Eliminating mercury usage in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mines, building a brighter future for their communities, and solving a major global environmental crisis.
Eliminating mercury usage in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mines, building a brighter future for their communities, and solving a major global environmental crisis.
GoldFinX (Singapore) provides alternative financing to Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mines (ASGM).
The GoldFinX team has witnessed first-hand the damage mercury has on the mining operations and the systemic threat it presents to the world through its wide use and contamination.
This is why we knew a change was needed and have proudly initiated The Heart of Mine Foundation, an entity dedicated to improving the lives and the land for mining communities worldwide and all the extending ecosystems affected.
The Coeur de Mine Inauguration day was covered by the local TV stations. Here is an enthusiastic report (in French) about the day’s event
The latest GoldFinX newsletter was dedicated almost exclusively to Heart of Mine. We have a great team spanning out over many disciplines, and we all cheer for each other. Click on the picture to read all about it.
Media coverage for Coeur de Mine (CdM) in the Ivory Coast is gaining lots of steam. The local and international communities will greatly benefit by the much-needed efforts of the CdM team. Read article (in French).
Over 2000 tonnes of mercury are released each year into the environment from small gold mines to produce only 600 tonnes of all the gold globally, thus creating the single largest source of man-made mercury emission on Earth.
More than 15 million people work in ASGM mines—including 4.5 million women and 600,000 children—and many working illegally with no rights. They are not in any position to question the use of mercury.
Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining represents 20% of the world's gold supply and is worth over USD 35 billion. This a perfect breeding ground for dangerous practices such as the use of mercury.
“Mercury is considered as one of the top ten chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern.”
Mercury intoxication manifests in neurological, kidney, and autoimmune impairment. Systemic absorption of elemental mercury via the lungs causes vomiting, headache, fever, and diarrhea. Even chronic, lower-level exposure to elemental mercury causes tremors and neuropsychiatric symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, anorexia, depression, and memory problems.
Human exposure occurs mainly through inhalation of elemental mercury vapors during industrial processes and contaminated fish and shellfish consumption. Fish-eating communities often report profound disturbances in motor and mental development from newborns.
High amounts of mercury can lead to long-term and sometimes permanent neurological changes. The dangers are especially notable in young children who are still developing. Adults with mercury poisoning may have permanent brain and kidney damage.
The price of gold hit a record high of $2,070.80 per ounce in August 2020 due to the threat to economies from the novel coronavirus.
As the gold price continues to rise, so does the demand for gold and products made with gold. The need for responsible and ethical gold mining also grows higher.
Current clean-gold frameworks and challenged legal systems spur growth in illicit mining operations. The rapid growth of gold prices during the pandemic risks further entrenching the serious issues already challenging ASGM communities globally.
Building safe & highly skilled local workforces with technical expertise and mercury awareness
Cleaning up ASGM supply chains, with a focus on mercury reduction and mining process interventions
Providing access to mobile health care to treat mercury exposure and related health issues
Advancing research and practical solutions to remediate damage to the environment from mercury
Education to support safe mining practices, develop business skills, and create a path towards a better life.
Trades skills for machine use and repair, infrastructure development and environmental risk assessment.
Technology support and implementation to improve mining practices, efficiencies, and transparency.
Community support and infrastructure to provide whole community benefits and programs.
Mobile sorting machines and equipment provided miners to remove the need for mercury in the mining process at no cost.
Working with like-minded partners like the Borax Project to provide additional tools, equipment, and techniques to remove mercury use in the mining process.
Technology support and implementation to create mercury-free transparency and traceability.
Advancing and supporting mercury-free innovation for use in ASGM communities.
Mobile health care for all Heart of Mine communities to identify mercury contamination levels, address health impacts related to mercury exposure and overall condition of community members.
Health care team delivers treatment to address health issues and needs in Heart of Mine communities.
Mobile health care teams provide community education on the health risks associated to mercury exposure.
Heart of Mine support advancements on health research relating to mercury exposure.
Raise awareness locally and globally on the impacts of mercury on the environment and humans. Test contamination levels and share results with community members.
Partner with environmental stewards, scientists, and organizations deploying preventative interventions and rehabilitating natural ecosystems damaged by ASGM operations.
Support innovation to remediate environmental damage caused by mercury use in ASGM communities.
Participate in community discussion, projects and efforts to advance environmental clean up from mercury use in ASGM operations.
“ASGM should not be viewed as a problem to be stamped out. Rather, efforts should focus on bringing miners into the formal economy and encouraging practices that do not use mercury and minimize negative environmental and social impacts.”
Industry
Mine Financiers
ASGM Investors
Private Donors
Private Foundations
Global NGOs
Governments
International Partner Programs
(e.g. Planet Gold, GEF, Borax Program)
International Certification Programs
International Agreements
(e.g. Minamata Convention)
Global supply chain transparency and credibility advancements
Heart of Mine Ivory Coast
Heart of Mine Bolivia
Heart of Mine Canada
Funding of Heart of Mine Foundation (UK)
$3,500,000 Objective
Complete first-stage of Heart of Mine program in Ivory Coast;
Initiate in Bolivia;
Build stakeholder partnerships with family offices, large corporations, celebrity foundations, luxury goods foundations
Advance Programs in Ivory Coast and Bolivia;
Initiate with First Nations Canada;
Execute partnership with major NGO dealing with mercury, the environment, and education
Geographical expansion to Asia, with further growth into Africa and South America;
Quickly increasing global network of beneficial NGO alliances
Debora Turner
General Counsel
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