Artisanal mining

Artisanal mining is mineral extraction carried out by individuals, families, or small groups using labor-intensive methods and limited mechanization. It ranges from informal subsistence work to legally organized small enterprises.

Alluvial mining: Mining that extracts minerals from river sediments, floodplains, or other unconsolidated deposits. Many small miners recover gold by washing river gravels rather than excavating hard rock.
Silicosis: An incurable lung disease caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica dust. Drilling and crushing rock without dust controls can expose miners to silica.
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining: Gold extraction by individuals or small enterprises using limited capital and mechanization. Gold is a major focus of small-scale mining policy because mercury use and informal trade are widespread.
Large-scale mining: Mineral extraction conducted by large enterprises with substantial capital, infrastructure, and mechanized equipment. Its scale, technology, and formal organization differ from artisanal operations.
OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas: OECD recommendations for identifying and addressing risks in mineral supply chains from conflict-affected and high-risk areas. Its framework shapes how companies assess sourcing risks involving artisanal minerals.
Gold panning: A method of separating dense gold particles from sediment by washing material in a shallow pan. It is one of the simplest low-cost techniques used in artisanal gold recovery.
Mercury poisoning: Illness caused by exposure to mercury, which can damage the nervous system and other organs. Mercury used in gold recovery can harm miners and communities through vapor and contaminated food.
Artisanal diamond mining: Small-scale extraction of diamonds, often from river gravels or shallow deposits. Its links to conflict financing and traceability have drawn international attention.
Small-scale mining: Mineral extraction conducted at limited production scale, typically with less capital and mechanization than industrial mines. Artisanal mining is commonly treated as a labor-intensive part of this broader category.
Conflict minerals: Minerals whose extraction or trade may finance armed groups or contribute to serious abuses. Risk controls designed for conflict minerals can affect legitimate artisanal producers as well as abusive actors.

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