Cambodia – Gemstones Miners in Cambodia Risk their Lives to Make a Living

Despite the perils surrounding gemstones mining, residents of Barkeov district, Ratanakiri province insist on going through such a journey as most residents make their own living through selling gemstones.

The process through which these precious stones are obtained starts by digging a mineshaft.

Afterward, bucket-loads of heavy soil are winched to the surface by a second miner.

The buckets’ contents are dumped out and meticulously sifted through for gems