Artisanal Mining and Soil Quality in the Sudano-Sahelian Climate: Case of the Artisanal Mining Site of Yimiougou in Burkina Faso, West Africa

The majority of the population of Burkina Faso lives from agriculture and therefore depends on the land. The main objective of this study is to assess the quality of the soils in the area linked to artisanal mining activities. The methodology adopted consisted in sampling and characterizing the main types of soil. In order to assess the level of soil pollution by artisanal mining, parameters such as the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and the contamination factor (CF) are calculated. A prediction of acid mine drainage (AMD) was also carried out on samples of mine tailings which are potential sources of pollution of these soils. The results obtained show that the soils in Yimiougou are of nil to low agronomic interest. The Igeo shows that for lead, copper, zinc and arsenic the levels found in the different morphological units are partly attributable to human action and specifically artisanal mining. The values of the contamination factor indicate contamination. Cobalt presents the lowest contamination. For cadmium, the different types of soil are moderately contaminated except for the FITLC type, which has a CF value of 0.50, therefore synonymous with low or absent contamination. The various morphological units studied are very heavily contaminated with zinc, copper, lead and arsenic. The pH and conductivity values indicate that the mine tailings samples are non-acidogenic, therefore not yet oxidized. As for the sulphide contents, they show that only samples S17, S22, S23 and S24 present values that are strictly above the threshold (0.3%) and therefore potentially acid-generating. The comparative study of the acid potential (AP) and the neutralization potential (NP) reveals that the neutralization potentials of the different samples are clearly higher than the acid potentials even for the samples which present a proven acidification potential (S17, S22, S23 and S24). These results show that the mine tailings have the natural capacity to neutralize any possible mine drainage, given the presence of acid-eating minerals such as the carbonates associated with the mineralization.

Safety Equipment in Artisanal Maritime Fishing in Gabon: Between Adaptation and the Weight of Socio-Cultural Logics at the Libreville Artisanal Fishing Center (CAPAL)

Maritime safety equipment allows to prevent and minimize the risks inherent to navigation at sea. However, in the artisanal maritime fishery in Gabon, fishermen are confronted with the major difficulty of the inaccessibility of protective tools to carry out fishing trips in all peace of mind. The absence of equipment to help maritime navigation poses the problem of insecurity in which the various artisanal fishermen work, often victims of numerous accidents at sea. This article aims at highlighting the difficulties of accessibility, by the fishermen, of all the conventional protection tools recommended by the administrations. In fact, the methodology used is based on the consultation of official reports and publications on the subject, field observations and semi-structured interviews with 110 actors. The results obtained reveal, on the one hand, a plethora of conventional protective equipment required of fishing vessels. On the other hand, they reveal the high cost of safety equipment which creates, among the professionals concerned, a reluctance to acquire all of the said tools and forces the interested parties to associate them very often with the traditional procedures for rescue at sea.

Measurement and Scaling of Mercury on Soil and Air in a Historical Artisanal Gold Mining Area in Northeastern China

The Jiapigou gold mine area, located in the upper reaches of the Songhua River, was the first and largest artisanal gold mine once in China, and it used to be prominent in two marking years(1870 and 1974). Jiapigou area had a gold mining history of more than 190 years, which was first opened in 1820. Gold extraction with algamation was applied as the dominant method of excavation from 1940 to 2008, and a total of more than 100 t of gold were extracted from the mine using this method and it was estimated that 100–200 t Hg were released, thus causing severe mercury environmental pollution in the mining area. In the experimental campaigns of this study, in situ air and soil Hg concentrations and air-soil Hg fluxes were measured from April 2009 to December 2011. The results showed that in the study area the total gaseous mercury(TGM) concentration exhibited remarkable spatial and temporal distribution patterns, i.e. the TGM gradually decreased following the increase in distance to gold mining sites in space, and the values in spring, summer and autumn were elevated by 1–2 orders of magnitude in comparison with those in winter. Furthermore, at other sampling sites the total soil mercury(TSM) concentration in spring was higher than that in autumn, except for the contrary laws demonstrated at the Erdaogou mining site. However, in spring and winter the Hg flux between air and soil was under the control of different environmental factors, and the characteristics were clear and distinct. In spring the Hg flux between air and soil was directly under the control of solar irradiation, and the releasing process was predominant with a remarkable positive correlation to solar irradiation. Nevertheless, in winter the Hg fluxes were indirectly under the control of solar irradiation, which caused thermal inversion due to the thick snow cover. The depositing process was predominant and the correlations between Hg flux and air temperature was remarkably negative, and there was a positive correlation between Hg flux and solar irradiation.

