;
Promote relationships between small- and large-scale miners that:
o Allow small-scale miners access to reserves that originally belonged
to large mining companies, but that can not be efficiently exploited
by them;
o Assure miners a market for their products by selling to the larger
companies;
o Encourage large-scale miners to provide bridge financing for new
ventures promoted by small-scale miners; and
o Encourage co-operation and the establishment of a good working
environment between them.
85
Conclusions and Recommendations
5
Review of the current SSM situation in Africa and experiences learned from the
analyses of the practices documented above, suggest that the following strategies
should be pursued for the development of the sector:
Develop a mining policy that incorporates a poverty reduction dimension
in SSM strategies and recognizes small-scale mining as a potential economic
sector with clear identifcation of constraints and potential.
The development of the SSM sector in a country has to start at the policy level.
It is necessary to adopt a policy that recognizes SSM as a distinct sector, notes its
different categories, and proposes objectives and strategies aimed at decreasing
poverty and improving livelihoods in SSM communities in a sustainable manner.
In this regard, the Tanzania Mining Policy represents a good example. Linking
small-scale development strategies to those of poverty alleviation calls for a
policy that does not embrace a mining only approach, but one, which tries to
incorporate mining in other rural development strategies. Development of alter-
native revenue-generating activities in parallel with SSM is imperative to ensuring
sustainable rural economic development. The documented practices from Mali
(the Sadiola Gold Mining Project) and those under development in Namaqua-
land and Kwa Zulu Natal (South Africa) are illustrative.
Mining policy design should be done in a participatory manner. Consultations
should involve different stakeholders including miners, relevant government
institutions, rural development experts, local communities, NGOs, the private
sector, international development agencies and other interested parties.
86
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
Develop a programme of action with procedures, institutions, targets and a
time frame for implementation.
It is common in most countries to have good policies that never get imple-
mented. Whilst implementation takes more than just an action programme (e.g.,
needs political will and fnancial and human resources), an action programme
helps to monitor progress, identify bottlenecks and change the course of action
where relevant and when needed. The procedure for developing an action pro-
gramme should involve stakeholders participation and consultation so as to
ensure that it is practical and serves the needs of the target groups. A plan of
action for the implementation of the identifed policy strategies should, among
other things, indicate how to legalize the illegal operators and how to lend them
the necessary support in terms of training and advisory and extensional serv-
ices on technical and socio-economic mining aspects. A programme for develop-
ment of alternative revenue-generating activities should form an integral part of
the implementation plan. Time frames for achieving the development strategies
should be clearly indicated.
As part of the implementation of the policy strategies, develop clear mining
legislation and associated regulations.
Like the procedure for drafting the mining policy, mining legislation should be
developed following participatory and consultative approaches. The legislation
should aim to provide speedy and streamlined processes for acquisition of mineral
rights, improve security of tenure, provide reasonable tenure periods and ensure
that mineral rights are transferable and renewable. Simple, stable, appropriate and
specifc regulations for implementation of the legislation should be developed and
aim to minimize restrictive tendencies on reporting and compliance procedures.
Legal requirements for environmental protection, minerals marketing, health and
safety standards, security in camps, gender balance and child labour should be
addressed with due regard to the specifc conditions of the sector. The legisla-
tion should be seen to be just, protect the right of the indigenous miners and
ensure that the discoverer has entitlement to mineral rights. Requirements and
procedures for demarcation of licensed areas, record keeping and reporting, and
the roles and powers of mine inspectors should be regulated transparently rather
than on an ad hoc basis.
In documenting best practices, it became apparent that categorization of SSM
mineral rights is an issue that needs to be covered by mining legislation. It is
therefore recommended that in developing a SSM regulatory framework, the fol-
lowing should be considered:
87
C
o
n
c
l
u
s
i
o
n
s

a
n
d

R
e
c
o
m
m
e
n
d
a
t
i
o
n
s
Categorization that differentiates artisanal or subsistence mining from
SSM properly, so as to allow transition from one level to another, limit
artisanal activities to nationals and allow limited participation of foreign-
ers in the SSM category to allow its growth and development.
