A review of best practices in cleaning up gold mining contamination

Ghana is a major producer of gold in the world and ranks first in West- Africa in terms of production. It has however been noted that, the activities of gold mining are accompanied by serious environmental consequences as a result of the chemicals used in extraction of the ore and the methods employed in mining. Chemical contamination and water pollution have been key concerns of the effects of gold mining in Ghana. This study reviewed best available techniques in the clean-up of mining contaminants worldwide and the application of such methods to environmental problems caused by gold mining in Ghana.The study revealed technologies efficient and cost-effective in the treatment and management of gold mining contamination.