Prime Magazine February 2020

FEATURE
As for gold, it can be found almost everywhere
on the island, but in terms of purity, the gold of
Maevatanana, Mananjary and Malaimbandy is the
best. The most classic test for gold purity is the use
of the touchstone and aqua regia (a reactive mixture
of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid). The density is
then defined as the percentage of gold present in a
cubic metre of earth or sand. Take the case of the
Betsiaka quarry in the north of the island; this quarry
has a high percentage but the quality is not good
enough, so it needs purification, to extract copper
and silver in order to obtain pure gold. The ANOR
or National Agency of the Gold Sector was created
to take care of the gold industry in Madagascar.
The upcoming establishment of the Central de
l'or will ensure an even broader mission, including
the management of gold flows from exploration
to treatment. There are currently 500,000 gold
panners, but only 3,000 belong to the formal sector.
This platform aims to eradicate informal or illicit
exploitation, but also to formalise the sector. Most
of Madagascar's gold production goes to Dubai, with
the rest going to Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Italy,
France and South Africa.
Most of Madagascar's gold production
goes to Dubai, with the rest going to
Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Italy,
France and South Africa
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