TITLE:
Assessing the Impact of Gold Mining on the Quality of Water Resources in the Commune of Meguet, Burkina Faso
AUTHORS:
Issoufou Ouedraogo, Samuel Lankoande, Yacouba Konate, Boukary Sawadogo, Nicolas Kagambega, Martin Lompo
KEYWORDS:
Gold Panning, Water Quality, Trace Metal, Méguet, Burkina Faso
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Water Resource and Protection,
Vol.16 No.4,
April
16,
2024
ABSTRACT: Despite its often illegal nature, artisanal gold mining in Burkina Faso contributes to the economic and social development of the country. However, the rudimentary techniques used in gold panning have a significant impact on the environment due to inappropriate practices and the use of various chemical substances. This study aims to assess the impact of artisanal gold mining on the quality of water resources in a rural community at Méguet, Burkina Faso. To this end, surface and groundwater samples were collected and analyzed at the BUMIGEB laboratory. Field results show that the waters are slightly alkaline (6.97