Artisanal Gold Mining Research Articles

Change in Values of Illegal Miners and Inhabitants and Reduction in Environmental Pollution after the Cessation of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining: A Case of Bunikasih, Indonesia.

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) harms the environment and human health, because it requires mercury (Hg). Therefore, this study uses a questionnaire survey to identify the effects of the medical checkup findings, group discussion, and educational seminar on the values of illegal miners and residents in Bunikasih, Indonesia, regarding the environmental and health effects of Hg. Transdisciplinary communities of practice (TDCoP) were formed to pursue alternative livelihoods than illegal ASGM. Environmental pollution after ASGM closure was assessed. The questionnaire showed that respondents changed their views on Hg's effects and were willing to stop ASGM practices. In an environmental impact assessment study, tea leaf samples were obtained between the ASGM activity location and village housing in two periods during ASGM closure to identify the concentrations of Hg, lead, and arsenic. Their mean concentration values in Period 1 (2) were 0.54 ± 0.14, 0.66 ± 0.09, and 0.34 ± 0.12 mg kg-1 (0.08 ± 0.04, 0.34 ± 0.14, and 0.07 ± 0.06 mg kg-1), respectively, indicating a decrease in environmental pollution. In conclusion, the government-driven cessation of ASGM in the study area shows a reduction in environmental pollution, and the change in the perception of the participants regarding the ASGM and TDCoP approaches help to make these changes permanent.

Contrasting mercury contamination scenarios and site susceptibilities confound fish mercury burdens in Suriname, South America

In Suriname, mercury (Hg) use has recently increased because of gold mining, which has put fish-reliant communities (e.g., Indigenous and Tribal) at risk of enhanced Hg exposure through the riverine fish these communities consume. To quantify how the magnitude of these risks change according to location and time, we measured total mercury (HgT) in fish at sites downstream and upstream of an artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) operation in 2004–2005 and in 2017–2018. We tested whether fish HgT burdens over dynamic ranges were increased. Surprisingly, our findings did not support broadly increased fish Hg burden over time or that proximity to ASGM was diagnostic to fish HgT-burden. Subsequently, we elected to test the HgT stable isotope ratios on a set of freshly collected 2020 fish to determine whether differences in Hg source and delivery pathways might cofound results. We found that remote unmined sites were more susceptible to gaseous elemental Hg deposition pathways, leading to enhanced risk of contamination, whereas ASGM proximate sites were not. These results highlight that elemental mercury releases from ASGM practices may have significant impact on fish-reliant communities that are far removed from ASGM point source contamination.

Rural Knowledge Transformation in Terms of Mercury Used in Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM)-A Case Study in Gorontalo, Indonesia.

Gorontalo is reputed to be one of the best-quality gold producers in the Indonesian archipelago. Gold production has been largely achieved through the activities of artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM), which as part of its extraction process, primarily uses mercury-a substance known to cause negative impacts on health and the environment, leading also to numerous socio-economic issues. This research aims (1) to investigate the extent of rural knowledge regarding mercury and to determine whether a video that explains mercury and the problems that occur as a result of ASGM can significantly transform rural populations' knowledge; (2) to inspect different factors separating the SR group (those who live in the same regency as the ASGM area) from the NR group (those who live in the neighboring regency/city of the ASGM area) and to find out whether said factors are statistically significant. The results show that the test subjects' knowledge of mercury had increased after watching the video, and that their willingness to oppose ASGM activities is one of the significant factors within the two groups. Moreover, this paper briefly describes the follow-up activities of the SRIREP project (Co-creation of Sustainable Regional Innovation for Reducing Risk of High-impact Environmental Pollution) in encouraging rural communities to explore sustainable livelihoods as an alternative to ASGM.