Small-scale mineral rights should be issued with due consideration to
standard mining development stages, e.g., reconnaissance, prospecting
and mining.
A single authorization or permit for artisanal operations: The authoriza-
tion should include information on the type of minerals which will be
mined, concession size, tenure period, etc., as provided by the regula-
tions. This will ensure that the system is simple to administer and miners
fnd it easy to understand.
Decentralization of the administration system, especially for the arti-
sanal permits and authorizations, so as to encourage involvement of
local authorities, enable effective control and ensure benefts to local
economies.
In allocating concessions to small-scale miners, due consideration has to be given
to their size, based on the license type. On one hand, the concessions should not
be too small to stife project expansion and development, but on the other hand,
they should not be too large for the scale of operations. Where 1.2 hectares (3
acres) offered for an individual gold miner in Ghana is too small, 1000 hectares
(10km2) offered in Zambia (prospecting permit) is probably too large for small-
scale operations. The following approach is recommended in determining opti-
mal SSM concession sizes:
Defne concession sizes for artisanal mining activities depending on
whether permits are issued in designated areas by local councils or
through a centralized system. Where permits are issued through a central
system, e.g., as currently practiced in Tanzania and Zambia, 5 hectares
should be recommended;
SSM concession sizes should also be based on the stage of project devel-
opment, i.e., reconnaissance, prospecting and/or mining stages. Areas
should decrease as one moves from reconnaissance to prospecting and
eventually to mining development. Fees charged per unit of area occu-
pied should refect this need so as to avoid undue holding-up of areas.
As is common for large-scale operators, a substantial area (up to 50%)
should be relinquished on every renewal of the reconnaissance and pros-
pecting concessions.
Although actual sizes should be determined at the country level depend-
ing on various considerations, the following are given as guidelines:
400 hectares (4km2) for reconnaissance, 200 hectares (2km2) for
88
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
prospecting and 100 hectares (1km2) for mining activities for all miner-
als, other than gemstones and building materials. Fifty hectares (0.5km2)
should be the maximum concession size for mining of gemstones and
building materials.
As for the duration of the permit, the situation is variable. Most countries offer
short licenses to warrant adequate sector development; only Ethiopia, Ghana
and Zambia offer tenure periods of up to 10 years. For artisanal licenses issued
centrally, a renewable tenure period of 5 years would be adequate. For artisanal
permits/authorizations offered in designated areas and/or areas under the juris-
diction of local authorities, tenure periods should be linked to the license type
and hence the stage of project development.
In this regard, tenure during a reconnaissance period should be 2 years renew-
able; for prospecting stages, the period should be 3 years renewable; and for
mining, 10-15 years renewable. The tenure for reconnaissance has to be kept
short and possibly limited to only one renewal to avoid unnecessary retention of
areas. For the same reasons, tenure during the prospecting stage should be lim-
ited to 2 renewable periods. A useful consideration in deciding on tenure periods
for mining licenses would be to peg the initial period to the life of the mine as
identifed in a feasibility study. This is already practiced in Ethiopia.
Devise transparent mechanisms within the legislation and associated regu-
lations to encourage and promote designation of specifc areas for SSM
operations.
The designation of specifc SSM areas is an important undertaking for ensuring
easy access to mineral rights, especially access to reserves that are amenable to
small-scale techniques. A number of countries already provide such undertak-
ings in their mining legislation, e.g., Ghana and Tanzania, although the laws are
sometimes open to abuse by those in search of political gains. The decision to
declare an area designated for small-scale mining need to be backed by geological
information, which can be obtained through:
Specifc geological investigation programmes carried out by national
geological surveys to identify reserves that are suitable for SSM.
