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Life Cycle Environmental Impact Assessment of Gold Production in an Artisanal Small-Scale Mine in Colombia

Author

Listed:
  • Vanessa Ruffini

    (Department of Sciences and Methods for Engineering, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy)

  • Paolo Neri

    (Department of Sciences and Methods for Engineering, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy)

  • Franco Hernan Gomez

    (Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Via Branze 43, 25123 Brescia, Italy
    Group on Governance of Climate Change, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, Av. Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Roberto Rosa

    (Department of Sciences and Methods for Engineering, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
    InterMech—MO.RE.—Interdepartmental Center for Applied Research and Services in the Advanced Mechanics and Motor Engineering Sector, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy)

  • Cecilia Mortalò

    (National Research Council-Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy (CNR-ICMATE), Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy)

  • Mentore Vaccari

    (Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Via Branze 43, 25123 Brescia, Italy)

  • Anna Maria Ferrari

    (Department of Sciences and Methods for Engineering, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
    InterMech—MO.RE.—Interdepartmental Center for Applied Research and Services in the Advanced Mechanics and Motor Engineering Sector, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy)

Abstract

Small-scale artisanal mine production processes are characterized by significant environmental and human health impacts, especially in countries with ineffective economic resources and policies. This study accurately quantifies the impacts of artisanal gold production processes, identifying the dominating hotspots in a holistic perspective. The life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was applied to perform an environmental sustainability appraisal for Doré and Cyanidation Gold (CyG) extraction from Mina Nueva, a small-scale artisanal mine managed by the local population, located in Asociación Campesina del Valle del río Cimitarra, near the city of Segovia in the department of Antioquia in Colombia. The obtained single-score LCA results showed a total damage of 4.99 × 10 02 Pt, of which 55.2% was associated with the cyanidation process, 34.4% with the whole-ore amalgamation phase, and 10.4% with mine construction. A sensitivity analysis was also performed to study the potential effects of particulate emissions generated by the mine construction phase.

Suggested Citation

  • Vanessa Ruffini & Paolo Neri & Franco Hernan Gomez & Roberto Rosa & Cecilia Mortalò & Mentore Vaccari & Anna Maria Ferrari, 2026. "Life Cycle Environmental Impact Assessment of Gold Production in an Artisanal Small-Scale Mine in Colombia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:18:y:2026:i:2:p:770-:d:1838679
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