Assessment of Mercury Pollution in Rivers and Streams around Artisanal Gold Mining Areas of the Birim North District of Ghana

Artisanal gold mining in local communities is on the increase. This has led to concerns about mercury pollution resulting from these mining activities. This study was conducted to assess the level of mercury pollution in rivers and streams around artisanal gold mining areas of the Birim North District of Ghana. Rivers, streams, sediments and boreholes were sampled to determine total mercury levels during the wet and dry seasons and to explore the potential impact of the mercury levels on water quality in the area. The results show that the total mercury concentrations measured upstream were significantly lower than concentrations in samples taken downstream. Also, the total mercury concentrations measured in the stream water samples in both seasons exceeded the WHO guideline limit (1.0 μg/L) for drinking water. However, one downstream total mercury concentration exceeded the guideline limit in the dry season. The total mercury concentrations in sediments upstream and downstream in both seasons exceeded the US-EPA guideline value of 0.2 mg/kg. The boreholes in the study area have total mercury concentrations exceeding the WHO guideline limit during both seasons. Total mercury concentrations in the boreholes in the wet season were lower than the dry season.

A Particle Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE) Analysis of Heavy Metals in Soil and Plantain (<i>Musa paradisiaca</i>) Leaves at an Artisanal Gold Mining Settlement in Southwestern Nigeria

The study examined the contamination levels of the soil and plantain leaves in three communities in Atakunmosa west local government area of Osun State in southwest Nigeria, where gold mining activities have recently become intensive. Plantain is a major food crop, whose leaves are used to wrap food items for household consumption. The objectives were to examine the heavy metal concentrations in the soil and plantain leaves around the gold mine site and compare them with standard recommended safe limits for the environment. Soil and plantain leaves were sampled at different locations around the sites and at a control site from a neighboring local government area with no history of gold mining activities between March 2015 and February 2016. Both soil and leave samples were processed and analyzed for selected heavy metals (Cd, As, Cu, Zn, Cr, Mn and Fe) using the Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) in the laboratory. The study showed higher concentrations than the World Health Organization’s recommended safe limits of the heavy metals in the soils and plantain leaves. Dry season concentrations of the variables were also higher than the wet season and the heavy metal concentrations at the control station were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than those of the mining environment. The study concluded that the ecosystems in the artisanal gold mining region are vulnerable to bioaccumulation of heavy metals and the leaves from the sites are sources of heavy metal contamination if consumed or used to wrap food items.

Diagnostics of Environmental Risks and Mapping of Surface Water Sensitivity Due to Metal Contamination from Artisanal Gold Mining in Côte d’Ivoire: Case of Angovia, Kokumbo, Hire and Agbaou

The present study performed on the Angovia, Kokumbo, Hire and Agbaou sites consisted of mapping the environmental risks linked to artisanal gold mining activities in C?te d’Ivoire. An inventory was done by observing the different phases of gold extraction and identifying the risks associated with these phases. Using a Geographic Information System (GIS), the representation of the spatial distribution of the pollution risks has been realized from indicator descriptives of the environmental sensitivity (i.e. slope, proximity to the watercourse, soil cover) and the transfer indicator (i.e. rainfall). The analysis of this map showed low sensitivity of mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) measured in the waters of the Hire and Agbaou localities, while moderate sensitivity in Kokumbo surface waters and high sensitivity for those of Angovia locality were observed. Moreover, analysis of Hg, As, Cu and Zn content spatial distribution maps in surface waters revealed that Hg and As come mainly from the artisanal mining activities for most localities. Among these metallic trace elements observed, only the Hg content was above the WHO Limit Values, 1994 (>0.001 mg·L-1). The continuous spread of metallic trace elements in surface water can pose serious health problems for people living around artisanal gold mining sites, hence the need to put in place a protection plan against contamination.

