Unearthed: Tracing Responsible Gold ft Dr Robin Kolvenbach, Argor-Heraeus
In this episode of Unearthed, hosts John Reade and Joe Cavatoni are joined by Dr. Robin Kolvenbach, CEO of Argor-Heraeus, a major precious metals refining company located in Mendrisio, Switzerland. Together they explore what responsible sourcing, traceability and sustainability mean in practice for the modern gold supply chain.
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining: a vital source of gold supply
Artisanal and small scale gold mining is a significant and growing source of gold supply, but remains difficult to measure. The World Gold Council is working with partners to improve estimates of ASGM production, deepen understanding of this diverse sector, and build a more complete picture of the global gold market. Better data can also support broader efforts to enhance responsible sourcing and traceability.
Understanding the Global Illicit Gold Economy
In June, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), a research institute focused on global security, conflict and development, published a new report that took an in-depth look at 10 gold-producing countries across Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia to examine the factors shaping global security, governance and economic dynamics across these gold-producing regions.
From Principles to Practice: Ensuring a Responsibly Sourced Gold Supply
Our first webinar in our Responsible Gold Mining series discussed how can the gold sector translate widely accepted principles into real‑world practice, across both artisanal and small‑scale mining (ASM) and large‑scale mining (LSM).
COP30: Reflections After the Dust Settles
After COP30 closed in Belém, Brazil, the sense of promise that surrounded this ‘Implementation COP’ (also referred to, somewhat optimistically, as the ‘COP of Truth’) was quickly tempered by reality. The final communique was, frankly, disappointing - ambitious language gave way to compromise, with the hoped-for clarity on fossil fuel phase-out remaining elusive.
Brazil Takes Initiative to Build a Better Gold Supply Chain
Why Nature Is Demanding We Pay Attention
Understanding ASGM: A Vital Segment of the Gold Sector
ASGM is characterized by low capital intensity and high labor intensity, and it accounts for approximately 20% of global gold supply and supports some 20 million occupations. ASGM is a critical livelihood across rural communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, yet about 85% of it operates outside formal regulatory frameworks, making it vulnerable to exploitation by criminal gangs and liable to cause environmental degradation. As the gold price has increased significantly over the last few years, this has become even more of a pressing issue.
