The relational challenges between mining companies and artisanal gold miners are not new and are fairly universal from one country to the next. As we wrote in two previous articles (Formalization of Artisanal Gold Mining 1 and 2), the role that semi-industrial and small-scale mining companies can play is decisive for Artisanal Mining. These companies, especially,
The ASM sector produces about 80% of the world’s color gemstones, up to a quarter of all gold in the world, about a quarter of all cobalt and tin, and about 15% of all diamonds. In other words, they’re not insignificant producers, they’re the world’s hidden suppliers. In a previous article we detailed this market
When we mention the word mining, most people think about large machineries, millions of dollars of investment, lots of hardhats, expatriates and so on. However, there is a very wide gamut within the mining sector. On one hand you have very large companies with heavy equipment, earth movers, 15-meter-tall gigantic dump trucks that have lookout
Many have asked, why does Barksanem™ (BSM™) only focus on the ASM space (Artisanal and small-scale mining)? Facts and figures First, some background about artisanal and small-scale mining. This sector has seen substantial growth in last several years due, in part, to the rising value of mineral prices and the contemporaneous concomitant heightened complexity
(The following is a translated excerpt from an article published in SIDWAYA, quotdien Burkinabè d’information, on February 26th 2018) Founded in 2011, Barksanem™ (BSM™) is preparing to make its comeback to the mining scene in Burkina Faso after a sabbatical period to undertake structural and strategic reorganization. Barksanem™ is returning with many more ambitions, objectives,
