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When Chase, Rubble, and the rest of Nickelodeon's PAW patrol strike gold in Adventure Bay, will Mayor Humdinger and the mischievous kittens from Foggy Bottom let them keep it? Includes textured pages featuring sparkling glitter.

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASCGM) provides a livelihood for many communities worldwide, but it has profound environmental impacts, especially on the quality of nearby water resources. This study assessed the impacts of ASCGM on the physicochemical quality of water and sediments from Kitengure stream, Buhweju Plateau, Western Uganda. Surface water (n = 94) and superficial sediments (n = 36) were sampled between October 2021 and January 2022 from three different sections of Kitengure stream (upstream, midstream around the ASCGM area, and downstream). The samples were analyzed for various physicochemical parameters and selected potentially toxic elements (PTXEs), namely: zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and arsenic (As). A health risk assessment was performed using the hazard index and incremental life cancer risk methods. Pearson’s bivariate correlation, geoaccumulation, and pollution indices were used to establish the sources and potential risks that PTXEs in sediments could pose to aquatic organisms. The results indicated that water in Kitengure stream draining the ASCGM site was highly colored (1230.00 ± 134.09 Pt-co units; range = 924.00–1576.00 Pt-co units) and turbid (194.75 ± 23.51 NTU; range = 148–257 NTU). Among the five analyzed PTXEs, only Cd (0.082 ± 0.200–0.092 ± 0.001 mg/L) and Cu (0.022 ± 0.004–0.058 ± 0.005 mg/L) were detected in water, and Cd was above the permissible limit of 0.003 mg/L for potable water. Upon calculating the water quality index (WQI), the water samples were categorized as very poor for upstream samples (WQI = 227) and unfit for use (WQI = 965 and 432) for midstream and downstream samples, respectively. In sediments, the mean concentration ranges of Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, and As were 0.991 ± 0.038–1.161 ± 0.051, 0.121 ± 0.014–0.145 ± 0.025, 0.260 ± 0.027–0.770 ± 0.037, 0.107 ± 0.017–0.422 ± 0.056, and 0.022 ± 0.002–0.073 ± 0.003 mg/kg, respectively, and they were all below their average shale, toxicity reference, and consensus-based sediment quality guidelines. Geoaccumulation indices suggested that there was no enrichment of the elements in the sedimentary phase and the associated ecological risks were low. However, there were potential non-carcinogenic health risks that maybe experienced by children who drink water from Kitengure stream. No discernable health risks were likely due to dermal contact with water and sediments during dredging or panning activities. It is recommended that further studies should determine the total mercury content of water, sediments, and crops grown along the stream as well as the associated ecological and human health risks.

The conflict between development and conservation concerns is a perennial topic in sustainable development, and especially significant for marginalized social groups. In Nepal, fortress conservation in protected areas (PA) gave way to a community-based development and natural resource management (CBNRM) narrative of inclusion and participation in so-called buffer zone (BZ) initiatives around national parks. Studies to date show mixed outcomes of the community-based model for marginalized communities, especially for traditional indigenous river and forest dwellers. Academic and government reports of successes and failures of community-based projects in Nepal assume progress is based on traditional indigenous livelihood practices being abandoned and participation in state modernization initiatives in parks and reserves. Thus, despite promises of participation, evidence to date shows a de facto continuation of fortress conservation thinking and erasure of customary knowledge and livelihoods. Based on an ethnographic inquiry informed by political ecology conducted in two villages of Bote IPs (in the buffer zone area) of the Nawalparasi District of Chitwan National Park (CNP), we describe how state interventions and regulations under the guise of community-based participation actively ignore the moral ecology of traditional riverine livelihoods while pursuing a modernization project. Echoing calls by other scholars and stakeholders, we argue that a new approach to conservation and development that respects the environmental ethics of traditional livelihoods is long overdue in Nepal.

