US/GHA/02/006- Assistance in Assessing and Reducing Mercury Pollution Emanating from Alluvial Gold Mining in Ghana - Phase II
Final report. In the year 2000, a study of the human and environmental impacts of artisanal gold mining at a pilot site was carried out at Dumasi (Ghana, Western Region) (Rambaud et al., Babut et al., 2001). This pilot site is among others characterised by a typical process, based on solid rocks brought back to the village, then crushed, and afterwards treated by gravity concentration and amalgamation. Therefore, it appeared difficult to extrapolate the conclusions to regions where the typical process is different, in particular when based on alluvium digging. Following the presentation of the findings and conclusions in April 2001, it was thus decided to carry out a second phase study focusing on an alluvial area.