Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM)

This global report was written under the POLINARES Consortium. POLINARES was a project designed to help identify the main global challenges relating to competition for access to resources, and to propose new approaches to collaborative solutions.

High-commodity value metals such as gold, tin and tantalum, are especially linked to ASM, which significantly adds to their world supply. The artisanal and small-scale mining sector, which provides livelihood for millions of people in the world, is part of the informal and often illegal trading chain of minerals. Mining in Central Africa has been associated with violent conflict, mistreatment of artisanal miners, illegal trading and the diversion of state funds. Resource-related conflicts are especially relevant for African countries. Tantalum is an example of a mineral fuelling local conflict when functioning state institutions are absent.