Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASSM) offers lucrative employment opportunities to the locals of most developing countries._x000D_
The major drawback of ASSM is its adverse impacts on the environment resulting from improper mining and processing techniques. Papua New Guinea (PNG) has very active ASSM activities. The artisanal and small-scale gold mining in PNG provide employment at local and national levels and the sector is an important source for inflow of foreign exchange into rural communities. However, small-scale mining activities are associated with sensitive health and environmental issues._x000D_
The process of recovering gold by retorting and heating the amalgam over an open fire is a dangerous health practice. This paper discusses artisanal and small-scale gold mining operations in PNG and their impacts on the local environment._x000D_
FORMAL CITATION:Ail, K K and Baafi, E Y, 2008. Artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Papua New Guinea, in Proceedings New Leaders' 2008, pp 19-22 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).