Precious Metals Mining

Mine Ownership

Mine Ownership Models

The widest lens through which to view mine ownership of precious metals production, over the last five years, is between: large scale mining (LSM) and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM).

ownership of precious metals mines shown as either large scale or artisanal and small scale
Precious Metals Mine Ownership LSM vs ASM

Mine Ownership Type

Mine ownership is commonly viewed through more refined lenses, shown below:

  • ownership type: public, private, and state owned enterprises, asm
  • ownership size: majors, intermediates and asm (juniors have no production)
  • ownership focus: primary or secondary producers
ownership of precious metals mines shown as either public, private, state owned or artisanal and small scale
Precious Metals Mine Ownership by Type
ownership of precious metals mines shown as either major, intermediate, junior or artisanal and small scale
Precious Metals Mine Ownership by Size
ownership of precious metals mines shown as either primary, secondary, artisanal or small scale
Precious Metals Mine Ownership by Focus

Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining

Artisanal and small scale mining gold production (ASM) is mining which takes place usually on an informal basis. Artisanal mining means using largely manual labour. Small-scale mining uses mechanical methods of extraction. Small scale mining is larger and more mechanised than artisanal but smaller and less industrial than large scale mining.

Production in each zone is assumed not to change much from year to year, unless there is a major event like a gold rush or some sort of natural or man-made disaster.