Information based on geological investigations carried out by large-scale
mining companies. This can be either an area relinquished during renew-
als and found to have reserves that are uneconomical for large-scale
mining or through special allocation by the company of areas that it
fnds to be only suitable for SSM. This can be linked to programmes
for promoting cooperation between small and large-scale miners. The
Sadiola Gold Mining Project in Mali is a good example to emulate.
89
C
o
n
c
l
u
s
i
o
n
s

a
n
d

R
e
c
o
m
m
e
n
d
a
t
i
o
n
s
Areas designated for rural development programmes and that are found
through geological investigations to contain suitable reserves for SSM.
The allocation and administration of designated areas should be done with the
involvement of local governments. The documented procedures from Ghana
and Tanzania provide practices worth considering.
Develop guidelines that aim to promote effciency, minimize negative environ-
mental impact, promote high health and safety standards and identify obliga-
tions for all stakeholders.
Simple guidelines should be developed in order to encourage miners to adopt
working methods that are appropriate to the local environment in terms of eff-
ciency, health and safety standards and minimization of negative environmental
impact. These guidelines should be developed by carrying out feld exercises and
bringing together mining and environmental experts, social scientists and miners,
to review existing techniques and identify constraints. In order to improve accept-
ability, the guidelines should be prepared in consultation with stakeholders.
Develop specifc regulations for small-scale mining in order to address envi-
ronmental protection, health and safety requirements that are practical, imple-
mentable and within the technical and fnancial capacities of the miners.
As in the rest of the sector, SSM needs to comply with the requirements for
minimizing negative environmental impact and upholding high health and safety
standards. However, methodologies for ensuring that the sector complies with
the set rules need to take into consideration the miners capacity, in terms
of both technical and fnancial requirements. Conducting EIAs, for example,
requires specialized knowledge and is not cheap. Unless specifc mechanisms
are put in place to enable miners to get both the technical and fnancial assist-
ance required for such an undertaking, it is almost impossible to expect small-
scale miners to conduct EIAs. A good example of such an approach includes
that adopted by the NSC in South Africa where they fund the EIA of all
projects under their jurisdiction. The problem with depending entirely on such
an approach is that only a few projects can comply with the regulations while the
rest go underground.
Similarly, the fnancial requirements for rehabilitation of mined-out areas are
usually out of the reach of most small-scale miners. The regulations should be
able to establish mechanisms where miners fnance the rehabilitation through
continuous, but small contributions that do not affect their earnings substan-
tially. The case in Ghana where the Government deducts 3% of the value of
90
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
sales made by small-scale miners to fund the rehabilitation fund is one of the
best practices encountered. Also, the approach adopted by the chrome-mining
company in Insiza Zimbabwe whereby miners are paid extra per ton sold to carry
out rehabilitation, is another good practical example.
Development of simple regulations for environmental protection, e.g., environmen-
tal regulations for SSM in Tanzania, or the Mercury Law in Ghana, are a prerequisite
to miners compliance. In countries where environmental and health and safety regu-
lations do not differentiate between small- and large-scale mining needs, problems
with compliance by small-scale miners are on the increase. Simple regulations that can
be easily understood by miners also make it easy for authorities to enforce them.
Educational programmes addressing environmental management and health and
safety requirements should form part of the extension services offered by the
SSM unit/department. Small-scale miners usually accept change reluctantly espe-
cially when the benefts of change are of a long-term nature. The resistance
to adopt mercury distillation retorts despite the health and economic benefts
associated with them refects this attitude. Compliance is enhanced if specially
tailored programmes take into consideration the cultural and educational back-
grounds of the miners. The use of visual aids and other modern demonstra-
tion techniques also facilitates acceptance. Monetary benefts associated with the
adoption of new working techniques need to be demonstrated.
Establish a specialized small-scale mining unit/department within the Minis-
try responsible for mining that will promote and provide support services to
the sector.
