When it comes to selecting a best practice for artisanal gold mining in the world, there is little debate: it’s gravity concentration. In this article we discuss why and how the Gravity Concentration Method (GCM) is one of the most effective ways to efficiently recover gold from an artisanal gold mine. You can read more about other pros and cons of GCM as well as some examples of its implementation in different countries.
What is a Gravity Concentration Method?
The Gravity Concentration Method (GCM) is commonly used in artisanal gold mining to recover gold from gold bearing river sludge or tailings. The tailings are simply the waste from the processing of ore from a mine. It is a simple process of pumping gold bearing sludge or tailings through a separation tank with a strong enough gravitational force to separate the gold from the other elements in the sludge or tailings. This method is a very efficient way to separate gold from the other elements in the waste.
Why use the Gravity Concentration Method in Artisanal Mining?
Gold is one of the most sought after metals in the world. It has been valued and used in many cultures for thousands of years. Gold is often associated with wealth, power and prestige. It is also a very rare element, making it highly sought after by individuals and industries seeking a precious metal with a high investment value. Apart from the value, gold can be used in many items of daily use such as jewellery, coins, electronics, ornaments, or for investing. Gold has been extensively used in jewellery for thousands of years, and today it is still a popular item to wear. Gold jewellery is often valued more than the same piece of jewellery made of other metals. This can be attributed to the high cost of gold, its rarity, beauty, and tradition.
The GCM process: how it works and its key benefits
The gravity concentration method is a simple process of separating gold from other elements in the waste through the use of gravity. During the process, waste is pumped through a sluice box with pieces of porous material in order to separate gold from other elements. The porous material is made of sand, gravel, or other small rocks. The sluice box is submerged in a tank filled with water. The water in the tank acts as a suction force on the waste as well as a means of transportation. The waste is transported from the source to the separation tank through the action of water. Waste is usually a mixture of gold bearing minerals, iron bearing minerals, and other elements. Containing a high concentration of gold, the rest of the waste is known as tailings. Tailings are usually mixed with iron and other minerals, which have high concentrations of other elements.
Other benefits of the GCM process for artisanal gold mining
The GCM method is also beneficial for the environment. The leftover waste from mining can be used as a natural fertilizer and can also be used to grow crops. The GCM method also does not require a lot of energy, and it can be implemented in even the most remote areas of the world. The GCM method is also beneficial for the people who use it. The process is very efficient, and it can be implemented by people who are living in poverty, and it does not require much training. The GCM method can also benefit people who are disabled, and it can be implemented in areas that are otherwise inaccessible.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Gravity Concentration Method
The main benefit of the GCM method is its efficiency in collecting gold from waste. The method is very simple, and it is easy to implement. It is also very cheap, and it does not require a lot of equipment. However, the method has several disadvantages as well. The process is very slow, and it is also not environmentally friendly. The GCM method does not produce any waste, and it is also very inconvenient for those who use it.
Conclusion
The Gravity Concentration Method is a simple and efficient way to collect gold from waste, and it does not produce any waste. The method is very cheap, and it is also very efficient. However, the method has several disadvantages as well. The method is very slow, and it is also not environmentally friendly. The Gravity Concentration Method produces toxic waste, especially when mercury is involved in the process. It is also very inconvenient for those who use it as in most cases it requires manual labor due to little or no mechanization.
