In considering how women navigate the complexity and gendered aspects of the artisanal mining industry, this study seeks to unpack women's labour at step one of the global supply chain of coltan, in the post-conflict context of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Female miners are largely excluded from mine work by blurry regulatory frameworks, gendered social norms and financial disparities, however they manage to remain active labourers in the artisanal mining industry. Within a broader socio-political context of poverty, political instability and rural livelihoods, women maintain access to mine work through strategies, often premised on a gendered solidarity, such as organizing into collectives, engaging in small group collaborations and employing creative ruses to maintain the secrecy of their labour. This thesis seeks to analyze women's exclusions from mine work and the subsequent strategies they employ to circumvent those exclusions and maintain work in the mines. Based on three months of ethnographic fieldwork at artisanal coltan mine sites in Masisi Territory in the province of North Kivu, this study employs ethnographic observations, focus group and interview methodologies.

High-value, lootable natural resources drive, finance and sustain armed conflicts around the world. At the same time, these resources are crucial for livelihoods through artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in the very same contexts. Yet, little is known regarding how these resources should be managed in the wake of conflict to contribute to peacebuilding and prevent conflict recurrence. Drawing on the environmental peacebuilding and informal economies literature, this study argues that ASM formalization improves the quality and sustainability of livelihoods by empowering ASM communities. Using the method of structured focused comparison, the hypothesis is tested on two mining municipalities in Antioquia, Colombia. Data was gathered through interviews and secondary sources. The main finding is that while ASM formalization under certain conditions can contributeto sustainable livelihoods, this is only partly through community empowerment. Furthermore, the practice remains inaccessible to most artisanal and small-scale miners and can make them dependent on the goodwill of large-scale multinational mining companies. Thereby it ends up marginalizing many of the people it is meant to benefit.

In dieser Doktorarbeit geht es um den Kleinbergbau (ASM) und wie dieser Leben und Landschaften verändert. ASM ist eine von vielen informellen Lebensgrundlagen, die in kapitalistische Wertschöpfungsketten eingebunden ist. ASM ist für schätzungsweise 40 Millionen Menschen im globalen Süden zu einer der wichtigsten nichtlandwirtschaftlichen Lebensgrundlagen geworden. Schlechte Arbeitsbedingungen, Umweltverschmutzung, Umweltzerstörung und Machtasymmetrien machen ASM jedoch zu einer prekären Lebensgrundlage, die Nachhaltigkeitstransformationen in Frage stellt. Daher wird mehr Forschung über die Nachhaltigkeitspotenziale von ASM gefordert. Wissenschaftler betonen insbesondere die Notwendigkeit, sich mit den Perspektiven von ASM-Akteuren sowie den Dynamiken der ASM-Wertschöpfungsketten auseinanderzusetzen. Auf der Grundlage einer sechsmonatigen ethnografischen Feldforschung in der Region Geita in Tansania untersuche ich in der Dissertation skalenübergreifende Beziehungen zwischen Akteuren und Agenden innerhalb von ASM und diskutiere die Herausforderungen und Möglichkeiten für einen nachhaltigeren Sektor. Die Arbeit ist zwischen Anthropologie, Human- und Wirtschaftsgeographie, politischer Ökologie und Landsystemwissenschaft situiert. Ich setze qualitative Methoden ein, darunter Interviews, teilnehmende Beobachtung und gemeinschaftliches Filmen, und beziehe dabei ein breites Spektrum von Akteuren ein. In vier Hauptkapiteln beschreibt die Arbeit die Ambivalenzen von ASM, die Hoffnung und Chancen, aber auch Prekarität und Degradierung die ASM mit sich bringt. Die Arbeit zeigt, wie konkurrierende Visionen und Machtasymmetrien die Ungleichheit verstärken, aber auch zum Widerstand und zu alternativen Visionen der Globalisierung aufrufen. / This thesis is about artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and how it transforms lives and landscapes. ASM is one of many informal livelihoods spun in capitalist value chains. Engaging estimated 40 million people, ASM has become one of the most important non-farm rural livelihoods in the Global South. However, poor work conditions, pollution, environmental degradation and power asymmetries make ASM a precarious livelihood that challenge sustainability transitions. Consequently, calls have been made for more research on the sustainability potentials of ASM. Particularly, scholars emphasise the need for engaging the perspectives of ASM actors, along with a better understanding of the value chain dynamics of ASM. Based on 6 months of ethnographic fieldwork in the Geita region of Tanzania, I explore the cross-scalar relations between actors and agendas within ASM, and discuss the challenges and possibilities for a more sustainable sector. The thesis is situated between anthropology, human and economic geography, political ecology and land system science. I engage qualitative methods, including interviewing, participant observation and collaborative filmmaking, encompassing a broad range of actors. Through four core chapters, the thesis describes the ambiguities of ASM, creating hope and opportunity, but also precarity and degradation. It shows how competing visions and power asymmetries reinforce inequality, while also invoking resistance and alternative visions of globalisation.