Investigation of techniques to replace amalgamation in artisanal gold mining operations

Artisanal gold mining is the leading source of anthropogenic mercury emissions worldwide. This article explores cost-effective gold leaching methods for skilled miners to address mercury's environmental and health impacts in this sector. A sample from Colombia's La Maria deposit, containing 48.87 ppm gold, ground to 80% below 0.13 mm, served as the basis for comparison. The standard whole ore amalgamation approach, commonly used by miners, resulted in less than 19% gold extraction. However, employing cyanidation with 1g/L of free cyanide extracted 84% of the gold within 24 hours. Among the unconventional processes investigated, using effluent from a local cassava processing plant as a lixiviant demonstrated promise. Two cassava varieties produced liquids with 267 and 600 mg/L of free cyanide, leading to 50.9% and 82.4% gold extraction from the ore in 24 hours, respectively. Another alternative method involved employing Dimethyl sulfoxide, a water-free reagent, as a gold-leaching lixiviant, resulting in a remarkable 96.5% gold extraction in just 2 hours. The researchers also modified the Merrill-Crowe cyanidation process by eliminating filtration and vacuum, instead utilizing bags filled with zinc (or aluminum) in the pulp. With reduced agitation to prevent aeration, over 99% of the gold precipitated on the zinc shavings within 2 hours. Furthermore, testing a hydrochloric solution (50%) with an oxidant demonstrated 83.9% and 100% gold extraction in 8 hours at ambient temperature and 50°C, respectively. It is crucial to note that successful implementation of these alternative strategies necessitates knowledge, investment, and customization to suit specific site conditions.

Behavioral and biochemical patterns in the Andean highland macroinvertebrate Nectopsyche sp. after chronic mercury exposure

Environmental pollution by mercury (Hg) is of particular interest in Latin American countries like Ecuador, where artisanal and industrial gold mining has widely expanded. However, classic assessments, either based on water parameters or bioindicators, are not always effective in determining the effect of this type of pollutant on the ecological quality of the rivers. This study analyzed the behavioral and biochemical responses in benthic macroinvertebrate Nectopsyche sp. after sub-lethal Hg exposure emulating the maximum limits allowed by the current legislation in Ecuador (0.0002 mg L−1). Behavioral changes were significant, with an average decrease in the movement (measured as the number of strokes per 15 s of larvae) after 6 days of exposure to the maximum limit concentration of Hg. Furthermore, the antioxidant enzyme Glutathione S-Transferase activity significantly increased when exposed for 7 days to 0.0002 mg L−1 of Hg concentration. These results preliminarily proved that behavioral and biochemical patterns could function as biomarkers that efficiently identify ecological impairment caused by Hg, which would otherwise be neglected by a purely chemical-based or biomonitoring based on the presence/absence of macroinvertebrates type of assessment. Moreover, we demonstrate that the current limits allowed can impair aquatic life.

Policy integration by implementation: Lessons from frontline staff policy practices around small‐scale gold mining in Liberia

AbstractEnvironmental policy integration is needed to ensure environmental policy goals are being realized, given their cross‐sectoral nature. Most of the published research has focused on integration and coherence of (inter)national policies, plans, and programs. The implementation practices for these policies, however, are at least as important. This paper therefore looks at policy implementation for the case of artisanal gold mining in Liberia. This is studied through a lens of frontline staff (street‐level bureaucrats) who operate in networks of local government agencies, civil society organizations, and communities. Results of interviews and field observations in Grand Gedeh county show how the policy context and local realities create specific dilemmas, resulting from the combination of limited resources of local frontline staff, low‐income security for local communities and traditional local practices around protected forest areas. In response local frontline bureaucrats use their discretionary power and network to mobilize support, pool resources, combine mandates, and find creative solutions to both regulate and support community residents. Although these implementation strategies are neither necessarily sufficient to realize the official policy goals, nor are guaranteed to have the desired effects, they do show how local frontline staff act as de facto policymakers. Recognizing frontline staff as environmental policy integrators therefore is a crucial element toward more successful policies for sustainable development.

Performing traceability: Unpacking the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) trade circuit in Peru

To what extent can traceability requirements improve the transparency in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM)? This article addresses the crucial but rarely explored problem of gold traceability, and what happens when gold moves from mine to market. Building on transparency discussions that scrutinize the power dynamics behind information demands, we argue that the push for origin information of minerals can create an ideal scenario for performative governance (Ding, 2020) in which actors feign traceability to continue participating in the gold value chain. To present evidence of these dynamics, we outline how gold circulates in two ASGM constellations in Peru: Arequipa (in the Andes) and Madre de Dios (in the Amazon). We find that Northern market concerns regarding the legal origin of gold has created contradictions in Peru's formalization regulatory framework. To bypass these barriers, actors along the value chain will benefit from the assistance of “logistical entrepreneurs” (Schouten et al., 2019) to secure gold production and trade. We conclude that, rather than promoting meaningful change towards a more responsible and transparent gold value chain, traceability requirements can promote more opaque practices and introduce more complexity into an already highly informal sector such as ASGM.

