Sierra Leone: Destitute Diamond Diggers: Artisanal Diamond Miners in Sierra Leone Struggle for Survival

Jun 4, 2020 | Emma Black, Politico
View Original

“Artisanal mining” means mining operations must be less than ten metres deep, less than one acre and only rudimentary hand-held tools can be used. The use of motorized machines except water pumps is not permitted. Artisanal mining operations use untrained miners with very limited technical and financial capacity, non-mechanized technology, and ad hoc mining methodologies. Poverty and artisanal mining are inextricably linked and dominated by rural, under-educated, poor people.