He first took a job at then Philadelphia-based Jewelers’ Circular-Keystone in 1963 and retired in 1996.
Lashbrook Signs on As Mercury-Free Mining Premier Sponsor
And more on where the initiative is at in its mission to eradicate the use of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining.

The company’s $50,000 contribution will help the program in its efforts to find effective technologies for the safe, mercury-free mining of gold, connect small-scale and artisanal miners with these processes so they can protect themselves, and ensure the miners are more profitable as well.
“We greatly appreciate and commend Lashbrook’s leadership and commitment to the eradication of mercury from the global gold supply chain,” said Toby Pomeroy, MFM founder and executive director. “Industry support like that of Lashbrook is critical to advancing our mission and will help in immeasurable ways.”
Launched by Pomeroy in 2017, the initial goal of MFM (originally called the Mercury-Free Mining Challenge) was to get the jewelry industry to put up a $1 million prize for the creation of a safe, scalable and effective alternative to the use of mercury in mining by artisanal gold miners.
Artisanal miners produce 20 percent of the world’s annual gold supply, and almost all of them use the element to separate the gold they find from other materials.
They burn off the mercury by heating it, sending 12,000 pounds of toxic particles into the air that are harmful to people and the environment.
In January, founder Pomeroy traveled to Ghana to test a separation process called Goldrop that could fulfill his organization’s ultimate goal by using the elutriation process to separate gold, including all heavy elements and minerals, from mineral concentrate and tailings.
Elutriation is a process of precipitating out particles by means of an upward current of fluid, often water or air.
Pomeroy told National Jeweler in an email update Tuesday that following a promising report from the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM), MFM was considering raising funds to help bring Festus Adomako Kusi and Peter Osei, GNASSM mining engineers they had worked with in Ghana, and Ishmael Quaicoe from the University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa, Ghana to the U.S. to continue testing and refining the Goldrop process.
But in March, COVID-19 travel restrictions ended those plans, as it did so many others. Shortly after Pomeroy also learned of the unexpected death of GNASSM’s Kusi.
Pomeroy said MFM hopes the engineers will continue exploring Goldrop’s potential in Ghana.
Meanwhile, the MFM and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) continue to explore ways to connect innovative “green” mining technologies with interested mining communities.
The two processors, Goldrop and Gold Strike Micron Gold, processes the Colombian ore samples to demonstrate their efficiencies in recovering gold from its mineral concentrates.
Pomeroy said he recorded a video of them applying their processes to the ore and will submit a report about the procedures and efficiencies to ARM, which will pass it on to Coodmilla.
If either or both technologies seem easy enough to use and allow the miners to mine more profitably, Coodmilla may elect to integrate one or both into its mining methods.
If they do choose to use one or both and find that production is significantly improved, “this will be earthshaking news,” Pomeroy told National Jeweler.
“The Coodmilla Cooperative’s current methods would be considered state-of-the-art by many ASGM processors around the world, and if an improved method of ore processing is available that allows them to mine more efficiently and profitably, the world will want to know about it.”
If all goes as they hope, MFM and ARM then would help set up on-the-ground testing programs in mining communities, and after that, pilot programs if they’d like to keep using them.
The Latest

The lifestyle platform will stock fine jewelry and watches from the retailers on its website and in store.

It cited two recent cases in California, plus incidents in Florida, Kansas, and Illinois.

Rare & Forever is helping to create an enjoyable diamond buying experience for the millions of newly-engaged couples.

The 10,000-square-foot location allows for expanded collections from design partners while continuing custom design and other services.


Svetlana Lazar’s “Wishing Well” collection utilizes an innovative component to mimic the movement of water beneath them.

Experience all the Italian Jewelry market has to offer in Las Vegas.

Watch the webinar in which National Jeweler’s editors talk about jewelry market week trends and their predictions for the rest of 2022.

All proceeds up to $25,000 will benefit the It Gets Better Project, a nonprofit that supports LGBTQ+ youth.

It’s a reminder that life is best lived with discretion.
The end-to-end software allows for real-time control over all sales, inventory, repairs, customer communications, and marketing.

Associate Editor Lenore Fedow shares her impressions of the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show and a few of her favorite finds.

The Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences aims to set a color standard for the trade name.

Sales were up 36 percent year-over-year in June and are pacing 24 percent ahead of last year at this point.

Kate Della Monica, a senior specialist in the Jewelry and Watches department, will relocate to the Sunshine State.

LVMH’s investment arm has taken a stake in Lusix, a lab-grown diamond company based in Israel.

Sotheby’s New York put a colorless diamond and a fancy deep orange-brown diamond up for sale last week, with mixed results.

Profits will help them recoup financial losses.

Retail veteran Alexis Nasard will step in as CEO on July 4.

The organization also extended the terms of Vice President Feriel Zerouki and Treasurer Ronnie VanderLinden.

After suffering a professional setback, columnist Peter Smith reflects on our ability to bounce back even when the hits keep on coming.

Glatz owned and operated Glatz Jewelers in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania for more than 40 years.

The organization will present three awards at its annual dinner, dance, and gala in October.

Former McKinsey partner Emily Yueh marks new president Evan Yurman’s first hire.

The New York jeweler also made the pop star’s wedding bands.

It’s predicted to sell for up to $484,000 during the Bonhams Hong Kong Jewels and Jadeite auction on June 22.