Surface Water Sediments Characterization Using Metallic Trace Elements (MTEs): Case of the Artisanal Gold Mining Sites of Kokumbo (Côte d’Ivoire)

The main purpose of this study is to characterize the surface sediments of the Kokumbo artisanal gold mining sites in Metallic trace Elements (MTEs). A total of 12 samples of surface water sediments were collected for this study. The samples were analyzed using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The mean concentrations of Mn (611.37 mg/kg) and Zn (955.86 mg/kg) in the sediments were very high compared to the standard in unpolluted sediments. The enrichment factor (EF) shows that there is an enrichment of Mn at some sites (EF (Mn) > 2). The presence of As, Mn, and Zn is also highlighted by the geo-accumulation index (I-geo) which shows slight pollution in Mn (0 < I-geo (Mn) < 1) on some sites. Moderate pollution for As (1 < I-geo (As) < 2) was determined at the treatment site and high pollution in Zn at some sites in the area (I-geo (Zn) > 3). This study shows that the presence of Zn in the sediments is linked to artisanal gold mining activities. Indeed, Zn is much used for gold recovery. The statistical analysis (PCA) shows, on the one hand, natural mineralization of the sediments and addition of metals linked to anthropic activities corresponding to the erosion of mining discharges. The surface sediments of the Kokumbo mining sites show pollution in As, Mn, and Zn.

Assessment of Natural Radioactivity in Rivers Sediment and Soil from the Copper Belt Artisanal Mining Region, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The concentrations and distribution of naturally occurring radionuclides (238U, 235U, 234U, 230Th, 226Ra, 210Pb, 232Th, 228Ra, and 40K) were determined by alpha and gamma spectrometry in soil and sediments collected from Luilu and Dilala rivers located in the mining district of Kolwezi (Lualaba Province) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The average concentrations of 238U and 226Ra in the analyzed samples were 5 - 10 times higher than the world average values for soil provided by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. However, the average concentrations of 232Th were found similar to the world average. In both river basins, artisanal mining activities and mineral washing sites displayed the higher concentration values of radionuclides. The mean values of health risk indices calculated for those sites were found significantly higher compared to world average levels. Radiation protection measures seem needed to ensure the radiation safety of local populations. Graphical Abstract

Investigation into the Impacts of Artisanal Gold Mining on the Livelihood Foundation of Baomahun Community in Southern Sierra Leone

Artisanal gold mining has a long history in Sierra Leone. Mining is the most important economic activity in the communities endowed with minerals. Many people who are often disadvantaged in the labour market are engaged in this sector. The poor implementation of mining laws and regulations is fueling the rate of involvement in the sector. In-depth studies of the effect of artisanal mining activities on the livelihood strategy of non-miming population in Sierra Leone are rare. The overarching objective of this work is to bring to light the effect of artisanal gold mining on the environment and livelihood of local resident with a case study of Baomahun, Delenga Section of Valunia Chiefdom, Bo District, Southern Sierra Leone. The study population comprised of people residing at the study area as at 2015. The primary sampling units included elements from the Baomahun vicinity such as miners, mines monitors, conservation agents and local residents of the village. The sample frame employed in this study was the random selection of artisanal miners at each site where mining was being undertaken, mines monitoring officers, conservation agents and local residents. Sample size was 76 people. This was done to indicate proper representation of the study area. And also 76 questionnaires were administered to miners, mines monitors, conservation agents and local residents. Both primary data and secondary data were used in the study. Detailed explanation of the analyses was accomplished by both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study revealed that there are varied degrees of visible impacts of artisanal mining on the environments. They include soil depression;creation of water pools in abandoned unfilled mines and diversion, and turbidity of local streams. Artisanal mining as an economic activity has imparted both positively and negatively on the livelihood of resident. Significant gaps and disparities exist in the implementation of the current Mines and Minerals Act of 2009 on the artisanal mining sector.

Landscape Analysis for PaV1 Infection in Lobsters Panulirus argus from the Artisanal Fishery of the Eastern Coast of Yucatan, Mexico

Panulirus argus virus 1 (PaV1) is considered a major threat to spiny lobsters Panulirus argus. In this study Geospatial analysis was used to analyze PaV1 distribution in an artisanal fishery of spiny lobster Panulirus argus population from the north coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Adult and sub-adult P. argus and seabed coverage data were collected from thirty artisanal fishing sites. Five seabed coverage types were identified: seagrass;sand/seagrass mixture;sand only;coral/sand mixture;and seaweed. No juveniles were examined. Of the 358 collected lobsters, PaV1 was identified in four organisms (three sub-adults and one adult) from two fishing sites (termed A & B), both found in a seagrass coverage area. Overall prevalence was of 1.12%. Prevalence was of 20% (2/10) at one site and of 12.6% (2/16) at the other.

