Why Miners Risk Their Lives To Get Sulfur From An Active Volcano | Risky Business
TLDRIn Indonesia, miners risk their lives working inside the Ijen volcano, known for its toxic fumes, to extract sulfur, locally referred to as 'devil's gold.' Despite the dangerous conditions and a life expectancy not exceeding 50 years, these miners continue their work due to the relatively higher pay compared to other jobs in the region. The sulfur, used in a variety of products from cosmetics to sugar production, is carried in heavy loads up steep cliffs. The mining company PT Candi Ngrimbi operates the mine but does not provide safety equipment, leaving miners to use makeshift protection against the harmful sulfur smoke. Although most sulfur is now sourced from oil and gas refining, making volcanic mining less relevant, the Ijen mine persists, driven by the cost-effectiveness for the company and the lack of better employment opportunities for the miners. The miners' daily wage is around $12 to $17, earned through a pay-per-weight system. The narrative also highlights the juxtaposition of tourists visiting the site for its beauty and the harsh reality faced by the miners.
Takeaways
- 🌋 Miners in Indonesia work inside an active volcano, facing dangerous conditions including toxic fumes and extreme heat to mine sulfur, known as 'devil's gold'.
- 🧘 Life expectancy for these miners is short, with many not living past 50 due to the hazardous nature of their work.
- 🏋️ Miners like Mistar carry heavy loads of up to 200 pounds of sulfur up and down steep cliffs, a physically demanding task.
- 🔍 Sulfur is used in a wide range of products, from matches and rubber to cosmetics and the bleaching of sugar.
- 📉 Volcanic sulfur mining is considered obsolete as most sulfur comes from oil and gas refining, but it continues due to limited job opportunities in the region.
- 💰 Miners earn a modest income of about $12 to $17 a day, which is relatively high compared to other jobs in the remote area of Indonesia.
- 🚫 The lack of proper equipment, such as gas masks, forces miners to use improvised methods like wet handkerchiefs to protect themselves from sulfur powder.
- ⚠️ There are two types of dangerous sulfur smoke; one from the volcano's interior and another more lethal one from the volcanic gases below the acidic lake.
- 🧪 The sulfur mining process involves the condensation of superhot smoke into liquid sulfur, which then solidifies and is chipped off by miners.
- 📉 The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the daily sulfur extraction capacity from 25 tons to 10 tons due to social distancing measures.
- 🔥 The sulfur industry from oil and gas is a $13 billion market, making natural mining less relevant, yet it continues due to cost-effectiveness for the mining company and higher wages for the miners.
- 🌄 Tourism plays a role in the continued operation of the mine, with visitors coming to see the blue flame and hike the volcano, sometimes interacting with the miners.
Q & A
What is the local name for sulfur in the Indonesian community where the miners work?
-The locals refer to sulfur as 'devil's gold'.
What are the health risks faced by the miners due to their work environment?
-The miners are exposed to toxic fumes, work near a toxic volcano lake, and deal with extreme heat, which leads to a shortened life expectancy, with many not living past 50 years old.
How much weight of sulfur does a miner like Mistar carry up the cliffs?
-Miners like Mistar carry up to 200 pounds of sulfur on their backs up and down the steep cliffs.
What are the two types of sulfur smoke that miners have to deal with?
-The first type comes from deep inside the volcano and is channeled through pipes, while the second, more dangerous type, comes from the volcanic gases below the acidic lake.
Why do the miners use handkerchiefs or towels dipped in water instead of gas masks?
-Many miners cannot afford gas masks, so they use handkerchiefs or towels dipped in water to keep the sulfur powder from sticking.
What is the significance of the color change in sulfur during the mining process?
-When the superhot smoke from the volcano condenses in the cooler air, it turns into a liquid that drips off the pipe, solidifies, cools, and turns yellow, which is when miners can begin chipping off blocks of sulfur.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the sulfur mining operation at Ijen volcano?
-Pre-pandemic, miners could extract up to 25 tons daily, but since 2020, they've been working in two separate shifts for social distancing, reducing their capacity to only 10 tons of sulfur a day.
What is the primary use of sulfur in the nearby sugar factories?
-At the factory, sulfur is boiled and filtered to remove contaminants, then used to produce sulfuric acid, which is essential for making sugar white.
How does the sulfur industry from oil and gas compare to traditional mining in terms of purity and safety?
-The sulfur from oil and gas refining is much purer and safer to handle, as it is a byproduct of refining and is processed under legal requirements. In contrast, sulfur from traditional mining can be acidic or contain impurities like sand.
Why do miners continue to mine sulfur despite the risks and lower purity compared to oil and gas sulfur?
-Miners continue this work because the pay is significantly higher than other jobs on the island, such as farming, and the mining company finds it easier and cheaper to source sulfur from Ijen.
What additional opportunities have arisen for the miners due to tourism?
-Some miners are becoming tour guides or making sulfur souvenirs to cater to tourists who visit the volcano to see the blue flame and enjoy the vistas.
What is the daily wage for a miner like Mistar, and how is it calculated?
-Mistar and other miners are paid based on the weight of their loads, receiving about 9 cents per kilo. With two loads, a miner can make around $17 a day.
