Today you will get a unique opportunity to see the gold mining process with the eyes of a seasonable laborer.

The pictures below are made by the laborers of a gold-mining artel located in Yakutia in 2008 and reveal the entire process of the gold-mining technology.

An area with the size equal to a football field is first cleaned from the leaves.

The upper soil part containing no gold in it is removed with the help of a walking excavator.

The gold-bearing layer is leveled with wheel  dozers.

Due to the eternal frost, the layer has never been warmed up and consists of sand and stones.

The soil is warmed up. Tubes are installed 4 meters deep. Hot vapor is shifted downwards along the tubes.

Dam formation.

The spot is filled with water, and a dredge is shifted to the spot.

Gold is washed off with the help of a dredge or a special aggregate the working principle of which resembles that of a ladder-type trenching machine.

The machine is used in placer production and removal of valuable minerals out of the placers.

The dredge elevates the gold-bearing layer.

The layer will be crushed, washed and screened.

Large nuggets are not found in the region.

Some objects end with formation of golden bars.

Gold is obtained at mines.

Stop! Dumpster at work!

The season of gold mining lasts from March till November. In winter the area is covered with ice.

Repairs continue till June. This year one of dredges was reconstructed. Thanks to the repairs it was possible to see the inside of the dredge which can never be done at regular time because of safety reasons.

Around 20 people work at the mine. In winter they live in a small village nearby waiting for the season to begin.

There is no such a thing as age limit, anybody is allowed to work.

Aboriginal inhabitant are the first to be offered the job.

A working day lasts 12 hours. Besides, they also have a break for lunch and tea breaks every two hours.

The welder is always busy with repairs.

Traditional contests of workers take place from time to time.

Their salaries are not very high but what they like is stability. The salary is fixed and includes bonus depending on the amount of work done.

Bald mountains of the northern Yakutia.

How do you like the butterflies?

Gifts of nature.

September. The working season is almost over.

Location: Yakutia

via mishakiselev