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Global Trends in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM): A review of key numbers and issues

Author

Listed:
  • Morgane M.C. Fritz

    (CERIIM-Excelia Group LRBS, CEREGE [Poitiers] - Centre de recherche en gestion [EA 1722] - IAE Poitiers - Institut d'Administration des Entreprises (IAE) - Poitiers - UP - Université de Poitiers = University of Poitiers - UP - Université de Poitiers = University of Poitiers - ULR - La Rochelle Université)

  • James Mcquilken
  • Nina Collins
  • Fitsum Weldegiorgis

Abstract

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) has experienced explosive growth in recent years due to the rising value of mineral prices and the increasing difficulty of earning a living from agriculture and other rural activities. An estimated 40.5 million people were directly engaged in ASM in 2017, up from 30 million in 2014, 13 million in 1999 and 6 million in 1993. That compares with only 7 million people working in industrial mining in 2013.ASM is generally pursued as a route out of poverty or as an activity to complement insufficient income, especially in communities where alternative employment is hard to come by. ASM is also a very diverse sector. Its main challenges vary from region to region—and often from site to site. There is a perception that ASM is a "get-rich-quick" activity. This has misinformed legislation and extension programs and led to the application of one-size-fits-all policies. However, people working in ASM are far from the same. They range from those whose livelihoods rely on subsistence farming to skilled workers who migrated from urban areas in search of work.Despite its low productivity, ASM is an important source of minerals and metals. It accounts for about 20 per cent of the global gold supply, 80 per cent of the global sapphire supply and 20 per cent of the global diamond supply. ASM is also a major producer of minerals indispensable for manufacturing popular electronic products, such as laptops and phones. For example, 26 per cent of global tantalum production and 25 per cent of tin comes from ASM.

Suggested Citation

  • Morgane M.C. Fritz & James Mcquilken & Nina Collins & Fitsum Weldegiorgis, 2018. "Global Trends in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM): A review of key numbers and issues," Working Papers hal-02547257, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-02547257
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Cheng, Yingchao & Watari, Takuma & Seccatore, Jacopo & Nakajima, Kenichi & Nansai, Keisuke & Takaoka, Masaki, 2023. "A review of gold production, mercury consumption, and emission in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM)," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    2. Hilson, Gavin & Sauerwein, Titus & Owen, John, 2020. "Large and artisanal scale mine development: The case for autonomous co-existence," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    3. Poignant, Adrian, 2023. "Small-scale mining and agriculture: Evidence from northwestern Tanzania," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    4. Hermínio Cossa & Rahel Scheidegger & Andrea Leuenberger & Priska Ammann & Khátia Munguambe & Jürg Utzinger & Eusébio Macete & Mirko S. Winkler, 2021. "Health Studies in the Context of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-24, February.
    5. Camba, Alvin, 2021. "The unintended consequences of national regulations: Large-scale-small-scale relations in Philippine and Indonesian nickel mining," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    6. Massaro, L. & Calvimontes, J. & Ferreira, L.C. & de Theije, M., 2022. "Balancing economic development and environmental responsibility: Perceptions from communities of garimpeiros in the Brazilian Amazon," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).

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