Lead and Mercury Contamination Assoc=atea with Artisanal Gold Mining in Anka, Zamfara State, North Western Nigeria： The Continued Unabated Zamfara Lead Poisoning

A total of 24 soil samples were collected from areas around Artisanal Gold and associated Pb-Zn-Cu sulfide mining and mineral processing sites in the Anka mining district of Zamfara State, NW Nigeria. The samples were geochemically analyzed with the main objective of assessing the degree of Pb and Hg pollution in the environment resulting from the mining and mineral ore processing activities in the mining district and to consider the effect on human health. The assessment of the degree of pollution or toxicity was based on the Igeo （index of geoaccummulation） and EF （enrichment factor） where the former gives a quantitative pollution class with respect to the quality of the medium analyzed, while the latter differentiates between metals originating from anthropogenic activities and those from natural processes. The geochemical results show that the concentrations of Pb and Hg especially at the mineral processing sites significantly exceed the established thresholds （4,152 ppm and 12.92 ppm respectively）. The calculated EF values for both Pb and Hg revealed that the soils from the entire mining district are extremely enriched in these elements, essentially originating from the anthropogenic activities （EF= 〉〉 40）. Lead and Mercury are toxic heavy metals with documented long-lasting adverse human health effects. These calls for efficient bioremediation measures for the removal of Pb and Hg from the contaminated soils that take into account the geochemical peculiarities of the mining district.

Analysis of the Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Central Ivory Coast, West Africa

Ivory Coast is a country rich in base metals and precious minerals: gold, manganese, diamond, iron, bauxite, cobalt and nickel. These natural resources are exposed to destruction and fragmentation by mining activities. The artisanal and small-scale exploitation of gold are increasingly practiced in our rural areas. These activities escape often in the control and monitoring of the mining administration. In order to better constrain these activities on the environment, the present work used remote sensing imageries to see its spatio-temporal impacts in the rural world in central Ivory Coast. The results show that gold artisanal activities have been practiced since 2013 and are experiencing an increasingly important growth. We note a devastation of forests and savannahs, a pollution of surface water, as well as an increase in poverty in rural areas. These activities are practiced near habited areas (villages). This creates a reduction of cultivatable soil. Remote sensing imageries make it possible to quickly map areas at large-scale gold mining in time and space.

Identification and Characterization of Métiers in Multi-Species Artisanal Fisheries. A Case Study in Northwest Spain

Artisanal fisheries are characterized by using a vast array of different fishing gears and target species. Such heterogeneity has traditionally complicated their management and the availability of accurate data on fishing effort and incomes. This study identifies and characterizes the métiers currently used by an artisanal fishing fleet based in a coastal Atlantic region in South-Europe (Asturias, Northwest Spain), by applying an integrated method of analysis which combines administrative data on fishing licenses, daily sales statistics and information from surveys. As a result, 21 artisanal fishing métiers have been identified, with special relevance of the trammel net (targeting Lophius spp.), the Merluccius longline and the Merluccius gillnet métiers. Spatio-temporal patterns of fishing effort have been also described, and outputs and inputs demands per métier have been quantified. It has been also found a high degree of alternation between different métiers during the fishing season and significant differences in terms of technical aspects and workforce. Finally, fishermen’s short- and long-term strategies (métier choice) are discussed, different comparisons are made on the basis of other South-European studies and main findings are linked to artisanal fisheries management.

从工匠题记考察敦煌石窟西夏至民国时期的重修活动——敦煌石窟题记系列研究之四

本文系统辑录了敦煌石窟中有关画匠、塑匠、木匠等工匠题记,首次全面考察了西夏、元代、清代和民国时期敦煌石窟中重绘壁画、重修塑像和维修石窟寺建筑等重修活动,重点研究了清代乾隆末、嘉庆初和民国四年的莫高窟塑像重修活动,提出民国重修塑像明显比清代重修塑像制作更精致、艺术水平更高,敦煌艺术中应补充民国塑像的概念。

文化艺术产业赋能乡村振兴优化路径研究

文化艺术产业赋能乡村振兴是提升乡村新发展格局、打造乡村文化艺术发展新业态、提振村民乡村振兴信心、追求更高质量乡村全面振兴的精神动力和新动能。通过聚焦文化艺术产业赋能乡村振兴的内在机理与动力,对文化艺术产业赋能乡村振兴的现实困境和原因进行深入剖析,并结合乡村振兴的实际情况,提出一系列文化艺术产业赋能乡村振兴的策略:发掘民间艺术活动,塑造乡村文化产业品牌;激发非遗传承活力,提升乡村经济新增长;艺术赋能乡村振兴,以产业集群助力乡村产业可持续发展;以数字经济引领乡村文化产业新质发展,为文化艺术产业赋能乡村振兴提供参考。

