http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/contact_sheet/32519 The Philippine deposits of gold, copper, chromium and nickel are considered as the 5th largest in the world. In 2009, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) estimated the country’s gold reserves at 5,080,785,289 tons, based accordingly on the bureau’s consolidation of resource inventory data supplied by mining companies. Forty provinces that have gold deposits practice different ways of mining gold that has been hand down from their ancestors since the 3rd century. The Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) is very common to the rural areas of the Philippines because of the constant surge in the price of gold and easy way out of poverty. ASGM, which occurs in more than 70 countries, provides income to an estimated 10 - 15 million miners including 4.5 million women and 1 million children. The sector produces about 500 to 800 tonnes of gold per annum, which accounts for about 20 to 30 percent of the world’s gold supply. Despite of this, destruction of environment and human health is at stake. The use of mercury (Hg) in ASGM posed a very dangerous threat to the health of the miners. It contains potent neurotoxin that impairs brain function, lowers intelligence and causes hearing loss. It also affects women in terms of miscarriages and birth defects. This element also destroys the environment by polluting freshwater bodies. Moreover, small scale mining practices such as the use of dynamite in making tunnels is one of the cause of landslides and degradation of the mountain. This photo story will focus on the environment and health issues pose by the artisanal and small-scale gold mining practices in the Philippines and it will also showcase how the players such as the miners, townspeople and the government are dealing with it. My objective in making this story is to educate the people about the reality that the small scale mining is dangerous but a kind of livelihood that is essential in the national development of the country. It aims to call on the attention of the government to regulate and supervise this kind of livelihood for the benefit of the miners and the companies. http://www.lightstalkers.org en-us http://images.lightstalkers.org/avatars/44862/AC_small.jpg http://www.lightstalkers.org/AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301342/01_small.jpg' /><br />Jewelries made of gold are being sold in the market in Saudi Arabia. Gold is one of the most sought out precious metal in the world not just for art and accessories but also for its high monetary value. The price of gold varies in what is stated on the world market.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301342'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301342 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:18:30 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301342 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301342/01_small.jpg' /><br />Jewelries made of gold are being sold in the market in Saudi Arabia. Gold is one of the most sought out precious metal in the world not just for art and accessories but also for its high monetary value. The price of gold varies in what is stated on the world market.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301342'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301345/02_small.jpg' /><br />A miner takes a break while his companion continue the work inside a sinking tunnel 5 story deep.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301345'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301345 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:20:01 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301345 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301345/02_small.jpg' /><br />A miner takes a break while his companion continue the work inside a sinking tunnel 5 story deep.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301345'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301243/17_small.jpg' /><br />Surface mining in the town of Panganiban, Camarines Norte. Its a form of small scale mining that is done in river beds, streams and shallow waters.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301243'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301243 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 01:44:24 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301243 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301243/17_small.jpg' /><br />Surface mining in the town of Panganiban, Camarines Norte. Its a form of small scale mining that is done in river beds, streams and shallow waters.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301243'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301348/03_small.jpg' /><br />This ore might contains a gram of gold or other mineral deposit.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301348'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301348 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:48:04 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301348 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301348/03_small.jpg' /><br />This ore might contains a gram of gold or other mineral deposit.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301348'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301351/04_small.jpg' /><br />A compressor miner dives in a 14 meters deep well in the middle of a rice field in Dalas, Camarines Norte. He stays for 4-6 hrs before surfacing. This is the most dangerous form of small scale mining because of the risk that the miners might be intoxicated by the artificial air from the compressor or be electrocuted. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301351'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301351 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:21:54 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301351 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301351/04_small.jpg' /><br />A compressor miner dives in a 14 meters deep well in the middle of a rice field in Dalas, Camarines Norte. He stays for 4-6 hrs before surfacing. This is the most dangerous form of small scale mining because of the risk that the miners might be intoxicated by the artificial air from the compressor or be electrocuted. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301351'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301252/25_small.jpg' /><br />Miners burn the mercury ore mix in order to recover the gold particles and remove its impurities.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301252'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301252 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:22:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301252 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301252/25_small.jpg' /><br />Miners burn the mercury ore mix in order to recover the gold particles and remove its impurities.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301252'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301354/06_small.jpg' /><br />A miner carries his make shift crude sluice box, an equipment use in surface mining to sift the sand from the mineral deposits, after his work along the shores in Panganiban Camarines Norte.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301354'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301354 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:23:28 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301354 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301354/06_small.jpg' /><br />A miner carries his make shift crude sluice box, an equipment use in surface mining to sift the sand from the mineral deposits, after his work along the shores in Panganiban Camarines Norte.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301354'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301255/27_small.jpg' /><br />This small gold nugget weighs for 1/4 grams which only cost for P194. This small amount of money will be divided to four miners and rental of the ballmill.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301255'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301255 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:23:54 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301255 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301255/27_small.jpg' /><br />This small gold nugget weighs for 1/4 grams which only cost for P194. This small amount of money will be divided to four miners and rental of the ballmill.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301255'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301264/AC_Dimatatac__9__small.jpg' /><br />Surface mining in the sea and sinking mining in the mountains are the two most common type of small scale mining in Camarines Norte. This province is one of the mining hub in the Philippines wherein half of its 26,000 workforce are miners that can earn 1/2 gram of gold per day.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301264'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301264 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:24:10 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301264 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301264/AC_Dimatatac__9__small.jpg' /><br />Surface mining in the sea and sinking mining in the mountains are the two most common type of small scale mining in Camarines Norte. This province is one of the mining hub in the Philippines wherein half of its 26,000 workforce are miners that can earn 1/2 gram of gold per day.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301264'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301357/09_small.JPG' /><br />A surface miner sifts the sand accumulated by his fellow miner to separate the mineral deposits.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301357'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301357 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:24:46 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301357 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301357/09_small.JPG' /><br />A surface miner sifts the sand accumulated by his fellow miner to separate the mineral deposits.