The unit must have a core of multi-disciplinary qualifed personnel and should
have regional offces strategically located close to SSM areas. Experts in mining
technology, environment, gender, and child labour, fnancing, minerals market-
ing, and others, should be provided.
Establish a network of regional and district offces located in all key
mining areas so that monitoring and assistance programmes can be executed
effectively.
In order to monitor, supervise and assist the SSM sector effectively, a network
of mining offces located in all major mining areas should be set up. Each offce
should have qualifed experts to assist the miners. The set-up will enable the dis-
trict or regional offce to deal with a relatively small group of miners and oper-
ate more effectively. By being located close to mining areas, the offces can easily
deal with emergencies, deliver assistance programmes quickly, and develop the
trust and good relations with the miners that are essential for development of the
91
C
o
n
c
l
u
s
i
o
n
s

a
n
d

R
e
c
o
m
m
e
n
d
a
t
i
o
n
s
Through the small-scale unit/department, develop extension services aimed
at assisting miners to adopt working techniques that are effcient and environ-
mentally acceptable.
These programmes should be developed in consultation with the miners, and to
maximize impact, they should be localized in the regional and district offces.
Identify and develop mechanisms that will allow small-scale miners to have
access to training, demonstration of effcient working techniques and acquisi-
tion of appropriate working equipment.
This has been successfully demonstrated in the Shamva Mining Centre in Zim-
babwe. Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali and Tanzania are following suit. These dem-
onstration centres must use technology locally produced, as it is easily available
and is more affordable.
Specialized training institutions can also play a role in promoting the use of
effcient and environmentally acceptable technology. One such example is the
Gemstone Cutting and Stone Carving Centre being built in Tanzania.
Access to appropriate equipment and technology can be facilitated if fscal and
other incentives are accorded to manufacturers or importers of SSM equipment.
Liberalize minerals marketing systems through simplifcation of licensing pro-
cedures for private mineral dealers
The marketing of minerals is, in most countries, still under the control of
monopoly government organizations that determine and set prices that are not
refective of the world mineral market prices. As a result, illegal traders seize
the opportunity to offer the miners prices that are more attractive, thus denying
the government foreign exchange earnings. Liberalization of mineral markets
through simplifcation of licensing procedures for private mineral dealers would
lead to most miners trading through legal channels. Processing of mineral mar-
keting licenses and monitoring of the trade should be carried out by the regional
and district centres. This will enable the authorities to know their clients well.
A localized system coordinated from the headquarters enables effective monitor-
ing and collection of revenue and data. This practice, which has been introduced
in Tanzania, should be replicated elsewhere.
sector. The DMCs in Ghana, which are strategically located in areas with active
SSM activities and are dealing only with monitoring and promotion of the sector,
are one of the documented best practices.
92
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
Where a government-based organization is used in minerals marketing, it should
be made to operate in an open market, i.e., it should be allowed to compete with
private dealers. The PMMC in Ghana is a good example of a government par-
astatal organization that has managed to operate effectively in an open market.
Producers of minerals should be allowed freedom to search for better export mar-
kets. The export procedures should also be simplifed through creation of a one-
stop-shop where miners and dealers can access information on markets and process
mineral exports. The procedures in most countries force an exporter to collect and
fll endless forms from several offces, a process that is impractical for a rural-based,
small-scale miner. The practice in Tanzania allows the Mining Offcer in charge of
the regional offce (not district) to process and seal mineral export packages.
Develop incentives to encourage value adding.
Most minerals produced by small-scale miners are traded in raw form or as min-
eral concentrates which do not usually command high prices. In order to encour-
age miners and mineral dealers to add value to their minerals, e.g., by cutting
gemstones, refning and recovering of minerals from concentrates, special incen-
tives should be devised. The practice in Tanzania whereby exporters of cut gem-
stones are exempted from paying royalties is worth noting.
Develop mechanisms to enable the department responsible for mining to
have access to adequate fnancing to execute its development programmes and
develop effcient human resources.
