Modeling Assessment on Technological Challenges Facing Small-Scale Gold Miners in Tanzania and How Engineering Could Solve Them

Abstract

This paper aims on assessing the effects associated to the challenges facing small-scale miners in Tanzania. Small scale mining in Tanzania is characterized by low productivity which is mainly a result of application of rudimentary and inappropriate technology which in turn impact on capacities to generate income. The choice of technology among small scale miners is largely influenced by the lack of capital. In order to get gold, small scale miners typically have to excavate the earth and extract gold rich ores, pull the ores from the pits, carry them to the crushing machine, crush them, sieve the sand and lastly extract gold from the sand by using mercury. Each of the stages mentioned above involve a ton of technological challenges which, if solved could improve productivity and subsequently the lives of small scale miners in the country. However, this study focuses on the costs of that economic growth in gold production over small-scale miners. It is estimated that in the early 1990s, Small-Scale Mining in gold accommodated around 400,000 people in Tanzania. Due to a lack of hard data, this study was based on mostly qualitative fieldwork in Chunya district, Mbeya region, Tanzania. The research investigates how technological challenges can affect small-scale gold miner’s livelihood, focusing on those who depend, or have depended only on small-scale mining activities.