Mercury in Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM)

Mercury is the chemical agent most frequently used in the process of gold recovery by ASM miners. If used incorrectly and irresponsibly, it is also a powerful and dangerous contaminant, threatening the health of miners and their communities.

ARM actively promotes mercury-free artisanal mining as the best available technology. At the same time we acknowledge that mercury plays an important role in the current ASM processing methods and the reduction and elimination of its use must be accompanied by capacity building and technical support for the miners.    

Please refer to ARM´s Position on Mercury paper to find out more about our institutional view on this issue.

 

Global Mercury Instrument Negotiations - Making the miners´ voice heard!

Many thanks to all who supported the “Mercury Reduction Declaration” - a manifesto signed by miners representatives at the Global Forum on Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) in Manila, Philippines on December 7-9, 2010

Its aim was to bring the voice of the miners more clearly to the negotiations on the legally binding instrument on mercury, which is being discussed by governments on the UN forum.

Read more about ARM´s involvement in this important process

 

ARM´s involvement in global mercury forums

ARM regularly participates in global initiatives and discussions on the ways of reducing the use of Mercury in ASM mining, principally in the ASGM area of the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership. Please visit the ARM in global mercury forums section to view the presentations made by our members and allies in international meetings.