Most mining departments fail to carry out their planned functions due to meagre
budget allocations from the government. In order to promote and develop SSM
as a potential economic sector, there must be enough capacity within the agency
responsible for the sector to monitor, supervise and assist the miners. Given the
budgetary limitations of most governments, it is imperative that specifc mecha-
nisms for raising fnance and training of staff are devised without much depend-
ency on government budget allocations. Arrangements can be made with the
government to allow the department to retain part of the collected revenue to
fnance the day-to-day management of the sector activities.
In addition, training of staff through collaboration with large-scale mines should be
promoted. These arrangements, which have been documented as best practices, are
already being used in Tanzania. Furthermore, the government may create a semi-
autonomous agency responsible for the management of the sector and with special
authority to raise funds outside the governments budgetary allocations. The Minerals
Commission in Ghana is an example that has been documented as a best practice.
93
C
o
n
c
l
u
s
i
o
n
s

a
n
d

R
e
c
o
m
m
e
n
d
a
t
i
o
n
s
Identify and develop schemes that will enable miners to have access to
fnance.
Financial empowerment of small-scale miners is a prerequisite for the success of
the overall development strategy of the sector. This requires the establishment of
special fnancing schemes, such as government/donor-supported fnancing pro-
grammes, revolving loans, equity-based schemes, hire/lease/purchase schemes,
buyers credits, group schemes and others.
Fiscal incentives aimed at reducing the cost of acquiring SSM equipment and tech-
nology should be devised and accorded to miners and suppliers of such technology.
Reduction in import duties on capital equipment, which is commonly accorded to
large-scale miners in most countries, should also be provided to SSM and this could
go a long way in facilitating access to technology by small-scale miners. Incentives for
acquisition of raw materials required by manufacturers and fabricators of equipment
and tools are also necessary for building local capacity to produce the required technol-
ogy. As such, the fnancing schemes should be long term and broad based.
A mining legislation that allows miners to transfer and trade their mineral rights
is a prerequisite to facilitating miners access to fnance. Although most countries
limit small-scale mining to local people as a way of ensuring their full participation
in the control of natural resources, mechanisms for allowing foreign participation
need to be considered. Examples of joint ventures (Mwaca Gemstone project)
and equity sharing (The Zinc Tailings Recovery Project - Sable Zinc Kabwe Ltd.)
from Zambia illustrate this. The ability to mortgage mineral rights has also been
known to enable miners to raise fnancing through selling part of their mineral
rights and developing others. This is already being practiced in Tanzania.
Encourage formation of small-scale miners organizations and develop pro-
grammes for their support.
Miners organizations or associations provide a single voice that can help miners
in conducting negotiations, mobilizing assistance programmes (e.g., training,
fnance, etc.), conducting awareness campaigns amongst its members and organ-
izing security and other mining camp- related activities. For it to be trusted and
representative, the process of formation of such associations should be led and
owned by miners with little or no intervention from governments. Associations
that have been formed through direct Government intervention, i.e., through
top-down approaches, have in most cases failed due to members mistrust of the
leaders, accusing them of representing government interests.
94
Bibliography
Appleton, J.D. and Williams, T.M. (1998). Mitigation of Mining-related Mercury
Pollution Hazards: Project Summary report. British Geological Survey, Techni-
cal Report WC/98/34.
Barnea, J. (Ed.) (1978), Important for the Future: Comments and Opinion,
Special Issue on the Conference on the Future of Small-scale Mining, UNITAR,
NY.
Campbell, S.D.G. and Pitfeld, P.E.J. (1991). Training Small-scale Gold Miners
in Zimbabwe. AGID News, No. 66, May 1991.
Davidson, J. (1993). The Successful Development of Small-scale Mining
Enterprises in Developing Countries: An Overview. Interregional Seminar on
Guidelines for Development of Small- and Medium-scale Mining, Harare,
Zimbabwe, 15-19 February 1993.
