Three miners take a break from their work, mining for semi-precious stones, in the Ratanakiri province, Cambodia, January 2016. The miners earn their livelihood selling the zircon, amethyst and onyx stones they find.
A miner smokes a cigarette on a break from mining, January 2016. The miners move around the province to different sites when they have fully mined an area.
Each mine is 12 meters deep and has no reinforcements. The miners scramble up and down the mines using footholds cut into the sides of the shaft. It is dangerous work with the danger of collapse ever present.
A miner adjusts a light that illuminates the space for the miner below. The miners dig two holes alongside each other to provide life-giving air flow for those who venture underground. The second hole, although necessary, adds to the instability of
Mining for gems is a three-man operation, with the men taking it in turns descending into the mine. Each man spends up to an hour below ground digging and filling buckets of earth to be sent to the surface. A miner watches over the work of the miner
Once a bucket has been filled, the miner above uses a makeshift rope mechanism to bring the soil above ground to be hand-sifted by a third team member.
A gem miner searches for semi-precious stones in soil that has just been brought up from a mine, January 2016.
A group of miners take a rest in a shaded area on the edge of the mine site, Ratanakiri, Cambodia, January 2016.
The atmosphere of the site has a 'gold rush' buzz. This is evened out by the relaxed Cambodian nature of the miners who welcome visitors with a warm smile and the occasional nervous laugh.
Three miners take a break from their work, mining for semi-precious stones, in the Ratanakiri province, Cambodia, January 2016. The miners earn their livelihood selling the zircon, amethyst and onyx stones they find.
Three miners take a break from their work, mining for semi-precious stones, in the Ratanakiri province, Cambodia, January 2016. The miners earn their livelihood selling the zircon, amethyst and onyx stones they find.
A miner smokes a cigarette on a break from mining, January 2016. The miners move around the province to different sites when they have fully mined an area.
A miner smokes a cigarette on a break from mining, January 2016. The miners move around the province to different sites when they have fully mined an area.
Each mine is 12 meters deep and has no reinforcements. The miners scramble up and down the mines using footholds cut into the sides of the shaft. It is dangerous work with the danger of collapse ever present.
Each mine is 12 meters deep and has no reinforcements. The miners scramble up and down the mines using footholds cut into the sides of the shaft. It is dangerous work with the danger of collapse ever present.
A miner adjusts a light that illuminates the space for the miner below. The miners dig two holes alongside each other to provide life-giving air flow for those who venture underground. The second hole, although necessary, adds to the instability of
A miner adjusts a light that illuminates the space for the miner below. The miners dig two holes alongside each other to provide life-giving air flow for those who venture underground. The second hole, although necessary, adds to the instability of the mine site and increases the risk of cave in.
Mining for gems is a three-man operation, with the men taking it in turns descending into the mine. Each man spends up to an hour below ground digging and filling buckets of earth to be sent to the surface. A miner watches over the work of the miner
Mining for gems is a three-man operation, with the men taking it in turns descending into the mine. Each man spends up to an hour below ground digging and filling buckets of earth to be sent to the surface. A miner watches over the work of the miner below and awaits the sign that a bucket is ready.
Once a bucket has been filled, the miner above uses a makeshift rope mechanism to bring the soil above ground to be hand-sifted by a third team member.
Once a bucket has been filled, the miner above uses a makeshift rope mechanism to bring the soil above ground to be hand-sifted by a third team member.
A gem miner searches for semi-precious stones in soil that has just been brought up from a mine, January 2016.
A gem miner searches for semi-precious stones in soil that has just been brought up from a mine, January 2016.
A group of miners take a rest in a shaded area on the edge of the mine site, Ratanakiri, Cambodia, January 2016.
A group of miners take a rest in a shaded area on the edge of the mine site, Ratanakiri, Cambodia, January 2016.
The atmosphere of the site has a 'gold rush' buzz. This is evened out by the relaxed Cambodian nature of the miners who welcome visitors with a warm smile and the occasional nervous laugh.
The atmosphere of the site has a 'gold rush' buzz. This is evened out by the relaxed Cambodian nature of the miners who welcome visitors with a warm smile and the occasional nervous laugh.
info
prev / next