The main work of CDOs concentrates on ASM’s organizational development, including bench marking, short and long term planning, record keeping system, self monitoring methods, committee-sub committees formation and mobilization plan, cooperative formation, project-partners sharing and planning method development and preparation of immediately needed organizational policies for ASM NGOs. Bottom-up participatory planning, implementation, facilitation, documentation is introduced and applied all the time. Please download: brief introduction.

Part 1: Environmental Effects of Mercury

How mercury contaminates the environment

Picture: Manual for Training Artisanal and Small Scale Miners: GMP, 2006

Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is present in low concentrations in all living things. Elemental mercury is a heavy, silvery liquid that has had many industrial purposes, and is used in thermometers, switches, fluorescent lights, and to manufacture caustic soda. Humans have also known how to use mercury to amalgamate gold for at least 2,000 years. Mercury is the only metal that is present as a liquid at room temperature. It also has the lowest boiling point of all metals, which is why it evaporates or “burns” easily. Mercury vapor is colorless and has no odor and is extremely toxic. Mercury is also very “sticky”. When evaporated, particles of mercury easily stick to surrounding furniture, walls, skin and clothing. Clothing worn during burning can continue to emit high concentrations of mercury for many hours and can contaminate other areas; including the air other people may breathe.

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Report prepared by: Patience Singo, Technical Advisor

This report gives an analysis of the experimental work carried out in the Bornuur Pilot Plant in the period May-June 2009. The experiments were to determine the best flow sheet for the gravity concentration of ores in the Bornuur Plant. The local modified roller mill was used for grinding and gold concentration was done by either the sluice or the iCon. These two gravity equipment were used both as primary concentrators and scavengers. The gold concentrate from the different gravity concentration flow sheets was processed on the Holman Shaking table for final gold recovery.

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In order to achieve the project objective of community development and streghtening of institutional strucrure, the SAM project invited an international expert in community development, Mr. Birkha Chhetry, Community Development Consultant, MinErgy Pvt. Ltd, Nepal. Main objective of his mission was to further develop and strengthen the capacities of SAM and its staffs including the mandated NGOs, and to develop elements for a comprehensive foundation for SAM’s community development activities and their integration into the overall project activities. The major tasks of the mission were to support on coaching, planning, implementation, monitoring and documentation of the ASM NGOs and Component activities relating it to the capacity building of CD Team. From these tasks, it was expected the finalization of draft YOP 2009, Action Plan of all project sites, a clear direction for the future CD activities. The duration of this mission was six months, starting from 1st December 2008 to 31st May 2009. Please find detailed mission report.

How to effectively manage artisanal miners' NGO meetings: please find A Guideline for managing Miners' NGO Meeting.

SOME USEFUL PLANNING AND MONITORING FORMATS for ARTISANAL SMALL-SCALE MINERS' ASSOCIATION/NGOs and SAM PROJECT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS (CDOs): These formats are developed for establishing systematic planning in ASM NGO as well as to develop the capacity of Project Community Development Officers’ (CDO) on facilitating systematic planning. These formats are mainly designed for self planning and monitoring purpose for the organizations and staff who are newly established and mobilized. Formats are developed based on the experience of field needs and existing capacity level.

Capacity Development, Technology and Best Practices for Extraction and Processing in ASM Activities, July-Dec, 2008. Please download: Report