Updated 02/09/2006

Frequently Asked Questions

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Are there unethical metalsmiths?

Just what are the impacts of gold mining?

Do we really need to mine more gold?

Are you calling for a gold boycott?

Are silver and copper mined more responsibly than gold?

Where does my gold come from now?

How can I buy responsibly mined or recycled gold?

Is there a way I can speed this up?

Are jewelry manufacturers and retailers calling for mining industry reforms?

I use very little gold. How can I make a difference?

How can I influence the gold mining industry?

What criteria will be used in the certification process?

Does this type of certification exist in other industries?

Is recycled gold a good alternative to “dirty gold”?

How do I respond when customers begin to learn about the destructive impacts of gold mining?

Will responsibly mined gold cost more?

How can I become an advocate for responsible mining?

What if I have more questions?

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Q: Are there unethical metalsmiths?

We selected “Ethical Metalsmiths” because it is a unique name. We don’t know any metalsmiths who would choose to be unethical. Like our colleagues, we are metalsmiths who want to make ethical decisions about materials. We want the gold we use to reflect our values. (We couldn’t be EthicalMaterials because only people have the capacity to be ethical—or to create a website.)

Q. Just what are the impacts of gold mining?

Here are a few:

Metals mining is the most toxic polluter in the United States. It is responsible for 96 percent of aresenic emissions and 76 percent of lead emissions.

Each year in the United States, mines generate an amount of waste equivalent in weight to nearly nine times the trash produced by all its cities and towns combined.

A single gold ring leaves in its wake at least 20 tons of mine waste.

Accidents throughout the world involving cyanide-laced mine wastes have caused fish kills, severe water pollution, and soil contamination.

Large scale mining operations often devastate local economies, cause illnesses, destroy streams and watersupplies, and lead to human rights abuses.

Metal mining employs only .09 percent of the global workforce but consumes as much as 10 percent of world energy.

Approximately half the gold produced worldwide has or will come from indigenous peoples' lands.

Read the Dirty Metals Report, and follow the links in our LEARN MORE page.

Q. Do we really need to mine more gold?

People have sought gold for thousands of years, and there is enough hidden away in vaults to satisfy the current demand for seventeen years. However, gold is firmly entrenched in the world economy and will continue to be mined as long as doing so is profitable.

Q. Are you calling for a gold boycott?

Absolutely not! We applaud the skills and creativity of our colleagues working in gold and are advocates for responsible mining because we hold their work in high regard. Giving up goldsmithing because of irresponsible mining would serve no purpose. We believe that rather than abandoning gold, metalsmiths should demand that the mining industry abandon practices that endanger people and ecosystems. Gold can and should be obtained responsibiliy and metalsmiths have an important role to play.

Q. Are silver and copper mined more responsibly than gold?

The short answer is no. While the mining reform effort has focused on gold because of its high visibility and economic value, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, zinc and lead are also part of the story. Silver, copper and lead can be by products of gold mining; gold and silver can be by-products of copper mining; and copper and gold can be by-products of silver mining. As much as 75% of silver production comes from mining gold, copper, lead, and zinc. Each year at the Kennecott, Utah Corporation’s Bingham Canyon (copper) mine, the precious metals refining plant pours out 500,000 troy ounces of gold and 4 million troy ounces of silver, surpassing the production of many large primary gold mines. The extraction of metals from low grade ore through leaching techniques and the disposal of mine wastes and pollutants released by the smelting process all contribute to the mining industry’s reputation as the top polluter worldwide. The human rights abuses associated with gold mining are often present in the mining of other metals.

Q: Where does my gold come from now?

Unfortunately, there is no way to know. Gold is being mined all over the world, in fragile places like the Amazon basin, in areas of armed conflict such as the D. R. Congo and on native lands, where it disrupts and displaces entire communities. The U.S. is the third largest producer of gold in the world with a majority of that gold is mined on native lands. The gold being sold now could come from any of these places.

Q. How can I buy responsibly mined or recycled gold?

Standards for responsible mining and an independent certification system are being developed and should be available in the near future. CONTACT us and let us know that you would like to receive (email) updates and information from Ethical Metalsmiths.

