<p>Despite global initiatives to foster sustainable mining practices, most research focuses on large-scale mining operations, often overlooking the environmental impacts of small-scale mining operations. Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is viewed as a means to elevate rural livelihoods, commonly acting as the primary income source for communities. Yet, the environmental impacts of ASM are significant and should not be overlooked. Compared to other minerals, research on the ecological and health consequences of extracting and processing kaolin is scarce. This study utilized the life cycle assessment (LCA) tool, leveraging ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H), and IPCC 2013 GWP 20a methods, to analyze the ecological impacts and health issues tied to artisanal small-scale kaolin mining (ASSKM). Data was acquired from the kaolin quarry and complemented by background data from the Ecoinvent V3 database. Based on the results of the two methods, the kaolin beneficiation process contributed heavily to environmental pollution. Characterized results indicated that marine ecotoxicity had the most substantial impact, succeeded by carcinogenic toxicity, freshwater ecotoxicity, and non-carcinogenic toxicity. Contribution analysis showed that the consumption of electricity, diesel, and steel were major contributors to these impacts. Sensitivity analysis highlighted the significant environmental benefits achieved by optimizing kaolin beneficiation and mining processes. Regarding health, musculoskeletal issues were the most common faced by miners, with skin irritation and respiratory issues also prevalent, while hearing loss and eye irritation were less frequent. This study underscores the significance of adopting sustainable and environmentally friendly mining practices by analyzing the ecological impacts of small-scale kaolin mining. It offers valuable insights and methodologies that can be applied to comparable mining activities worldwide.</p>