Artisanal small scale gold mining (ASGM) is widespread in Burkina Faso. Cyanide is a chemical reagent that used for extracting gold from the ores by this process. Leachate containing cyanide waste is directly rejected in nature without any treatment. ASGM activity is on high intensity during the dry season. Cyanide dynamics during the dry and wet season was proved into the ASGM catchment area. Factors that influence the cyanide pollution transport and a probability map for cyanide pollution risk need to study for controlling cyanide pollution. Soil samples were collected into the catchment area of the ASGM site called “Zougnazagmiline” at the northern of Burkina Faso. Free cyanide (F-CN) concentrations were measured and predicted into the catchment area. Logistic Regression (LR) method was used for predicting the cyanide pollution. F-CN concentrations were formed the dependent variables. Several physico-chemical data were used as independent variables. Three models were built. Non stepwise LR was applied at the first time and stepwise LR at the second time. As results, geology, distance to cyanidation ponds, soil type, soil conductivity and land use were formed the suspected variables that influencing the cyanide pollution transport. Only Soil type has a greater wald and a p-value around the 0.05.The cyanide pollution map risk shown a very high hazard on the cyanidation ponds area where more than 50 % of the hamlets are exposed. It concludes that the spatial distribution of cyanide contamination is influenced by the soil composition. Future works should focus on the soil characteristic in the catchment area.
The Swiss Cooperation Agency was funded this research under the grant number 81016359/1.