The severe drought of 1983–1984 in the Sahel region, and its socio‐economic impacts for people relying on farming had for consequence the first major gold rush at Koma Bangou in the southwestern part of Niger. Initiated in 1984, the gold panning activities were interrupted from 1989 to 1999 with exploration permits assigned to the mining industry. The site was reclassified at the year‐end 1999 as a gold panning site and artisanal mining resumed until present‐day. Gold panning activities such as ore extraction and cyanide processing produced mining waste including rocks, mine tailings, and treatment residues. Mining waste is a serious environmental, health and safety problem. Multispectral Landsat images (TM4‐5, ETM7+, OLI/TIRS) acquired between 1984 and 2020 were used to map the spatial evolution of waste generated by gold panning activities at Koma Bangou. Different processing methods were tested, including Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF) transform, Band Ratio (BR), and Feature Oriented Principal Component Selection (FPCS). The FPCS applied to hydroxyl‐bearing minerals appears to be most efficient to map gold extraction and cyanidation waste areas. The waste surface associated with ore extraction has increased from 9.43 ha in 1984 to 234.20 ha in 2020, with continuous expansion during the period of clandestine activity (1989–1999). The waste surface associated with cyanidation has increased from 5.56 ha in 2009 (the year of cyanide treatment introduction) to 99.53 ha in 2020. Landsat multispectral imagery proved a suitable data source for monitoring the evolution of gold mining waste and consequences of public policies at Koma Bangou. Plain Language Summary Artisanal gold mining in Niger is an alternative income‐generating activity for farmers. The first gold rush took place in Koma Bangou, in 1984, following the drought of 1983–1984 in order to cope with famine. The gold panning started in 1984, was interrupted during 1989–1999, and then resumed until present day. This work is based on multispectral analysis of almost 40 years of Landsat data to evaluate the evolution of the surface areas associated with gold extraction and cyanidation (cyanidation is a hydrometallurgical technique for extracting gold from ore by converting the gold to a water‐soluble coordination complex). Several image processing methods were tested for the purpose of mapping the extension of waste surfaces from 1984 onwards and the area of cyanidation waste from the year of introduction of this technique in 2009. Using the most efficient method, we report that the waste surface associated with gold extraction has increased from 9.43 ha in 1984 to 234.20 ha in 2020 with continuous expansion during the period of clandestine activity (1989–1999). The cyanidation areas have increased from 5.56 ha in 2009 to 99.53 ha in 2020. Key Points Koma Bangou is the major artisanal gold mining site in Niger and one of the major sites of artisanal gold mining in the Sahel Gold panning in Koma Bangou produces waste that degrades and pollutes the environment The use of Landsat satellite sensors allows to monitor the evolution of mining activities during four decades (1984–2020)

Research question: The aim of the paper is to identify the statistically significant drivers for gold panning revisit intention at the River Pek in Serbia as one of the key factors in determining a positive effect on the destination’s economic sustainability. Motivation: The paper measures the effects of learning, socialization, nature and prestige and their influence on revisit intention. Idea: The core idea of this paper was to empirically evaluate the relationship between recogized tourism motivation as an independent variable and revisit intention as a dependent variable, given that revisit intention represents an important indicator regarding the sustainablity of an emerging tourist destination. Data: Empirical research was conducted on a sample of 230 respondents. A convenience sample was used and was constructed of people who had visited the River Pek as members of organized groups. Tools: Analysis of the data was conducted in SPSS and Amos. The statistical analysis was implemented in two steps. Since this model contains one dependent and four independent variables, its validity has been tested by means of a confirmatory factor analysis. In order to test the significance and strength of the effects independent of the dependent variable, a structural equation model was applied. Findings: The findings of the research suggest that two variables are statistically significant triggers of revisit intention – nature and prestige. Obviously, tourists are likely to engage in the activity of gold panning due to having a desire to experience something new and exciting, which is considerably different from their everyday activities, as well as from other types of tourism. Contribution: The main contribution of the study is to describe in more detail the concept of gold panning and its potential – as a form of niche tourism – to contribute towards establishing the River Pek as a sustainable tourist destination. The study also contributes to existing literature through the implementation of quantitative research of the motives for gold panning.

This documentary, produced by the Ford Motor Company, is about panning for gold at the Luther Burbank Experimental Farm.

Visits the Coromandel Ranges where gold was first found 140 years ago. Speaks with Paul Bensemann from the Hauraki Prospectors Association about some of the gold mining/panning history and stories and refers to his publication 'Lost gold'. Source: National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, licensed by the Department of Internal Affairs for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand Licence.

