March 4, 2025
This week, we held the first of many meetings with the students and faculty for this cohort!
March 3, 2025
Last week had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with experts and peers in the mining industry at the MINEXCHANGE 2025 Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc. (SME) Annual Conference.
Additionally, she had the honor of participating in the Environmental Division 2025 Student Poster Contest, where she presented her research on “Perspectives on ‘oro limpio’: Plant-Based Mercury-Free Gold Recovery in Colombian Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining”and won 1st place!🎉
Her presentation focused on pollution prevention in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) communities and the challenges they face, including limited awareness of cleaner technologies, cultural engagement gaps, and poorly designed solutions. These barriers hinder the adoption of sustainable practices while overlooking community capacities. This study examined a promising mercury-free gold recovery method using plant-based coagulants (mucilage) employed by artisanal and small-scale gold miners in Colombia. Through field visits, participatory mapping, and interviews with miners and technical experts, we identified barriers and opportunities for its implementation.
This case study revealed how community-led practices, transferred over generations, provide an environmentally sustainable and efficient alternative to mercury amalgamation. Despite slower processing times compared to amalgamation, the mucilage method aligns with ASGM communities’ socio-economic and technological realities. The findings indicate that participants generally view the method as environmentally friendly, though perceptions of efficiency vary by gender and region, with men in Antioquia showing greater reluctance. While the technique lacks broad legitimacy, resources for its application are widely available, and limited scientific literature supports its effectiveness.
This traditional method could be scaled for broader adoption, addressing environmental and social challenges in ASGM sectors globally. This case highlights the potential of integrating local practices into sustainable mining solutions.
Congratulations Linda!
February 25, 2025
Professor Juan Lucena from the Colorado School of Mines traveled to Colombia in 2024 to create the ecosystem of actors and organizations to form Humanitarian Engineering Colombia, in alliance with the Faculty of Mines of the National University of Colombia – Medellín Headquarters and other educational institutions in the country.
El profesor Juan Lucena de La Escuela de Minas de Colorado viajó a Colombia en 2024 para crear el ecosistema de actores y organizaciones para conformar Ingeniería Humanitaria Colombia, en alianza con la Facultade de minas de la Universidad nacional de Colombia – Sede Medellín y otras instituciones educativas del país.