Total Bacteria and Fungi in Gold-Mine Tailing in Buru of Indonesia after Three-Year Natural Revegetation

The concern of agricultural environment damage due to amalgamation process of gold mining in Indonesia is increased. Gold mine tailing deposition in agricultural land pose a serious problem about the mercury (Hg) accumulation in soil. The objective of this study was to verify the population of heterotroph-aerobic bacteria and filamentous fungi in the tailing deposit grown with pioneer plants in comparison to both population in bare tailing after three-year revegetation. Moreover, the research was conducted to analyze the different of acidity (pH) and electrical conductivity (EC) of both sites. The study area was performed in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Waelo village of Buru Regency, Maluku Province. The bacterial and fungal population in tailing that is naturally grown by sedges and grasses were lower than that in bare tailing without vegetation. In general, the bacterial and fungal count of tailing with vegetation was 9.3 and 4.3. while in bare tailing were 8.49 and 3.79. The acidity of both locations was not different but the pH was strongly acid ranged from 3.52-4.29. The EC was lower (21.61) in the tailing with vegetation compared to bare tailing without vegetation (58.94). This study suggested that the fungal and bacterial population as well as pH were increased after revegetation that benefit plant growth.

Predictive modeling of total Hg background concentration in soils of the Amazon Rainforest biome with support of proximal sensors and auxiliary variables

Mercury (Hg) is a very well-recognized potential pollutant worldwide, and in the Amazon biome illegal artisanal gold mining practices tend to maximize this environmental problem. Considering the large extent of this biome and the evidences of Hg contamination, the main objective of this work was to predict the total Hg background concentration in Amazon soils using proximal sensors with aid of Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithms, taking the total Hg content by direct analyzer as a reference. Soil texture, fertility properties and terrain attributes (elevation and slope) were considered as auxiliary variables in the modeling process. For that, nine contrasting sites of the Amazon rainforest biome were selected. In each site, eight locations (30 m apart) were carefully selected to collect composite soil samples at three depths: 0–20 cm, 20–40 cm, and 40–60 cm, totaling 216 soil samples. The pXRF data were separated into calibration (70%) and validation (30%) datasets for validation purposes. Total Hg in the studied soils ranged from 21.5 to 208 μg kg−1. RF models had better performance than SVM ones in Hg content prediction, showing the highest R2 and lowest RMSE values. Clay fraction content, total Al2O3, low degree of crystallinity Al forms, and stable elements (Nb, Zr, and Ti) positively correlated with total Hg. The combination of pXRF + magnetic susceptibility + soil texture data provided the best prediction models, however, pXRF data alone successfully predicted total Hg with R2 of 0.83. Saving time and cost and non-generating chemical effluents in prediction of total Hg background concentration in Amazon soils may be performed, constituting a secure basis for environmental regulation.

Microbial Mercury Reduction Potential In Gold Mining Waste: Bacillus Subtilis And Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Study

This study aims to investigate the potential of Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in removing mercury from wastewater generated by Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) in Tatelu and Talawaan Villages, North Minahasa, Indonesia. Following the ban on mercury use in gold processing, there is a need for effective mercury-free processing technologies to mitigate environmental and health impacts. The research begins with the cultivation of rejuvenated bacteria, followed by a preliminary test to establish bacterial growth curves. This test provides guidelines for the duration of stirring during subsequent biodegradation processes. The biodegradation test involves mercury content analysis of wastewater samples, followed by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) testing using lactose broth as the bacterial growth medium. The MIC test helps determine the variations in mercury concentrations and the efficacy of the selected bacteria in degradation. The objectives of this study are to assess the capability of Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in removing mercury from ASGM wastewater. The findings hold significant potential for the development of efficient and economically viable biotreatment technologies for addressing mercury contamination in hazardous waste produced by small-scale gold mining. The innovative technology proposed in this study can be readily adopted by other gold mining industries to ensure compliance with stringent environmental and health standards.

