Socio-economic Sample Study of the Ingessana Hills Artisanal Gold Mining Community, Blue Nile State, Sudan

Since 1997 gold was discovered in the center of Ingassana Hills ~80 kilometers to southwest El Damazin town, the capital of the Blue Nile State. The discovery of gold around Gugub village has attracted massive population especially those displaced by civil war in the southern parts of the region. Now there are about 1000 multi-ethnic individuals practicing artisanal gold mining in Ingessana district. Both alluvial and primary types of artisanal gold mining are practiced excessively.