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301357'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301261/IMG_0617_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301261'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301261 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 01:20:29 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301261 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301261/IMG_0617_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301261'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301237/03_small.jpg' /><br />A compressor mining is taking place in this rice field in Dalas, Camarines Norte. Its a type of small scale mining wherein the miner dives in a 14 meters deep hole of murky waters using a plastic hose attached to a compressor as their artificial air.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301237'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301237 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 08:40:46 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301237 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301237/03_small.jpg' /><br />A compressor mining is taking place in this rice field in Dalas, Camarines Norte. Its a type of small scale mining wherein the miner dives in a 14 meters deep hole of murky waters using a plastic hose attached to a compressor as their artificial air.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301237'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301360/11_small.jpg' /><br />A miner pans to get the gold dust from the mud taken from compressor mining in the middle of a rice field in Dalas, Camarines Norte.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301360'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301360 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:26:00 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301360 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301360/11_small.jpg' /><br />A miner pans to get the gold dust from the mud taken from compressor mining in the middle of a rice field in Dalas, Camarines Norte.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301360'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301240/14_small.jpg' /><br />This sinking tunnel in Sta. Rosa, Camarines Norte is about 5 storeys deep in which 3 miners are working inside for 8 hrs.a day. Its a type of small scale mining wherein they dig or blast portion of the mountains in order to create tunnels to extract gold-bearing ores.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301240'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301240 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:26:20 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301240 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301240/14_small.jpg' /><br />This sinking tunnel in Sta. Rosa, Camarines Norte is about 5 storeys deep in which 3 miners are working inside for 8 hrs.a day. Its a type of small scale mining wherein they dig or blast portion of the mountains in order to create tunnels to extract gold-bearing ores.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301240'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301366/13_small.jpg' /><br />A miner hammering at the ores below the 5 storey deep sinking tunnel. They can also extract other minerals like silver or copper.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301366'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301366 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:26:33 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301366 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301366/13_small.jpg' /><br />A miner hammering at the ores below the 5 storey deep sinking tunnel. They can also extract other minerals like silver or copper.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301366'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301369/14_small.jpg' /><br />An old couple miners shifting thru the tailings for possible gold dust. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301369'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301369 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:27:15 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301369 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301369/14_small.jpg' /><br />An old couple miners shifting thru the tailings for possible gold dust. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301369'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301246/21_small.jpg' /><br />All miners use mercury (Hg) because it is easy to use and very effective in capturing the gold.They can purchase it to any convenience(Sari-Sari) store for the price of P300 per vial (Abon).<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301246'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301246 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:27:55 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301246 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301246/21_small.jpg' /><br />All miners use mercury (Hg) because it is easy to use and very effective in capturing the gold.They can purchase it to any convenience(Sari-Sari) store for the price of P300 per vial (Abon).<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301246'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301363/13_small.jpg' /><br />A miner hammering at the ores below the 5 storey deep sinking tunnel. They can also extract other minerals like silver or copper.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301363'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301363 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:26:03 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301363 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301363/13_small.jpg' /><br />A miner hammering at the ores below the 5 storey deep sinking tunnel. They can also extract other minerals like silver or copper.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301363'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301372/16_small.jpg' /><br />All miners practice amalgamation in which they feed mercury in the ores after they process it from the ballmill.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301372'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301372 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:28:33 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301372 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301372/16_small.jpg' /><br />All miners practice amalgamation in which they feed mercury in the ores after they process it from the ballmill.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301372'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301249/24_small.jpg' /><br />This is a mercury ore mix in which the miners will burn later in order to turn it into gold.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301249'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301249 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:29:23 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301249 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301249/24_small.jpg' /><br />This is a mercury ore mix in which the miners will burn later in order to turn it into gold.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301249'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301378/18_small.jpg' /><br />This small gold nugget weighs about 1/4 grams which only cost for P194. In Camarines Norte, they weigh the gold base on rice grain (palay) and old coins(bahay). Twenty pieces of rice grain is equivalent to 1 old coin and 2 old coins is equals to one gram. The price per gram is P900-950.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301378'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301378 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:48:51 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301378 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301378/18_small.jpg' /><br />This small gold nugget weighs about 1/4 grams which only cost for P194. In Camarines Norte, they weigh the gold base on rice grain (palay) and old coins(bahay). Twenty pieces of rice grain is equivalent to 1 old coin and 2 old coins is equals to one gram. The price per gram is P900-950.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301378'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301375/19_small.jpg' /><br />Compressor miners hang around their deep well in the middle of the rice field in Dalas Camarines Norte.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301375'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301375 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:30:24 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301375 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301375/19_small.jpg' /><br />Compressor miners hang around their deep well in the middle of the rice field in Dalas Camarines Norte.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301375'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301381/20_small.jpg' /><br />Kids look for ore or gold dust in the shore in Panganiban, Camarines Norte. Surface mining is a form of small scale mining that is done in river beds, streams and shallow waters.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301381'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301381 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:30:55 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301381 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301381/20_small.jpg' /><br />Kids look for ore or gold dust in the shore in Panganiban, Camarines Norte. Surface mining is a form of small scale mining that is done in river beds, streams and shallow waters.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301381'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301258/30_small.jpg' /><br />A miner is resting inside a sinking tunnel in the town of Sta. Rosa, Camarines Norte.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301258'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301258 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:31:20 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301258 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1301258/30_small.jpg' /><br />A miner is resting inside a sinking tunnel in the town of Sta. Rosa, Camarines Norte.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1301258'>view full-size image</a> AC Dimatatac