Can Small Mining Be Beautiful?

The mining industry has been traditionally dominated by large companies that depend on the discovery of ‘world class’ mineral deposits. In recent decades, however, such discoveries have become increasingly rare, as mineral exploration activities yield a greater fraction of small and medium-size deposits. Small-scale deposits have been exploited by millions of artisanal miners in developing countries using rudimentary methods. Artisanal mining can bring significant economic benefits to local populations, while also creating negative social and environmental impacts. This essay discusses the uncertain future of large mineral deposits, and proposes a scenario where the future of metal supply involves mining small deposits using sophisticated techniques. The co-existence of small- to medium-size conventional mining companies with artisanal miners has been observed in various Latin American countries, creating improved oversight and efficiency, while decreasing pollution and social impacts.