What is artisanal gold and why is it booming? Such informal digging – known as artisanal or small-scale mining (ASM) – has been around for centuries, and gold offers cash to communities that may lack alternatives. There are now around 15-20 million artisanal miners, and millions more depend on them, Delve, a global platform for ASM data, estimates. WHAT IS ARTISANAL MINING? Consumers in the West increasingly want products that are ethically sourced, so many large banks, jewelers and gold refineries are wary of artisanal gold.

Source: Manila Bulletin January 15, 2020 10:00 UTC