
Inspecting the crystal after splitting.

A bucket full of sapphire crystals after washing.

Inspecting a large green sapphire crystal with a fibre optic light.

Onyx is often found in the sapphire pits.

Open cast mining operation.

The edge of the filled pit showing how close to the house they came.

The soil is loaded to be washed.

Washing the soil. The larger rocks are lifted out of the drum.

The gem gravel leaves the rotating drum and is pumped up to the pulsating jig.

More soil being added. Note the piles of rocks that have been removed.

Looking into the drum during washing process.

A sapphire mining veteran.

Orange/green sapphire crystal.

Lots of noise, water, pumps & pipes.

The pulsating jig washing the gem gravel.

Pumping the gravel up to the jig.

The pumps used on the jig.

Pumping the gravel to the jig.

The gravel pumped into the top of the jig.

The chocolate coloured water pours into a previously dug out pit.

The mine owner telling me about his production and costs.

Looking up into the jog.

The jig from above.

Matching set of unheated orange Bang Kacha sapphires, set in a bracelet.

Three locals run a food stall, on the side of the road, in the centre of Bang Kacha.