DHV (1998). Small-scale Mining in the Shinyanga, Kahama and Bukombe Dis-
tricts. Study carried out by DHV Consultants on behalf of the Netherlands
Embassy in Tanzania, Netherlands Embassy, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
Drechsler, B. (2001). Small-scale Mining & Sustainable Development within the
SADC Region: MMSD Research Topic 1. Research report compiled for the
Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development (MMSD), MMSD-SA.
Guest, R. (2002) . Personal E-mail Communications.
Hollaway, J. (1993). A Review of Technology for the Successful Development of
Small-scale Mining. United Nations Seminar on Guidelines for the Development
of Small- and Medium-scale Mining, 11-19 February 1993, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Hosford, P.A.J. (1993). Innovations in Mineral Processing Technology for Small-
and Medium-scale Mining Operations. United Nations Seminar on Guidelines
for the Development of Small- and Medium-scale Mining, 11-19 February 1993,
Harare, Zimbabwe.
95
B
i
b
l
i
o
g
r
a
p
h
y
ILO, (1999), Social and Labour Issues in Small-scale Mines, Report for discus-
sion at the Tripartite Meeting on Social and Labour Issues in Small-scale mines,
Geneva, 17-21 May 1999.
Keita, S (2002), Artisanat Minier au Mali et experience de bonnes pratiques
pour la lutte contre la pauvrete et le dveloppement des communauts minres
locales, (Paper presented during the joint ECA/UNDCSA seminar on Artisanal
and Small-scale Mining in Africa: Identifying best practices and building the sus-
tainable livelihoods of communities -18-22, November 2002, Yaounde, Cam-
eroon)
Magalela, W. (1999). Towards Development of Sustainable Mining and Process-
ing Technologies for the Small and Artisanal Gold Miners in Zimbabwe.
Unpublished Research Report for UNIDO.
MEM, (2002). Arusha Gemstone Carving Centre: Mode of Operation of the
Arusha Gemstone Carving Centre. Information Leafet, Ministry of Energy
and Minerals, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
MMSD, (2001). Workshop Report: Artisanal and Small-scale Mining. Report
from the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development (MMSD) Workshop
held in London, 19-20 November, 2001 and organized by the International Insti-
tute for Environment and Development (IIED).
Mutagwaba, W.K., Mwaipopo-Ako, R. and Mlaki, A.L. (1997). The Impact of
Technology on Poverty Alleviation: A Study of Artisanal Mining in Tanzania.
Research conducted for Research on Poverty Alleviation (REPOA). REPOA
Report No 98/2, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
Mutagwaba, W.K. (2000). Removal of Barriers to the Introduction of Cleaner
Artisanal Gold Mining and Extraction Technologies: A Case for Tanzania, Sudan
and Zimbabwe. Unpublished Research Report, UNIDO.
Pedro, A.M.A, (2001). The Extent and Impact of SEAMICs Training Pro-
gramme. SEAMIC Newsletter, Vol. 4, No.2 (April), pp. 2-7.
Phillips, L.C., Semboja, H., Sezinga, R., Mutagwaba, W., Mchwampaka, B.,
Wanga, G., Kahyarara, G., and Keller, P.C. (2001). Tanzanias Precious Miner-
als Boom: Issues in Mining and Marketing. Research Report funded by United
States Agency for International Development, Washington, DC.
Phimister, G., Boateng, J.K., Chipato, C., Svotwa R.S., and Nkhoma, J. Small
Miners cooperatives in Zimbabwe, with particular reference to the Ngezi Area.
Publication source unknown.
Pratt, J., (2002). Memo to UNECA forwarded in response to e-mail request of
10/1/2002 from Peter Smith of the UKs DfID on Mercury-free Gold Process-
ing for Small-scale Miners.
96
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
Priester, M., T. Hentschel and B. Benthin, (1993). Tools for Mining: Techniques
and Processes for Small-Scale Mining, Friedr. Vieweg & Sohn Verlagsgesells-
chaft GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany.