Hydrogeochemistry and Mercury Contamination of Surface Water in the Lom Gold Basin (East Cameroon): Water Quality Index, Multivariate Statistical Analysis and Spatial Interpolation

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities have an impact on natural resources and human health. This study addresses the assessment of surface water quality in the Lom gold basin. A combined approach of water quality index calculation, multivariate statistical analysis and spatial interpolation was used. Sampling was performed at 15 stations during low- and high-water periods in 2021 for classical physicochemical parameters and total mercury measurements. The results show that the physicochemical parameters were below drinking water standards for both periods, except for pH, total suspended solids and total mercury. These waters show a large cation deficit as well as an anion deficit. The water chemistry is controlled by precipitations and silicate dissolutions in rock that convert the water into the Ca-HCO3 and Ca-Mg-HCO3 types. The level of mercury contamination varied from acceptable to high due to high flow rates during high water that cause a dilution effect for the mercury concentration upstream and its accumulation downstream. The water quality varied from excellent to very poor with better quality during the high-water period. The Lom watershed is locally affected by physical and chemical pollution due to the abundance of suspended solids and mercury resulting from the different gold mining activities.

Occupational Safety and Health Management in Selected Industrial Sectors in Sudan

Introduction: Since Heinrich's early studies, work has been recognized as a substantial contributor to psychological and physical illness. Fast technological, economic, and social advancements have increased the number of occupational fatalities and illnesses in developing nations. Nonetheless, it is demonstrated that the creation, application, and enforcement of Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems (OSHMS) reduce accidents and enhance employees' well-being. This study aims to understand Sudan's current occupational safety and health situation and identify any challenges or gaps in the current system. Methods: A mixed methods approach deploying a literature review and secondary data was adopted to answer the research question about the status of occupational health and safety in Sudan. Results: A comparison of the artisanal and organized gold mining sectors over the years 2018-2020 shows an increase in the number of accidents in the artisanal sector but a sharp decrease in both the number and severity of accidents in the organized sector. The frequency rate declined in the organized sector but fluctuated in the artisanal sector. It was also found that many OSH incidents of different types and levels of severity occurred. In 2020, the Fatal Accident Rate (FAR) was 66.48 in artisanal gold mining, 0.55 in organized gold mining, and 0.01 in oil and gas. However, calculating and comparing other sectors' performance indicators to evaluate OSH's status was not possible for many reasons. Conclusion: Findings were constrained, possibly due to the limited occupational health and safety data. There is an urgent need to strengthen and improve the governance of occupational safety and health in Sudan. A more comprehensive study needs to be undertaken to assess the status of the OSH in formal and non-formal sectors and investigate the correlation of OSH to workers’ well-being and the Sudanese economy.

Diversity and potential of herbaceous plants as mercury (Hg) hyperaccumulators in small-scale gold mining sites in Pancurendang, Banyumas, Indonesia

Abstract. Muryani E, Sajidan, Budiastuti MTS, Pranoto. 2023. Diversity and potential of herbaceous plants as mercury (Hg) hyperaccumulators in small-scale gold mining sites in Pancurendang, Banyumas, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 3378-3386. Plants resistant to mercury can be used as an alternative to processing gold mining waste with the phytoremediation method. The study aimed to inventory herbaceous plant species in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sites in Pancurendang Village (Banyumas, Central Java, Indonesia), measure mercury concentrations in plants and root zones, and analyze the potential of herbaceous plants as mercury (Hg) hyperaccumulators. Herbaceous plants were cataloged by purposive sampling with multiple quadrats of 2m x 2m in 14 locations and then analyzed to obtain density, frequency, dominance, importance value, and diversity index. Biomass and Hg concentrations were measured from selected herbaceous plants and soil samples of the root zone. The Biological Accumulation Coefficient (BAC) was calculated to determine the plants' potential as Hg hyperaccumulators. Plant inventory identified 54 herbaceous plant species belonging to 26 families, with Paspalum conjugatum P.J.Bergius being the dominant species. In the root zones, Hg was found at 11-73 ppm and 7.6-85.36 ppm in 19 species. Ipomea aquatica Forssk. accumulated the highest concentration (85.36 ppm) and absorbed the greatest amount of Hg (5.25 mg). Based on their BACs, the nineteen species were categorized into moderate to high (hyper) accumulators, with Plectranthus sp. having the highest BAC of 4.54.

