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PHOTOS: KYLIE WILLIAMS
around the world, with artisanal and
small-scale mining (ASM) as a key focus.
"The work that we do starts with a
request from a national government
who have identified an area where they
need help to support the sustainable
development of their natural resources,"
says Stevens, explaining that governments
need to understand the problem before
they can develop useful policies to protect
the environment and the people involved.
"Mining engineers in Canada learn
a lot of high-end technical information
about how to build and operate a major
modern mine, and that's important,
but due to the type of mining, the ASM
world requires a di¤erent technical skill
set and an awareness of the complex
social environment," says Stevens.
Canadian geoscientists, engineers and
other professionals are playing a key role in
solving the global artisanal mining problem.
Exploration companies – which have not
traditionally invested in early-stage social
programs and environmental monitoring
– are realizing that solid community
relationships and a wealth of baseline
environmental data adds real value to an
exploration project. A good first impression
is invaluable, reduces the risk for potential
investors down the line, and ensures new
mines can be developed in socially and
environmentally responsible ways that
achieve prosperity for everyone.
(far left) Local workers
Anderson and Carlos Mejía
carry drill rods past El Alacran
to Cordoba Minerals drill sites;
(left) Rudimentary mining
and processing equipment
at El Alacran artisanal gold
mining operations in northern
Colombia; (below left)
Traditional miner José Diaz
continues to operate aging
processing equipment at
El Alacran mine.
