Application of off-site principles for small-scale gold mining optimization in the built environment

Abstract

© 2024 University of New Brunswick. Published by University of New Brunswick. This is an open access academic paper available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://conferences.lib.unb.ca/index.php/tcrc/article/view/2031This study explores the application of off-site principles for the optimization of small-scale gold mining within the built environment. Through a comprehensive analytical review of current mining practices and environmental considerations, the research identified innovative and adoptable off-site strategies for enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and minimizing the environmental impact of small-scale gold mining operations. Small scale gold mining has been described widely as a destructive and unsafe mineral extraction practice that is largely unmechanized. Hence, concentrating on developing countries where small-scale mining significantly influences local economies, this study, which is although mainly analytical research, employed an initial partisan-systematic approach to narrow its study and a random selection of articles to enable it to present the identified solutions. These solutions were obtained by delving into off-site principles in construction, drawing parallels, and investigating their potential adaptability to the unique challenges presented by small-scale gold mining. By examining the integration of advanced technologies, community engagement, and environmental management, the research purely seeks to provide actionable insights for the development of a more sustainable and optimized approach to small-scale gold mining in the built environment