新时代园林工匠“育教融合”培养路径的构建

实施“育教融合”是落实“立德树人”的有效路径。基于生态文明建设、美丽中国建设、实现乡村振兴等国家战略对新时代园林工匠的技术技能水平和综合职业素养需求,遵循职业教育规律和园林工匠职业成长规律,构建以教学理念引领、课程体系重构、教学模式创新、产教融合实训、创业实践激励、园林国手锤炼等路径为主体的“教”的路径体系,为培养精湛工匠技能搭建平台;构建以人文修养培育、专业文化熏陶、环境育人塑造、思政要素滋润、党员先锋引领、优秀案例启示等路径为主体的“育”的路径体系,为培养深厚工匠素养搭建平台。

图像的力量:艺术家、哲学家和理论家的作用

在欧洲艺术史上,图像的生产者和解释者都是艺术生产作坊中的工匠,以及通过各种权力发表意见的哲学家和观众们。忽视这段历史,忽视工匠及其传统在图像力量中的作用,显然是一种非历史的态度。声誉显赫的艺术理论家和批评家的出现,是非常晚近的事情。斗转星移,理论家和批评家已然将阐释图像力量的权力变成了一种特权,尽管他们并不从事艺术和图像的生产活动,却能够在资本和体制权力推动下影响艺术和图像的生产活动。当今天的艺术理论和批评再也不关注艺术家的生产活动,理论家和批评家甚至也可以不具备最基本的艺术生产的技术和技巧知识,那么,艺术理论和批评阐释的有效性如何得以建立,是一个需要引起我们重视的问题。

传统工艺振兴语境下毛笔文化传承与工匠精神

推进传统工艺振兴,要重视主体——人的因素,应大力弘扬工匠精神,营造精益求精、执着坚守、勇于创新、乐于奉献的社会氛围。毛笔,作为书画艺术的物质载体和工具语言,其传承更重在创造性传承,并有效利用原态建构、载体创新、功能转变和元素重组四种传承方法。具体而言,应在提升制笔工艺、关注使用价值的基础上,采用科技手段和创意方式,推动其融入当代人的日常生活,深入挖掘其符号价值或虚拟价值,提升毛笔的整体价值,并探索毛笔文化传承的具体路径。

从清宫内务府汉文奏销档看织染局种种

文章基于中国第一历史档案馆藏内务府汉文奏销档中关于织染局的七份档案,通过梳理乾隆和嘉庆年间内织染局设置及所辖人、财、物变更等重要事项,分析了清朝中期织染局的沿革历史、人员构成和分工、所用物料、织造品类和使用去向等种种问题,阐明了织染局作为清代官营织造机构之一的特殊性质和使命,以及与江南三织造的联系和区别。织染局作为清代唯一一处位于京内的官营织造机构,其用丝主要来自江南三织造的供应,在匠役的来源上也与江南地区有着密切联系。由于地理条件及生产规模所限,织染局所产丝织原料质量、生产规模和产品类别均不能与三织造相比。但是作为随传随办的织造机构,织染局能够灵活应变,满足上用和内用的临时需求,因此在清代官营织造机构中具有特殊地位。而且,自乾隆十七年(公元1752年)织染局迁入万寿山演化为耕织图后,不仅通过精简人员和技艺优化来扩大生产品类和提高产品质量,更与皇帝倡导农桑的政策紧密结合,逐渐形成兼具实际生产意义和政策示范性的场所,同时也满足了皇帝对江南田园生活的向往,成为承载官营生产织造和皇帝人文思想的理想机构。

高职院校工匠型人才培养困境与对策——以艺术设计专业为例

当前工匠型人才培养是国家和民族长远发展的大计,也是当前高等职业院校的重要责任和历史使命。本文通过分析工匠型人才特征及具体要求,全面调查我国高职院校培育工匠型人才的现状与困境,积极探索与创新培养模式与路径机制,重点提出以技能竞赛为抓手的常态化教学,通过将“匠技”“匠德”两个核心导入课程教学加强职业技能与职业素养培养,为高职院校工匠型人才培养提供借鉴。