Der Kleinbergbau ist ein bedeutender Wirtschaftszweig. Ein großer Anteil der Kleinbergbauaktivitäten wird informell oder illegal durchgeführt. Wichtige Merkmale dieser Formen des Kleinbergbaus sind ein hoher Beschäftigungsgrad, eine geringe Technisierung und Mechanisierung aller Arbeiten, sowie ein niedriger Kapitaleinsatz. Diese Bergbauaktivitäten sind vor allem in Entwicklungs- und Schwellenländern auf den Kontinenten Mittel- und Südamerika, Afrika und Asien verbreitet. Der informelle und illegale Kleinbergbau ist Lebensgrundlage für weltweit ca. 15 Mio. Menschen, die in diesem Sektor direkt beschäftigt und etwa 100 Mio. die indirekt davon abhängig sind. Neben der positiven Tatsache, dass der Kleinbergbau ein wichtiger Wirtschaftsfaktor ist sowie Beschäftigung und Wertschöpfung schafft, sind mit ihm erhebliche negative soziale und ökologische Auswirkungen verbunden. Um gezielte Handlungsempfehlungen in Form von Projekten zur Weiterentwicklung des Kleinbergbausektors aufzuzeigen, wurde in dieser Arbeit ein computergestütztes Expertensystem (XPS) entwickelt. / Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is an important economic sector. A large amount of ASM activities are carried out in an informal or illegal way. These specific types of ASM are characteristic for being labor-intensive and capital-, mechanization- and technology-poor. In general ASM takes place within developing and emerging countries of Middle and South America, Africa and Asia. Informal and illegal ASM forms a livelihood for a population of approx. 15 Mio people worldwide, who are directly employed within the sector and about 100 Mio, who are indirectly dependent on it. On the one hand ASM is an important economic factor but on the other hand it has significant negative social and environmental impacts. In order to develop targeted recommendations for the further development of ASM, a computer-based expert system (XPS) was programmed within this dissertation.

MENVSC (Geography) / Department of Geography and Geo-Information Science / Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) has devastating impacts on different parts of the environment and is a source of environmental degradation and contamination. ASGM degrades water resources, contaminate soil, sediments and water and lead to serious land degradation problems. ASGM activities are also associated with socio-economic issues such as child labour, prostitution and health and safety concerns. Insufficient understanding of the environmental and social problems of ASGM in Giyani Greenstone Belt has led to lack of mitigation strategies to reduce such problems. The main aim of this research was to assess and manage the environmental and socio-economic impacts of ASGM in Giyani Greenstone Belt. Remote sensing and GIS and Normalised Differential Vegetation Index were used to assess the effects of mining activities on vegetation cover. Assessment of the effects of ASGM on water, sediments and soil quality involved collection of samples in order to establish their physical and chemical properties. The concentration of toxic and trace metals were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) instruments. The pH meter was used to determine the pH level of the collected samples. Questionnaires, interviews and SPSS were used to assess socio-economic impacts of ASGM. The study culminated in devolvement of NDVI maps and this was used to assess the effects of ASGM on vegetation cover. Results showed that the mining activities in the area had caused extensive environmental degradation due to serious removal of vegetation cover in the site. ASGM had serious effects on soil, water and sediments quality such as environmental contamination by toxic and trace elements. Soil samples were found with high concentration of As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn as compared to the recommended South African Soil Quality and WHO threshold values for plants. It was found that Klein Letaba had high concentration of Ba, La, V, and Ce above the World Soil Averages for plants. Sediments were heavily contaminated with Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, As and Ba as compared to the recommended standards prescribed by US EPA and WHO. The pH of water, soil and sediments samples collected from both mining sites were found to be strongly alkaline which affects the plants growth as well as aquatic flora and fauna. Socio-economic issues such as child labour, injuries, educational problems, health and safety issues, police disturbance, creation of jobs and income generation were identified at mine sites. ASGM had serious effect on vegetation cover through environmental degradation. ASGM also had serious environmental contamination by toxic and trace elements. ASGM had both positive and negative socio-economic issues at mining site which include employment opportunities, income generation, occupational health and safety, police disturbance and arrests and the use of child labour. Mine site rehabilitation is recommended in this study to reduce environmental degradation. The remediation of contaminated area by concentrated toxic and trace elements should be applied at both mining sites. ASGM should be legalised to enhance positive aspects of the mining such as increase in income generation and creation of more employment opportunities. However, there should be enforcement of mining policies to reduce social and environmental problems.

