Authors : Zeryihun Hailu Gebremariam; Dr. Bisrat Kebede Negwo

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 11 - November

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25nov944

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Abstract : Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is important to the Ethiopian economy, especially in the Benishangul Gumuz Region. But ASGM also uses mercury extensively during gold recovery, raising public and environmental health concerns. This study assesses the feasibility of using borax as an alternative to mercury for gold extraction. Comparisons focused on a series of ore samples collected from quartz-vein-hosted primary ore and placer gold deposits in the Assosa area. Wilcoxon Signed-Rank tests, ANOVA, and descriptive statistics were employed to collectively analyze gold recoveries by methodologies, borax smelting and mercury amalgamation. Results showed that borax smelting significantly improved gold yield, with a mean recovery of 0.6125 g compared to 0.2345 g with mercury. The results also found borax was technically, economically, and safely viable. This study recommends adoption of this method within ASGM in Ethiopia and suggests further funding for the study of borax, including further recommendations for mandated policies and further research into the future long-term environmental impacts of borax and its scalability.

Keywords : Borax Smelting; Mercury-Free Gold Recovery; Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining; Environmental Sustainability; Benishangul Gumuz; Ethiopia.

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