SADC (1994). Small-scale Mining Technology for SADC Member States: Hand-
book on the Gemstone/Gold Mining, Lapidary and Jewellery Industry. SADC
Mining Sector Co-ordinating Unit, Lusaka, Zambia.
SADC (1999). Towards the Creation of an Interactive Strategy for the Develop-
ment of Small-scale Mining in the SADC Region. SADC Mining Sector Co-
ordinating Unit, Lusaka, Zambia.
Styles, M.T. (2002). Project R7120 Discovering the Lost Gold of the Develop-
ing World. (Project Summary), British Geological Survey, UK.
Sackey, C. A., (2002). Small-scale Mining Department, Minerals Commission,
Ghana (Personal E-mail Communications).
Svotwa, R.S. and Bugnosen, E. M., (1993). Shamva Mining Centre Demon-
stration project - An Example of International and Local NGO Collaboration
Progress and Problems to Date, (United Nations Seminar on Guidelines for
the Development of Small- and Medium-scale Mining), 11-19 February 1993,
Harare, Zimbabwe.
Svotwa, R.S., (2000). Situational Analysis in Strengthening Small-scale and Arti-
sanal Mining Sector in Zimbabwe. Study done for UNIDO.
Taupitz, K.C. and V. Malango (1993): Making the Transition from Unmecha-
nized Manual Mining to Industrial Small-scale Mining, Paper presented at the
United Nations Interregional Seminar on Guidelines for the Development of
Small/Medium Scale Mining, Harare, Zimbabwe, 15-19th February, 1993.
Twigg, J. (1996). The Promotion of Mercury-saving Retorts in Small-scale
Mining: A Case Study. Intermediate Technology Development Group, Rugby,
UK.
UDSM (2002). Progress Report for Project on Mercury-free Recovery of Gold
(Coal Agglomeration Process - CGA). Chemical Engineering Department, Uni-
versity of Dar-es-Salaam.
Walle, M. and Jennings, N. (2001). Safety and Health in Small-scale Surface
Mines: A Handbook. Sectoral Activities Programme, ILO Offce.
World Bank (1995). Proceedings of the International Roundtable on Artisanal
Mining. The World Bank, Washington DC.
97
A
n
n
e
x
Seminar on Artisanal & Small-scale Mining in Africa:
Identifying Best Practices & Building the Sustainable
Livelihoods of Communities
Recommendations
Yaound, Cameroon, 19-22 November 2002
YAOUNDE VISION STATEMENT
Contribute to sustainably reduce poverty and improve livelihood in African Arti-
sanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) communities by the year 2015 in line with
the Millennium Development Goals.
GOALS:
Acknowledge and refect the ASM sectorial issues in national legislation,
and codes;
Mainstream poverty reduction strategies into mining policy inclusive of
ASM policies.
Integrate ASM policy into the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper process
with linkages to other rural sectors, and develop a strategic framework
for PRSPs
Revisit existing thinking on ASM legislation (traditional land rights, and
modern land use legislation nexus) and role of central government;
Strengthen Institutions:
- Improve the availability of appropriate technologies
Annex 1
98
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
- Develop analytical & business skills
Undertake necessary reforms of the ASM sector: Improve policies, insti-
tutions, processes and the ASM stakeholders livelihood, develop part-
nerships, promote sustainable use of natural resources, infrastructure
development and land use management.
THE CHALLENGES facing the ASM sector
Dwindling rural livelihood choices in marginal and remote regions.
Increasing number of people seeking a livelihood in ASM.
Limited public budgets & competing needs.
Increasing poverty exacerbated by HIV/AIDS/STDs, natural disasters,
etc.
Increasing pressure on available resources (institutions, land, mineral
resources, etc.)
What to do:
For Governments and Development Partners
1

Formalize government commitment to ASM issues.
Revisit mining policies in order to assess their capacity as an engine for
poverty alleviation (link to the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper proc-
ess).
