How People Risk Their Lives Hunting For Gems, Pearls, and Gold | Risky Business | Insider News

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Miners in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan face perilous conditions to extract valuable gems and precious metals, with workers earning minimal wages while dealing with health and environmental risks during extraction and processing. Despite challenges, the gem and jewelry industries continue to thrive, contributing to the livelihoods of thousands of workers and the global market for luxury goods, showcasing the intricate processes and dedication behind each piece.

Insights

  • Gem miners in Sri Lanka face perilous conditions in deep tunnels, using basic tools and facing risks of collapse, while earning meager salaries despite the potential for finding valuable stones, showcasing the stark contrast between the risks taken and the rewards received in the industry.
  • The global issue of E-Waste recycling persists due to manufacturers' lack of incentives to design products for recycling, highlighting the need for sustainable practices and local solutions like Mint's innovative approach of using microorganisms to extract precious metals from electronic waste, aiming to address the environmental and health risks associated with E-Waste disposal.

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Recent questions

  • How do gem miners in Sri Lanka work?

    Gem miners in Sri Lanka work in deep, flooded tunnels using air pumps for ventilation. They face risks of collapse while earning a basic salary of 1200 rupees per week. Workers may find stones worth nothing or precious gems like blue sapphires, which are cut and polished for sale.

  • What is the process of extracting gold from electronic waste?

    A company in Pakistan, Samuel, searches through sewer waste for scraps of gold discarded by jewelers. He uses acid and heat to extract the gold from the waste. The company aims to deal with E-Waste locally by using microorganisms to concentrate precious metals like gold from electronic waste.

  • How do glass bangle factories impact the environment?

    Glass bangle factories in Ferozabad, near the Taj Mahal, were identified as major polluters causing the Taj Mahal's white marble to turn yellow due to smoke emissions. Authorities ordered the factories to switch from burning coal to natural gas. Over 500,000 craftsmen work in the industry, generating $150 million annually from glass bangle exports.

  • What are the risks and profits of the glass bangle industry?

    Women in glass bangle workshops in Ferozabad earn $6 a day crafting intricate bangles by melting glass over flames. Some ornamental work is done at home by younger workers. Despite the ban on child labor, children like Kinnari Sony Yadav and Dali Yadav assist their families to earn $9 a day. Vimal, a worker in the industry, hopes to start a milk business despite the industry's risks and low profits.

  • How do gem miners in Afghanistan operate?

    In Afghanistan, miners like Habib and his cousins use dynamite to mine for gems in treacherous conditions. The Taliban's presence complicates sales, as they struggle to find international buyers and rely on local jewelers. Miners face dangerous conditions to find emeralds and tourmaline, with the risk of not being able to sell their gems due to the political situation in the country.

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Summary

00:00

Precious Gems and Gold Extraction Industry Insights

  • In Afghanistan, miners face dangerous conditions to find emeralds and tourmaline, while workers in Sri Lanka hunt for valuable gems in deep tunnels.
  • In Pakistan, Samuel searches through sewer waste for scraps of gold discarded by jewelers, using acid and heat to extract the gold.
  • In Sri Lanka, gem miners work in deep, flooded tunnels, using air pumps for ventilation and facing risks of collapse.
  • Sri Lanka has around 6,000 active mines, with workers earning a basic salary of 1200 rupees per week, finding stones worth nothing or precious gems.
  • Sri Lanka's gem mining industry employs nearly 100,000 people, with gems like blue sapphires being cut and polished for sale.
  • A company in Sri Lanka uses a centuries-old technique to enhance gem colors, with a one-carat blue sapphire ranging from $450 to $1600.
  • The company extracts gold from electronic waste using microorganisms to concentrate precious metals, aiming to deal with E-Waste locally.
  • Mint's process involves grinding circuit boards, using chemicals to extract metals like copper, gold, and Palladium, with a focus on sustainability.
  • Mint's long-term goal is to process E-Waste locally, with plans for full-scale facilities in Australia and the United Kingdom.
  • Despite efforts to recycle E-Waste, the global issue persists due to manufacturers' lack of incentives to design products for recycling, posing environmental and health risks.

24:59

Pollution, labor, and profits in jewelry industry.

  • Glass bangle factories in Ferozabad, located 30 miles from the Taj Mahal, were identified as major polluters in 2015, causing the Taj Mahal's white marble to turn yellow due to smoke emissions.
  • Authorities ordered the factories to cease burning coal and switch to natural gas, with over 500,000 craftsmen now working in the industry across 100 workshops, generating $150 million annually from glass bangle exports.
  • Women in these workshops earn $6 a day, crafting intricate glass bangles by melting glass over flames and decorating them with special paints, while some ornamental work is done at home by younger workers.
  • Despite child labor being banned, children still assist their families, like 18-year-old Kinnari Sony Yadav and 15-year-old Dali Yadav, who help their father, Vimal, earn $9 a day to support their education.
  • Vimal, who also tends buffaloes for extra income, hopes to start a milk business, emphasizing the industry's importance despite its risks and low profits, with a set of 12 bangles priced between $1 to $13.
  • In Afghanistan, Habib and his cousins mine for gems using dynamite in treacherous conditions, with the Taliban's presence complicating sales, as they struggle to find international buyers and rely on local jewelers.
  • South Sea Pearl farmers in Indonesia cultivate pearls over five years, with only a fourth of oysters surviving the process, requiring meticulous care in controlled laboratories and sea environments to produce high-quality pearls sold to jewelers like Rihanna.
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