Promoting Sustainable Gold Processing Practices: Utilizing Borax in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) Operations in Benishangul Gumuz, Western Ethiopia

The Asosa Zone in Ethiopia, which is part of the Neoproterozoic Arabian-Nubian Shield, is rich in metallogenic minerals, particularly gold. The Asosa Zone is the cornerstone of Ethiopia's rural economy, which employs thousands of households. Gold recovery methods have evolved over the centuries, with ancient methods being mechanical and based on density differences. The borax method is a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative technique for artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM) in gold recovery. The borax method is cost-effective and energy-efficient for artisanal and small-scale gold extraction. The implementation of the Borax method faces challenges such as lack of awareness, technical knowledge, policy enforcement, and limitations, and requires technical upgrades, education, investment, and cultural resistance. Sustainable practices can be achieved through technical innovation, community engagement, policy reform, and stakeholder engagement in the implementation of the borax method of gold extraction. The assessment study was conducted in Ura Woreda, Asosa Zone, western Ethiopia, with a focus on artisanal gold production. The Agusha Kebele site is known for its significant Au deposits. Gold mining and processing are widely practiced by local small-scale miners, with women and youth actively participating in the Ura Woreda, Asosa Zone, making mining a significant source of income. This fieldwork assessment utilized various resources and equipment for gold mining, including borax chemicals, detergents, magnets, sodium chloride (NaCl), oxy-acetylene torch, clay pots, charcoal, water, generators, fuel, hammers, shovels, iron bars, and traditional ventilation. These tools enhance the separation efficiency, remove impurities and ferromagnetic metals, and protect gold during melting. The borax method is a multistep process that involves crushing and grinding ore rock into fine particles to release valuable gold minerals, sluicing or panning, washing, and adding sodium chloride, detergent, and magnets. The concentrated gold-bearing material was mixed with borax powder and heated to high temperature for smelting and refining. A charcoal-fueled furnace, built with heat-resistant bricks, uses charcoal as the primary fuel and is a cost-effective, sustainable, and locally accessible gold smelting solution in small-scale mining operations in rural areas. Ethiopia has diverse mineral resources that support the production of borax and related compounds. A field study evaluated the technical feasibility, efficiency, and environmental suitability of the borax method.