Mali Africa Feb 24 Ladies mining Niger; KEENE dredge model 8040 086

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SIDSLACKMAN
March 01, 2009

Ladies (only female) were entering the Niger River near the border with Guinea in MALI, West Africa for a "normal day" of digging for gold. In contrast; two KEENE 8040-D suction dredges are also hard at work looking for gold, prospecting up to 30 cu yards per hour. The climate here is warm and dry this time of year. The water level is low enough to cross the river in some places. Most of the ladies arrive after noon and mine until sundown. The ladies carry a shovel and two calabash half shells; two different diameters so one fits into the other when they are on the move. Once in the water, one shell is used as a gold pan to "wash" gravel down to concentrates (black sand containing gold flakes and small nuggets) and the other calabash shell serves as holding vessel for the gold and black sands. It also serves as a peanut bowl. It seems all the people eat them while mining. The shovel has two or more purposes too; mostly digging and place marking. The ladies were even diving down and the shovel would hold their calabash shells from drifting away. The final gold is separated and collected back in the villages with the family. People are very friendly in that part of Mali.
I was hired as the alluvial mining consultant. I lived in a village alongside the river for two weeks while starting the dredging operation. Complete harmony...
NO mercury or chemicals are used to recover the gold. Simple sluice boxes like the old days still prove themselves to be an efficient means of recovering minerals from the prosperous river beds leaving no permanent damage. Some species of fish even use the old dredge holes for spawning.
Anikay Bahh!
Tenawsey tay Bahh!

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Mali Africa Feb 24 Ladies mining Niger; KEENE dredge model 8040 086

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