Der Kleinbergbau ist ein bedeutender Wirtschaftszweig. Ein großer Anteil der Kleinbergbauaktivitäten wird informell oder illegal durchgeführt. Wichtige Merkmale dieser Formen des Kleinbergbaus sind ein hoher Beschäftigungsgrad, eine geringe Technisierung und Mechanisierung aller Arbeiten, sowie ein niedriger Kapitaleinsatz. Diese Bergbauaktivitäten sind vor allem in Entwicklungs- und Schwellenländern auf den Kontinenten Mittel- und Südamerika, Afrika und Asien verbreitet. Der informelle und illegale Kleinbergbau ist Lebensgrundlage für weltweit ca. 15 Mio. Menschen, die in diesem Sektor direkt beschäftigt und etwa 100 Mio. die indirekt davon abhängig sind. Neben der positiven Tatsache, dass der Kleinbergbau ein wichtiger Wirtschaftsfaktor ist sowie Beschäftigung und Wertschöpfung schafft, sind mit ihm erhebliche negative soziale und ökologische Auswirkungen verbunden. Um gezielte Handlungsempfehlungen in Form von Projekten zur Weiterentwicklung des Kleinbergbausektors aufzuzeigen, wurde in dieser Arbeit ein computergestütztes Expertensystem (XPS) entwickelt. / Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is an important economic sector. A large amount of ASM activities are carried out in an informal or illegal way. These specific types of ASM are characteristic for being labor-intensive and capital-, mechanization- and technology-poor. In general ASM takes place within developing and emerging countries of Middle and South America, Africa and Asia. Informal and illegal ASM forms a livelihood for a population of approx. 15 Mio people worldwide, who are directly employed within the sector and about 100 Mio, who are indirectly dependent on it. On the one hand ASM is an important economic factor but on the other hand it has significant negative social and environmental impacts. In order to develop targeted recommendations for the further development of ASM, a computer-based expert system (XPS) was programmed within this dissertation.

This paper pretends to analyze the functioning and the limitations of some legal tools that the Peruvian state has posed as a part of his normative answer to the grave phenomenon of illegal gold mining, organized form of criminality whose utilities have surpassed the ones of drug trafficking. With this purpose, two axes of analysis has been proposed with incidence upon the illegal commercialization of gold: (i) the criminal tools, which specifically involve the crimes of illegal mining, clandestine commerce and money laundering; and (ii) the administrative tools, which involve the Legislative Decrees N° 1103 and 1107, the Supreme Decrees N° 012-2012-EM and N° 17-2009-MTC, among others. The authors have noticed several legislative policy errors in these elements and therefore implement recommendations to increase the global effectiveness of the regulation. / El presente trabajo apunta a evaluar el funcionamiento y las limitaciones de algunas de las herramientas jurídicas que el Estado peruano ha planteado como parte de su respuesta normativa frente al grave fenómeno de la minería ilegal, forma organizada de criminalidad cuyas ganancias ilícitas han superado en los últimos años a las del tráfico ilícito de drogas. Con tal finalidad, se han propuesto dos ejes de análisis con incidencia en la comercialización del oro ilegal: (i) las herramientas penales, que específicamente comprenden los delitos de minería ilegal, comercio clandestino y lavado de activos; y (ii) las herramientas administrativas, compuestas por los Decretos Legislativos No. 1103 y 1107, los Decretos Supremos No. 012-2012-EM y No. 17-2009-MTC, entre otros. Los autores han advertido diversos errores de política legislativa en estos elementos e implementan recomendaciones para incrementar la eficacia global de la regulación.