GIA Provides Further Funding to Support Mercury-Free Initiative

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has awarded a $93,000 grant to advance and implement an initiative focused on eliminating the use of mercury in gold processing.

The funds will enable Mercury Free Mining (MFM) and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) to introduce Goldrop technology to artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) in three Colombian communities, the groups said last week. The money will also be used to provide training, perform assessments, and collect feedback from participants over a six-month period.

“Innovations like the Goldrop are what ASM communities need to help keep deadly mercury out of their soil and water supplies,” said Johanna Levy, vice president of environmental, social and governance (ESG) programs at the GIA. “GIA is committed to supporting the work of organizations like MFM and ARM who are on the leading edge of mercury-free gold recovery — and who are focused on enriching the communities that produce this valued resource.”

The grant will cover total fees for field and office personnel, travel, supplies, translation, and laboratory services and equipment. It will also provide funds for continuous technical support to the participating communities as well data to help scale the program.

The grant is the second of its kind the GIA has extended to MRM and ARM. In 2021, the institute gave the organizations $50,000 to evaluate the Goldrop process and perform an initial pilot program.

“[GIA’s] funds have been instrumental in our ability to reach critical milestones — and we are keen to make even greater strides during this next phase of the project,” said MFM executive director Toby Pomeroy. “The roughly 15 million artisanal gold miners who are being poisoned by direct contact with toxic mercury every day need us to continue this work.”

Main image: Miners gathered in San Antonio, Zaragoza District, Colombia to process ores with Goldrop. (Mercury Free Mining)

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