JOURNAL OF DEGRADED AND MINING LANDS MANAGEMENT Volume 10, Number 4 (July 2023):4611-4627, doi:10.15243/jdmlm.2023.104.4611 ISSN: 2339-076X (p); 2502-2458 (e), www.jdmlm.ub.ac.id Open Access 4611 Research Article Socio-economic baseline, economic feasibility study and processing activities ASGM in Obi Island, South Halmahera District, North Maluku Province, Indonesia Angella Natalia Ghea Puspita * , Yanto Sudiyanto, Irwan Haryanto, Quinta Nadya Madra Center of Research Mining Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency, PUSPIPTEK Serpong, Indonesia * corresponding author: angella.natalia.ghea.puspita1@gmail.com Abstract Article history: Received 3 October 2022 Accepted 12 February 2023 Published 1 July 2023 Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the mining of gold deposits with simple physical and chemical characteristics using simple equipment and technology. In 2005, total mercury release in the environment in ASGM was more than twice from this sector, around 35% of total mercury, with an annual estimate at 727 tons, becoming the largest global resource of anthropogenic mercury release. In Indonesia, total mercury released to the environment is estimated at 340 metric tons per year and also among the top 3 global emitters of mercury, with 57.5% from the ASGM sector, 60% is emitted to the air, 20% to water, and the remaining 20% to land. The location of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in this study are in Anggai Village and Air Mangga Village in Obi Sub-district, South Halmahera District, North Maluku Province. Amalgamation has been the preferred method for treating the gold ores in both Anggai and Air Mangga Villages. The methodology provides a suggested approach for collecting and analyzing data and guidance for analyzing policy, regulatory, and institutional aspects and health aspects in the ASGM sector, mainly covering the socio-economic of ASGM research methodology. An assessment of the practicality of a proposed plan or project is also called Feasibility Study. The objective of this research was to describe the socio- economic impact and feasibility of gold processing of ASGM in Obi Island, South Halmahera District, North Maluku Province. Keywords: ASGM feasibility study gold processing mercury socio-economic To cite this article: Puspita, A.N.G., Sudiyanto, Y., Haryanto, I. and Madra, Q.N. 2023. Socio-economic baseline, economic feasibility study and processing activities ASGM in Obi Island, South Halmahera District, North Maluku Province, Indonesia. Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management 10(4):4611-4627, doi:10.15243/jdmlm.2023.104.4611. Introduction Gold is a chemical element that has the symbol of Au with an element number of 79 in the Periodic Table of Elements. Gold is traditionally used for jewellery and decoration and as an advanced material for electronic components and devices and has unique characteristics such as an attractive shine, high electrical and thermal conductivity, resistant corrosion, and very high market value (ITB, 2020). Gold is one of the most valuable materials, but it is extracted under circumstances that are hazardous to artisanal and small-scale gold miners’ health. A standard gold extraction method uses liquid mercury, leading to high exposure in workers (Taux et al., 2022). Gold is one of the most sought-after and demanded elements in international trade and the most exploited precious metal in world mining production (Mestanza-Ramón et al., 2022). Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) directly and indirectly employs over 100 million people in over 70 countries. An estimated 10-15 million people work directly on ASGM activities