Monitoring Coexisting Rapid Small-Scale and Large-Scale Gold Mining Developments Using Planet Smallsats Constellations

Abstract

Gold mining is a significant strategic sector for local, regional, and national economies. The rapid development of coexisting camp-type artisanal and small-scale gold mining (C-ASGM) and large-scale mining (LSM) accelerates the environmental and health risks associated with mercury pollution; however, transformations of coexisting sites have not been well quantified. This study used remote sensing (the PlanetScope smallsat constellations systems) to investigate the development of coexisting C-ASGM and LSM sites in Gorontalo, Indonesia, from 2019 to 2022. The results show a positive increase in the extent of barren land across all study zones, resulting from a road network construction connecting the southern port to major mining sites. Notably, greater landcover transformations in the C-ASGM sites after 2020 were attributed to the dumping of underground soils excavated using a shaft-mining method. The findings of this study expand our understanding of the rapid development of coexisting mining operations and quantify significant mining-induced environmental changes. These findings are anticipated to assist in timely monitoring and identification of development areas, rates, and volumes, together with the existing C-AGSM’s reactions associated with LSM’s massive developments. This also helps to detect possible local-level socioenvironmental impacts from massive land shape changes, leading to human disasters, including landslides and floods.