41. Artisanal Mining - Building Geoscience Capacity with Collaboration

Artisanal mining is full of both opportunities and challenges. How can we collaborate to build capacity for artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), particularly in Africa? We talk about the many aspects of ASM and the importance of geology in creating longer term, sustainable mining operations. Each of our guests has personal experience and knowledge to bring to the conversations.

We talked first to Nicole Smith, assistant Professor at the Colorado School of Mines and an expert on artisanal and small-scale mining. She provides an excellent overview of the sector and its many facets and addresses the fundamental question of why we should be working towards formalization of artisanal mining globally.

In our second story, Manuel Nopeia, a post-doctoral fellow at Akita University in Japan addresses the need for use of geological models in establishing formalization of artisanal mining in Mozambique. We connected just a few days ago to find out more about his story and the importance of ASM in his home country, where exploration and discovery of gold deposits is dominated by artisanal miners. Manuel published a thought provoking paper in Science Direct that addresses the need for geological models in the formalization of artisanal mining in Mozambique.

Nopeia et. al, 2022

Having heard what the challenges are and how important building capacity is – we turned to John Tychsen, CEO at ASSM Consult, to learn what the PanAfGeo program is doing to help. PanAfGeo is a European Union funded effort that brings 12 European geological surveys together with all the surveys and ministries of mines in Africa to support advancing geoscience. John has delivered workshops to representatives from all 54 African countries as part of the ASM work package.

PanAfGeo - ASM

Our music is Confluence, by Eastwinds.

Eastwinds

Come join us in Salt Lake City, Utah for SEG 2026, September 30th to October 3rd.

You can expect world-class technical content, including iconic ore deposits and the geological processes of North American Cordillera. The program balances applied case studies, framework geology, and technological innovation. The conference offers a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and help shape the future of economic geology. See you there.