Q. Is there a way I can speed this up?

One of the goals of this website is to demonstrate that jewelers and metalsmiths support responsible mining. “Clean gold” will become available when mining companies are sure that there is a “demand” for it. Please Add Your Voice to the community of jewelers and metalsmiths on this website who want clean, responsibly sourced materials. Additional actions you can take are suggested on the WHAT YOU CAN DO page.

Q. Are jewelry manufacturers and retailers calling for mining industry reforms?

The jewelry industry is aware of the adverse impacts of mining and is worried. We hope that jewelry trade organizations and major retailers will take actions that address real issues that lead to actual change. Consumer confidence cannot be purchased with advertising dollars. Read Stephen D'Esposito’s, The Coming Battle over Your Gold Jewelry—Hold on to Your Emotions (downloadable PDF) and stay tuned.

Q. I use very little gold. How can I make a difference?

Studio jewelers and metalsmiths occupy a unique position. Even if you do not use vast amounts of gold, what you do is very important. Your knowledge of gold is precious, and the long tradition of goldsmithing is in your hands. Buyers of handmade jewelry value your knowledge and skills and the personal connection they have with an actual craftsperson. You have their trust and thus the opportunity to both encourage responsible mining and guide customers into making ethical choices.

Q. How can I influence the gold mining industry?

What you do with gold is very important. The mining industry benefits every time you make a beautiful, hand crafted piece of jewlery. Not so much from the profit they make from the gold, but because your work represents the most prestigious use of their commodity, gold. See for yourself.

Q. What criteria will be used in the certification process?

A joint effort by NGOs, retailers, investors, insurers and technical experts working in the minerals sector to establish standards is in progress. It outlines environmental, human rights and social issues associated with mining and mined products and has a website, The Framework for Responsible Mining: A Guide to Evolving Standards

Professor Glenn C. Miller of the University of Nevada, Reno has suggested that the following conditions should be considered when evaluating mines:

Climate- Is there too much rainfall?
Geological setting- Is mining likely to produce acid mine drainage?
Appropriateness of the type of mine- open pit or underground
Reliability- the company’s previous performance record
Regulatory setting- standards and enforcement
Closure plan with bonding
Mercury Plan

Guidelines should include the following:

Respect basic human rights.
Provide safe working conditions.
Respect worker’s rights.
Operate only with the prior consent of communities affected by a mine.
Disclose all information on the environmental and human impacts of mining.
Do not forcibly evict communities from their land.
Do not operate in national parks, fragile ecosystems or other protected areas.
Do not dump mine waste into oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams.
Do not generate sulfuric acid in perpetuity.
Cover all costs of closing down and cleaning up mine sites.
Do not mine in war zones or areas of armed conflict.
Allow independent verification of all of the above.

Q. Does this type of certification exist in other industries?

There are a number of precedents for socially and environmentally responsible products. Certified organic produce and Fair Trade coffee are available because consumers have demanded products that reflect their values. Wood products can now be independently certified according to internationally accepted Forest Stewardship Council principles. This is a good example of a system that successfully meets the needs of both producers and consumers, while protecting communities, the environment from increasing demands on natural resources. A number of studio furniture makers and woodworkers use wood that has been certified and have benefited from being able to promote themselves as responsible artisans. The FSC website explains how the system works.

Q. Is recycled gold a good alternative to “dirty gold”?

If you are a jeweler, you and your customers can feel good about re-using gold they have “mined” from drawers of old, broken and unloved jewelry. You have the ability to transform their gold into something they will treasure. Purchasing recycled gold, however, is not quite the same thing. Gold is and always has been recycled. Nobody throws away gold! Using recycled gold will not result in less or better mining. Gold mining is not affected by recycling because recycled gold is a given.

Q: How do I respond when customers begin to learn about the destructive impacts of gold mining?

Speak the truth. Be honest and maintain their trust and confidence. We all need a system that can guarantee that the gold we use has been obtained in accordance with the highest standards, without violating human rights or damaging the environment. Respond by actively advocating for responsible mining and letting your customers know that when “clean gold” is available, you will be using it.

Q. Will responsibly mined gold cost more? 

A small surcharge will be required to cover the cost of certification but there is no reason to believe that responsible mining would increase gold prices.

Q. How can I become an advocate for responsible mining?

Take the actions suggested in WHAT YOU CAN DO. Educate your customers, friends and colleagues about mining issues. Tell them about this website. Get to know your suppliers and talk to them about your concerns. And Add Your Voice.