The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), in its quest to improve mining in Guyana, recently held meetings with miners and visited mining operations in middle Mazaruni, Region Seven, at Tamakay Landing, Apapiqua and Kurupung, as part of its ongoing outreach programme. The interactions with miners provided the opportunity for officials from GGMC, including Commissioner William Woolford, geologist, technical staff and health officer, to discuss conditions under which miners operate, sustainability of the environment, and the utilisation of the correct type of machinery to maximise output.
Woolford reiterated that mining contributes significantly to the growth of the economy. He emphasised that last year the gold industry declared over 300,000 ounces; and that was a record; and similarly the industry can break another record this year if small and medium scale miners declare their gold.
“The record shows that small and medium scale miners are producing gold in Guyana like never before and what we want to try to ensure at the GGMC is to provide technical assistance to you (miners),” Woolford stated.
He highlighted that it is customary for mines officers and inspectors to visit mining operations, but the entity will be dispatching other professionals and technical staff into the field to make positive contributions to the operations of miners.
Like the miners in the Upper Mazaruni, in areas such as Jawalla and Kamarang, who recently benefited from interactions with GGMC, miners of middle Mazaruni were informed that GGMC will be collecting soil samples for testing which will reveal the mineralization of the particular mining locations.
It was highlighted that geologists will be visiting each dredge to collect soil samples. Additionally, officers will be taking specifications of sluice boxes in terms of length, width, slope and muddiness of water that is going through the sluice box.
GGMC provides technical assistance to miners and also helps them to develop deposits. It was noted that the entity can provide miners with information on the appropriate equipment to use.
Trevor Hurry, an officer in the Mines Technical Division of GGMC, stated , “We are trying to move away from the sluice box with fine gold to introduce new equipment in the industry for high production yield.”
Miners were informed that the efficiency of the sluice box diminishes after about 200 microns, and that there is other equipment, including spirals and shaking tables, used to recover fine gold.
It was noticed that GGMC is focusing on tailings management since the sustainability of the environment is pertinent. The entity highlighted that the emptying of dirty water in creeks and streams is unacceptable.
GGMC is willing to help miners construct tailings ponds, manage them and construct tailings dams, as they are long-term facilities that can be utilised in the future.
The enforcement of regulations with respect to the buffer zone is an integral role of the entity. The regulation states that the buffer zone is 66 feet from the river or creek, it should be untouched, and mining operation is done behind the buffer zone.

Miners were advised to be hygienic so that mining camps can be clean and less conducive to the spread of diseases. Additionally, the proper disposal of garbage was discussed since waste plastic build up can store water and form breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
HIV/AIDS, which is a topical social issue, was also discussed with miners, as they were informed of the cause and prevention of the fatal disease. Condoms were distributed. (GINA)