Increase the profle of ASM in International Financial Organizations
(IFIs) and donor agencies
Undertake necessary reform of the ASM sector:
- Ensure appropriate legislation for ASM: Acknowledge and refect
ASM sector in national legislation, and codes;
- Revisit existing ASM policies and legislations on the implication of
traditional land rights on modern land use legislation and role of
central government; Update rules, regulations, and legislations.
1
Governments (national, local)
ASM communities and CBOs
Opinion leaders
IFIs and donor agencies
NGOs, private sector
Academia, public institutions
Banks
99
A
n
n
e
x
- Adopt appropriate and enforceable Health & Safety guidelines
- Adopt appropriate and enforceable Environmental guidelines
- Establish partnerships with NGOs (i.e., BPD - Care International,
etc.)
- Ensure gender equality
- Launch child labour reduction programmes
- Provide credit facilities, and co-operative saving schemes. Make
available credit and loans schemes, micro credit, and credit co-
operatives
- Ensure free and equitable markets
Improve the availability of appropriate technologies
Facilitate Institutional Strengthening and Community Training:
- Ascertain areas suitable for ASM activities (better knowledge
of mineral resources) and improve the methods of exploration,
extraction processing and marketing so as to maximize effciency
and effectiveness of ASM as a business venture
- Community health issues: establish HIV/AIDS and STDs general
community health awareness programmes
- The Essence of sustainable livelihoods
Stimulate stakeholders partnership (government as all levels, NGOs,
banking organizations, professional organizations, mining companies,
etc)
Identify alternative livelihoods strategies realizing that ASM is a fnite
venture
- Integrate ASM sector into rural community development pro-
grammes
- Stimulate capacity-building, and technical and organizational devel-
opment
- Facilitate access to basic social services and transport infrastruc-
ture development
- Streamline marketing channels
Facilitate community-led activities:
- Sensitisation and empowerment campaign to promote community
organisation and micro-business development:
- Develop analytical & business skills.
- Establish ASM co-operatives and associations
- Community-based saving plans for productive investment
100
S
m
a
l
l
-
S
c
a
l
e

M
i
n
i
n
g

i
n

A
f
r
i
c
a
- Identifcation of women leaders to stimulate alternative income
generating activities
- Health cooperative for prevention and care of sick people, particu-
larly those living with HIV/AIDS
- Child education to reduce child labour on ASM sites
- Build community based partnerships with local authorities, and
opinion leaders.
Tasks for International Stake Holders
(Private sector, IFI, donors, NGOs)
Identify and disseminate best/good practices regulations (Pan-
African)(CASM)
Present the recommendations/vision statement of the Yaound Semi-
nar to the WB/EIR Regional consultative workshop in Maputo, Mozam-
bique, 13 January 2003 (UNECA - UNDESA)
Establish a Yaound communication network through CASM and
encourage other countries to join (March 2003)
Identify available resources for ASM support (CASM)
Review existing baseline surveys to assess relevance to Yaound vision
statement in selected countries (CASM and UNDESA, September
2003)
CASM AGM and learning event in Africa, September 2003
Identify key stakeholders (affected, interested, benefciaries, providers,
developers, donors) to build the Yaound Network by August 2003
Establish an inter-agency (UNAIDS, UNDESA, ECA, etc.) working
group on HIV/AIDS in mining by August 2003
National Level Tasks Forstakeholders, Governements, Private
Sector, NGOS/cbos
Lobby and increase the profle of ASM issues within governments and
country (ASM organizations)
Convene national workshops:
- Build partnerships with government
- Baseline survey - identify key issues, both positive and negative and
establish common benchmarks
Collate, consolidate existing information (Government)
- Liase with global ASM networks (e.g. CASM)
Deadline: September 2003
101
A
n
n
e
x
How
Inputs:
People (human resources)
Finance
Equipment
Knowledge
Political will