Outlines
🌋 Deadly Gold: Sulfur Mining in an Active Volcano
This paragraph describes the perilous work of sulfur miners in Indonesia, who toil inside an active volcano, enduring toxic fumes and harsh conditions. The miners, such as Mistar, carry up to 200 pounds of sulfur up steep cliffs and face a life expectancy of less than 50 years. Sulfur is a versatile material used in a wide range of products, but most of it is now sourced from oil and gas refining, making these volcanic mines less relevant. Despite this, miners continue to work for $12 to $17 a day because it's one of the better-paying jobs in the region. The narrative also touches on the lack of proper equipment like gas masks, which leads miners to use improvised methods to protect themselves from the harmful sulfur smoke.
🔍 The Process and Purpose of Sulfur Mining
The second paragraph explains the process of sulfur production and its various applications. When the hot volcanic smoke cools, it condenses into liquid sulfur, which turns yellow and solidifies, allowing miners to chip off blocks. Despite the risks, including rashes and blisters from handling sulfur, the miners continue their work. The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the daily sulfur extraction capacity from 25 tons to 10 tons due to social distancing measures. The mining company PT Candi Ngrimbi owns the mine and the factory where the sulfur is processed into sulfuric acid, which is used in a multitude of industries. However, 98% of the world's sulfur comes from oil and gas refining, making the natural mining less significant. The paragraph also highlights that, despite the lower purity and additional costs, the mining company finds it more convenient and cheaper to source sulfur from Ijen, and for miners, it remains a higher-paying job compared to alternatives like farming.
💰 The Economics and Human Cost of Sulfur Mining
The final paragraph delves into the economics of sulfur mining and the human cost associated with it. Miners are paid roughly 9 cents per kilo of sulfur, enabling them to earn about $17 for two loads. The mining company has not provided a comment on the low wages despite the job's high risk. The paragraph also mentions the role of tourism in the area, with visitors coming to witness the blue flame of sulfur gas and the challenging work conditions of the miners. Some miners have started to work as tour guides or make sulfur souvenirs, but many continue with the traditional mining work. The narrative concludes with a poignant image of Mistar returning home, carrying the heavy burden of providing for his family, while the very volcano that provides his livelihood slowly takes his health.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Sulfur Mining
💡Volcanic Mines
💡Toxic Fumes
💡Freelance Contractors
💡Sulfur Smoke
💡Health Effects
💡Social Distancing
💡Sulfuric Acid
💡Oil and Gas Refining
💡Tourism
💡Economic Necessity
Highlights
Hundreds of miners work in an active volcano in Indonesia, battling toxic fumes while mining sulfur, known as 'devil's gold'.
The dangerous working conditions lead to many miners not living past 50 years old.
Miners like Mistar carry up to 200 pounds of sulfur on their backs up steep cliffs.
Sulfur is used in a wide range of products, including matches, rubber, cosmetics, and sugar production.
Most of the world's sulfur comes from oil and gas refining, making volcanic mines relatively obsolete.
Miners still work in these mines, earning about $12 to $17 a day, as it's one of the better paying jobs in the remote area.
Mistar has been mining sulfur for 30 years, walking a 2-mile hike to the ridge of Ijen volcano.
The extreme environment includes air temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and toxic volcanic lakes.
Miners battle two types of sulfur smoke, one from the volcano and another more dangerous one from the volcanic gases below the acidic lake.
Freelance miners often can't afford gas masks and use handkerchiefs or towels dipped in water to protect themselves.
The sulfur production process involves superhot smoke condensing into liquid that drips off the pipes and solidifies into yellow blocks.
Pre-pandemic, miners could extract up to 25 tons daily, but post-2020 social distancing measures reduced capacity to 10 tons a day.
Some younger miners carry up to 200 pounds of sulfur in one load, walking in treacherous conditions.
The mining company PT Candi Ngrimbi owns the license and the factory where sulfur is processed into sulfuric acid.
Sulfuric acid is the world's most commonly used chemical, essential for a variety of industries.
98% of the world's sulfur is produced from oil and gas refining, which is a byproduct and is processed safely by law.
Despite the risks and lower purity compared to refined sulfur, Ijen remains one of the few places where sulfur is mined the traditional way.
The mining company finds it cheaper to source sulfur from Ijen, and miners earn more than they would in other local jobs like farming.
Miners are paid around 9 cents per kilo, with some making $17 a day with two loads.
Tourism plays a role in the mine's continued operation, with visitors coming to see the blue flame and the miners' work.
Some miners are shifting to roles as tour guides or making sulfur souvenirs, but many continue with traditional mining.
The Ijen volcano serves as a symbol of the miners' livelihood and the personal risks they take to provide for their families.
Transcripts
Browse More Related Video
5 Of The Most Dangerous Jobs In The World | Big Business | Business Insider
How 800 Million Pounds of Himalayan Salt Are Mined Each Year | Big Business | Business Insider
How People Risk Their Lives Hunting For Gems, Pearls, and Gold | Risky Business | Insider News
Toughest Jobs in the World: Cleaning Industrial Plant, Diamond & Gold Mine | Free Documentary
Why The Most Dangerous Silver Mine In The World Could Collapse | Risky Business
The Children Working On Indian Coal Mines
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)
Thanks for rating: