Children sieving and washing small gems from mine waste, Mogok ruby mines, near Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Machine digging gem-bearing clay in large open pit mine, Mogok ruby mines, Mandalay District, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

To protect the stones, children put them in their mouths during mining, Mogok, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

After bashing the sand, the ruby stones concentrate naturally in the middle of the container, Mogok, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Boys searching for ruby stones in Mogok mining sites, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Small ruby stones bought by buyers on the market of Mogok, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Boys searching for ruby stones in Mogok mining sites, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Deforestation for farmland, cleared by slash and burn, Mogok Hills, Mandalay District, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

View of the west mining site of Mogok, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

View of the west mining site of Mogok, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Children sieving and washing small gems from stream below mine, Mogok ruby mines, near Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

A buyer is evaluating some ruby stones in Mogok, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Vein mine 300 metres deep, Mogok ruby mines, near Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma), Asia