Socio-economic baseline, economic feasibility study and processing activities ASGM in Obi Island, South Halmahera District, North Maluku Province, Indonesia

Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) is mining of gold deposits with simple physical and chemical characteristics using simple equipment and technology. In 2005, total mercury release in the environment in ASGM was more than twice from this sector, around 35% of total mercury, with an annual estimate at 727 tons, becoming the largest global resource of anthropogenic mercury release. In Indonesia, total mercury released to the environment is estimated at 340 metric tons per year and also among the top 3 global emitters of mercury, with 57.5% from the ASGM sector, where 60% is being emitted to air, 20% to water, and the remaining 20% to land. The location of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in this study are in Anggai village and Air Mangga village in Obi sub-district, South Halmahera district, North Maluku Province. Amalgamation has been the preferred method for treating the gold ores in both Anggai and Air Mangga Villages. The methodology provides a suggested approach for collecting and analyzing data and guidance for analyzing policy, regulatory, and institutional aspects and health aspects in the ASGM sector, mainly covering the Socio Economy ASGM research methodology. An assessment of the practicality of a proposed plan or project is also called Feasibility Study. The objective of this research was to describe the socio-economic impact and feasibility of gold processing of ASGM in Obi Island, South Halmahera district, North Maluku Province.

Solidification and stabilization of mercury-contaminated tailings in artisanal and small-scale gold mining using tras soil

Artisanal and small-scale gold is known to be sources of mercury pollution. This mercury contamination occurs when gold is isolated by the amalgamation method, contamination occurs. Mercury pollution in small-scale artisanal gold mining in the Kulon Progo area of Yogyakarta, the lowest tailing content was 164.49 mg kg<sup>-1</sup>, and the highest was 383.21 mg kg<sup>-1</sup>. This value exceeded the quality standard stipulated by Indonesian Government Regulation 22 of 2021 of 75 mg kg<sup>-1</sup>. The technology that can control pollution is stabilization/solidification (S/S). This research aimed to determine the optimum composition of the tailings mixture with tras soil. Variations in the design of tras soil with tailings were 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 30:70, 20:80, and 10:90. The results showed that the optimum tras: tailings soil composition was 90:10, with a compressive test of 31 t m<sup>-2</sup>. Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (<em>TCLP</em>) was 0.0033 mg L<sup>-1</sup> according to the quality standard of Indonesian Government Regulation no. 22, 2021, with a value of 0.05 mg L<sup>-1</sup>. The compressive strength results follow the quality of the US EPA of 35 t m<sup>-2</sup>.

The potential of legume cover crops and soil microbes for gold mine tailings revegetation

Mercury (Hg) is commonly utilized in artisanal gold mining on Buru Island; the Hg-contaminated tailing possibly contaminates the agricultural land nearby. In general, tailings contain very low organic carbon and plant nutrients but are high in mercury and have extreme soil acidity. The objective of this study was to observe the growth of various legume cover crops (LCC) and the change of Hg in tailing inoculated with <em>Azotobacter-Trichoderma</em>. The field trial was conducted on Buru Island of Maluku by using a split-plot design with three replications. The main plot was LCC species, composed of <em>Centrosema pubescens</em> (CP), <em>Mucuna </em>sp.<em> (</em>MC), and <em>Crotalaria </em>sp. (CR); the subplots were microbial inoculants composed of two formulations of <em>Azotobacter-Trochoderma</em> inoculants. The results showed that the <em>Mucuna </em>sp. and consortia <em>Azotobacter-Trichoderma</em> (2:1) had the highest survival rate in the tailings and Hg uptake by 8.83 mg kg<sup>-1</sup> per plant. Consortia <em>Azotobacter-Trichoderma</em> inoculant with the composition of 2:1 (v:v) was able to increase soil pH, total bacterial population, LCC biomass, and Hg uptake by LCC plants. The highest Hg removal effectivity was observed in the plot treated with <em>Crotalaria </em>sp. and in a plot with <em>Azotobacter-Trichoderma</em> (2:1), which was 34.0% and 33.6%, respectively.

