LIMiT

Legal and Illicit Mineral Trade Mapping 

In 2015 – 2016, RESOLVE President Stephen D’Esposito served as Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on the Future of Mining and Metals. This Council partnered with the Forum’s Meta-Council on the Illicit Economy, chaired by Ambassador Adam Blackwell, to provide input into State of the Illicit Economy, a report, in which illicit mining and minerals trading was addressed. The report called for the development of a matrix or “map” of illicit mining and trade of artisanal minerals.

With support from a working group and RESOLVE, the Global Agenda Council on the Future of Mining and Metals produced a white paper with a focus on minerals. It included a set of draft maps which focused on regions where conditions are most likely to support illicit activity. With guidance from the Council, the working group, and RESOLVE staff, an American University graduate student practicum produced draft maps on tantalum, gold, and diamonds in several conflict-affected and high risk countries. While these are incomplete, we offer them as a starting point for those interested in understanding trends in the production and trade of these minerals. We hope to “crowd-source” the refinement of these maps, and readers are invited to provide feedback and additions via the comment page.