13-8-2021
Mercury Free Mining (MFM) and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) receives a US$50,000 grant from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) to reduce mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Ananea, Peru.
The grant offers funding to support the export and testing of gold ore samples for the gold ore concentration methods, which have the potential to significantly reduce or eliminate the inadvertent release of 5,440 kg of toxic mercury every day by more than 15 million artisanal and small-scale gold miners (ASGM) around the world.
As customers are more aware of the social or environmental impact of products, Susan Jacques, GIA president and CEO said: “the vital work supported by this grant is an important part of GIA’s consumer protection mission and our continuing effort to advance sustainability and responsible sourcing by bringing the benefits of the global trade closer to artisanal mining communities.”