Heavy metals content in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) grown on soil contaminated by gold mine tailings with composted cow manure amendment

Artisanal gold miners usually dispose of gold mine tailings in storage ponds or agricultural land used for farming. However, the gold mine tailings still contain heavy metals such as cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc and can lead to bioaccumulation in food chains. This study investigated the influence of composted cow manure as organic fertilizer on heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) content in sweet potatoes grown on soil contaminated by gold mine tailing. The MZ119 clone sweet potato plants were grown on soils added with mixtures of gold mine tailings at ratios of 0% (control), 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100% (w/w), and composted cow manure (0, 250, 500, and 750 g/10 kg of soil). The results showed that the higher the ratio of gold mine tailings to the soil, the higher the accumulation of metals in sweet potatoes. According to the translocation factor (TF) value, heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) accumulated higher in the shoots than in the roots of sweet potatoes. Accumulation of heavy metals in sweet potato occurred in the following order: Zn>Cu>Pb>Cd. This study recommends that sweet potatoes could be used for the phytoremediation of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) in polluted soils, but the plants may not be used for consumption.

An assessment of the impact of illegal artisanal gold mining on the environment in parts of Chewore Safari Area, Northern Zimbabwe

Illegal artisanal gold mining threatens biodiversity conservation within protected areas. The objectives of this study were to: (i) assess the environmental impacts of illegal artisanal gold mining in Chewore Safari Area (CSA) and (ii) assess trends in illegal artisanal gold mining within CSA, northern Zimbabwe. A mixed methods approach was used to collect data (i) from law enforcement records kept at CSA focusing on the period 2014 to 2021, and (ii) from field visits to areas affected by illegal artisanal gold mining. The study found that there was a gold rush into CSA with many people from the adjacent communities being arrested and prosecuted in the year 2014. A gradual decline trend in illegal gold mining activities was observed. Equipment or tools were confiscated from illegal miners including gold metal detectors. Site observations indicated destructive gold mining practices associated with visible land degradation. The study recommended increased law enforcement and awareness programmes within communities adjacent to CSA and reclamation of mined sites.

Determination of Cyanide Concentration Levels in Surface Water and Soil from Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining Villages at Chunya, Mbeya - Tanzania

This study aimed to determine levels of cyanide (CN) pollution in the soil and surface water at selected mining sites of Mbeya region. A total of (n = 124) samples were collected and analyzed by spectrophotometry. The cyanide levels of soil-based samples and water-based samples at Mwasenga, and Ifumbo mining sites were above the permissible limits. This was due to poor disposal of tailing from the gold processing plants and mismanagement of wastewater. On the other hand, the Cyanide was within the allowable limit for both soil and water at Godima, Itewe, Ashishira and Nyatula mining sites. This was attributed by proper management of wastewater by using artificial tanks, ponds and trenches. Also, it was observed that there is a mobility of cyanide from the processing mining site, if the tailings and wastewater are not well managed. The concentration of cyanide in the soil and water samples of about 2 mg/L was observed at distance of more than 70 m from the processing plant at Mwasenga, the situation is even worse at Ifumbo, where the cyanide concentration in soil and water were about 25 and 8 mg/L respectively, at a distance of more than 50 m from processing plant

Green Gold Production from Primary and Secondary Resources

The exceptional chemical resistance of gold is a significant property of this precious metal, but it can pose challenges when it comes to gold extraction. Many metallurgical processes rely on highly aggressive or toxic reagents, and artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities, in particular, have faced criticism due to their difficult-to-control environmental impact. With growing ecological concerns, society and industry are compelled to seek efficient gold recovery methods that replace the use of mercury or cyanide. Over the past decades, extensive research has been conducted on alternative leaching reagents, showing promising technical and environmental characteristics. Various demonstration and pilot-scale application tests worldwide have provided valuable insights for potential industrial implementation. However, to date, only one industrial-scale application using the cyanide alternative thiosulfate has been reported. Apart from chlorination or aqua regia in refineries and recycling specific waste streams, there is a lack of notable industrial applications for cyanide alternatives, particularly in gold recycling from secondary resources. This is significant as it could have a substantial ecological impact by reducing the need for mining activities. For instance, electronic waste, which is increasing in volume and importance, represents a resource for gold recovery but lacks an efficient decentralized process. This work discusses the potential of cyanide alternative reagents for industrial application in gold production and recycling, while exploring various factors that contribute to the limited acceptance among gold producers.