Since the rise of the gold price in 2000, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is a growing economic activity in developing countries. It represents a source of income for several millions of people in West Africa. Exploitation techniques have evolved from traditional gold panning to mechanization and use of chemical products that are harmful for the environment. Government strategies to control and regulate this activity are impeded by the difficulties to collect spatial information, due to the remote location and the mobile and informal natural of ASGM. Here we present and discuss the value of remote sensing techniques to complement the knowledge on artisanal mining impacts, including for detection of illegal sites, the evaluation of the degradation of soils and waters, the deforestation and the monitoring of expansion of ASGM with time. However, these techniques are blind regarding gender issues, labor relations, mobility, migration, and insecurity and need to be considered with knowledges from other disciplines. Remote sensing is also instilled with various powers accruing to those enabled to produce and interpret these data. Remote sensing should be therefore used in a reflexive manner that accounts for the social, ethical and political implications of ASGM governance informed by space observations.Article HighlightsArtisanal and small-scale gold mining is an important economic activity in developing countries with gold resourcesObservations from space can be used to detect mining sites and evaluate their impact on the environmentsRemote sensing should be used in a reflexive and critical manner that accounts for the social, ethical and political implications of ASGM governance informed by space observations

Uncontrolled artisanal and semi-mechanized mining activities generate growing pressure on water resources. This work investigated the water quality status and the metal contamination of the Lom River water in the vicinity of gold mining area of Bekao, Adamawa region of Cameroon using water quality index (WQI) and five pollutions indices, supported by multivariate statistical analyses (MSA) that include factor analysis (FA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and Pearson’s correlation analysis. For this purpose, a total of thirty-two (32) water samples were systematically collected in four campaigns during the rainy and dry seasons in order to determine physicochemical parameters, major ions, and trace elements and heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni, As, Fe, and Hg). The results obtained were compared with (2017) WHO standards. The results indicated that the water samples were acidic to neutral (4.54–7.12), very turbid (583.00–130.99 NTU), and weakly mineralized (27.40–36.12 μS/cm) with high levels of suspended solids (42.21–532.68 mg/L). The predominant water facies was CaMg-HCO3, with no dominant cation and high proportions of bicarbonate. The elements concentration decreased in the following order: Fe ˃ As ˃ Pb ˃ Cu ˃ Cr ˃ Ni ˃ Hg ˃ Cd whereas the mean concentration of Pb, Ni, As, Fe, and Hg exceeded the maximum allowable limits defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The WQI values demonstrated that about 56.25% of samples were unfitted for domestic purposes. The heavy pollution index (HPI), the heavy metal evaluation index (HMEI), and the contamination index (CI) suggested a high level of heavy metal pollution, resulting mainly from gold mining washing and panning processes. Strong correlations (R ≥ 0.70) were observed between PO43−-Cu (R = 0.70), PO43−-Cd (R = 0.73), Ca2+-PO43− (R = 0.72), Ca2+-Cu (R = 0.76), Mg2+-Cu (R = 0.73), Mg2+-Ca2+ (R = 0.78), Cu-Pb (R = 0.73), and Cu-As (R = 0.73). The MSA also allowed to identify anthropogenic activities as the major source of the Lom River water pollution: (i) most of major ions were originated from crops activities and domestic sewage of temporal dwellings of artisans and also from agricultural, and (ii) heavy metals were released mainly from gold mining exploitation activities, especially from washing, panning, and refining steps.

Young women (aged 15-24) who exchange sex for money or other support are among the highest risk groups for HIV acquisition, particularly in high prevalence settings. To prepare for introduction and evaluation of the DREAMS programme in Zimbabwe, which provides biomedical and social interventions to reduce adolescent girls' and young women's HIV vulnerability, we conducted a rapid needs assessment in 6 towns using a \"social mapping\" approach. In each site, we talked to adult sex workers and other key informants to identify locations where young women sell sex, followed by direct observation, group discussions and interviews. We collected data on socio-demographic characteristics of young women who sell sex, the structure and organisation of their sexual exchanges, interactions with each other and adult sex workers, and engagement with health services. Over a two-week period, we developed a \"social map\" for each study site, identifying similarities and differences across contexts and their implications for programming and research. Similarities include the concentration of younger women in street-based venues in town centres, their conflict with older sex workers due to competition for clients and acceptance of lower payments, and reluctance to attend existing services. Key differences were found in the 4 university towns included in our sample, where female students participate in diverse forms of sexual exchange but do not identify themselves as selling sex. In smaller towns where illegal gold panning or trucking routes were found, young women migrated in from surrounding rural areas specifically to sell sex. Young women who sell sex are different from each other, and do not work with or attend the same services as adult sex workers. Our findings are being used to inform appropriate intervention activities targeting these vulnerable young women, and to identify effective strategies for recruiting them into the DREAMS process and impact evaluations.