The Sapphire Mines At Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi, Page 2

See where green and orange sapphires are mined in Thailand...

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Inspecting the crystal after splitting.

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

A bucket full of sapphire crystals after washing.

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

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

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

Onyx is often found in the sapphire pits.

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

Open cast mining operation.

Washing the soil in a rotating drum.

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

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

The soil is loaded to be washed.

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

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

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

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

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

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

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

Looking into the drum during washing process.

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

A sapphire mining veteran.

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

Orange/green sapphire crystal.

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

Lots of noise, water, pumps & pipes.

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

The pulsating jig washing the gem gravel.

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

Pumping the gravel up to the jig.

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

The pumps used on the jig.

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

Pumping the gravel to the jig.

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

The gravel pumped into the top of the jig.

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

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

The mine owner telling me about his production and costs.

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

Looking up into the jog.

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

The jig from above.

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

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

Sapphire Mining at Bang Kacha, Chanthaburi

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

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