Prepared by: District Executive Director Office, P.O.BOX .20, MISUNGWI
INTRODUCTION
Background Information
Misungwi District in Mwanza Region has an area of 2,553 km2, which includes around 175 km2 of the Lake Victoria and 830.93km2 contains mine deposits whith alloy containing 84% to 92% of gold. The District population stands at 351,607 people according to projections based on the 2012 National Census. Large area is characterized by flat undulating terrain covered with sand soil and black cotton soils, it is basically dry zone, rainfall is highly unreliable and the area is semi-arid with an average rainfall between 700mm and 1,000 mm.
Nine Wards namely: Isesa, Ilujamate, Lubili, Nhundulu, Busongo, Shilalo, Gulumungu, Mbarika and Mabuki are potential and contains favorable geological setting that allows mining of gold and diamond respectively. The villages which currently rank higher in gold mining include Mwamazengo, Buhunda, Kifune, Lubili, Busongo, Ikungumhulu, Nyang`omango, Mwagimagi, Mwagiligili and Ilalambogo. According Mining report from lake zone office of 2016, Misungwi district contain 4 Mining License (medium scale), 83 prospecting mining license and 134 Primary mining licenses. Small-scale mining taking place in Misungwi has made significant socioeconomic impact to more than 73,895 individuals and communities since it provides both part- and fulltime jobs for the people and in some cases it is the only source of income available to the people. In the rural communities where mining takes place, the activity has reduced rural exodus, promoted local economic development and contributed towards poverty reduction.
IMPORTANCE OF MINING IN THE DISTRICT
Mining operations taking place in the district are useful in basic skill development and contribute to the transformation of unskilled labor into semi-skilled and skilled workers. More importantly, due to the low barriers to entry in terms of capital needs and formal educational requirements, small-scale mining operations offer excellent opportunities for the evolution of indigenous entrepreneurs. In rural areas where other jobs are low paying or non-existent, small-scale mining appears as a valuable source of employment and also provides raw materials for local industries. The miners acquire concessions in areas where the deposits are rich, but too small to justify investment in the infrastructure and equipment necessary for large-scale operations. Small-scale miners in Misungwi district have very low overheads due to the use of unsophisticated equipment and technology. Typical small-scale gold mining operation where hard rock is mined, the ore is excavated manually and size reduction is carried out using a combination of jaw and rocker crushers, hammer, disc and stamp mills. The stamp mills and rockers are manually operated while the others are powered by diesel or electricity. Milled material are washed in a sluice lined with corduroy, jute material, miner’s moss or astro turf to obstruct the flow of slurry and concentrate gold particles. Alluvial ores do not go through comminution but are scrubbed, screened and concentrated by sluicing, cleaned in pans and the gold is amalgamated with mercury then roasted to obtain the gold, which is sold to licensed buyers with a minimum price of Tsh65,000/= per gramme. Recently there are more than 32 small-scale mines switched to the use of cyanide leaching process (vat leaching) for gold extraction. The process entails loading tailings of gold ore into concrete tanks, filling the tanks with a cyanide solution, allowing the cyanide to begin the dissolution of gold to form pregnant solution.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF MINING ACTIVITIES
Mining operation and process cause environmental degradation as result of siltation and destruction of rivers, deforestation, Influx of people, Water pollution (Surface and underground), Air pollution, Loss of the land’s economic and aesthetic values through random pitting and hip of tailings, Noise pollution and Vibration. Misungwi District is looking for financial support in order to implement action that would lead to improve livelihoods of ASGM and environmental conservation along with dispense of Lake Victoria resources.
2.0 PROJECT RATIONALE
Misungwi has a favorable geological setting that has allowed 134 small scale mining of gold and diamond (PML), 4 Mining license (ML), 32 Vat leaching and 83 mining prospecting(exploration). On the one hand, mining promises a significant pathway to more than 73,895 individuals and communities since it provides both part- and fulltime jobs for the people and in some cases it is the only source of income available to the people in the district. However, it also carries the potential risk of further aggravating changes in natural environmental conditions (e.g. by restricting access to land and water) that may, in turn, cause disruptions to conventional forms of resource-dependent livelihood generation, including herding, agriculture and fisheries. Since blasting, open pitting, the use of cyanide, carbon and mercury amalgamation practices create environmental and health hazards, release GHGs and other heavy metal that are felt at the local level and beyond. There are some efforts underway to recognize and address the mining industry’s sensitivity to environment but very little knowledge exists that draws out the connection between environmental conservation and mining development in Misungwi. Therefore addressing environmental issues in mining areas is paramount through imparting knowledge and skills on environmental conservation, climate smart practices, establishing forestation, improved mining technology, preparation of Strategic Environmental assessment (SEA), sustainable farming and recovery technology such as carbon In pulp (CIP)/CIL, and controlling waste disposal of heavy metal and establishing alternative sources of livelihoods. Today it is a well-known fact that some mine waste materials are similar in composition to the natural raw materials used in the ceramic industry and often contain materials that are not only compatible but also beneficial in the fabrication of ceramics. In view of the huge amounts of non-renewable mineral resources that the ceramic industry consumes, this similarity is of even greater significance. It is for this reason that this proposal is tabled for funding.
Therefore, reuse and recycling of mine waste is considered an activity that not only compatible but also beneficial in the fabrication of ceramics products, contribute to diversify products and conserve non-renewable resources in the district. Misungwi district is committed and looking for technological and financial support in order to establish recycling of gold mine wastes for making Ceramic products and sustainable gold mining along Mining areas and Lake Victoria ecosystem. Since it will provides both part- and fulltime jobs for more than 45,000 (goldsmiths, traders and food vendors) for the people and in most cases it is the only source of income available to the people.
GOLD MINING VALUE CHAIN
Raw Material Supply,
Manufacturing and Retailing of Gold jewelry
Recycling mining waste into ceramic raw material such as bricks, roof and floor tiles, other constructions materials, and technical ceramics, such as porcelain and mullite bodies
