Geophysical Exploration Management for Artisanal Mining Communities in Zamfara State

This study examines the management of geophysical exploration programmes to support the formalisation and safety improvement of artisanal gold mining communities in Zamfara State, North West Nigeria. Artisanal small-scale mining in Zamfara State provides livelihoods for an estimated 300,000 people but has caused devastating lead poisoning outbreaks, environmental degradation, and resource waste from unguided excavation. Geophysical exploration can help direct artisanal miners to the most productive mineralised zones, reducing excavation waste, improving resource efficiency, and decreasing exposure risk from large uncontrolled excavations. This study develops and pilots a community-scale geophysical exploration management programme in three artisanal mining communities in Anka and Maru districts, using ground magnetic profiling at 10-metre station spacing to delineate gold-bearing quartz vein systems. Programme management aspects including community engagement, data acquisition supervision, health and safety protocols, and participatory result presentation are documented. Findings reveal that guided excavation informed by geophysical maps concentrates 78 percent of artisanal mining activity on areas confirmed by sampling to contain greater than 1 gram per tonne gold equivalent, compared to 34 percent concentration in unguided communities. Excavation depth control informed by geophysical depth estimates reduces dangerous deep-shaft incidents. The total gold recovery per unit of excavated material is 42 percent higher in guided communities. Crucially, lead dust exposure from co-mingled galena veins is reduced by 58 percent in communities following geophysically guided avoiding criteria. The study recommends scaling the programme across Zamfara's artisanal mining areas through the Ministry of Mines.

Keywords: artisanal mining, geophysical exploration, gold, Zamfara State, community management.