Gold panning in the Mekong River, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Mine city of Ilakaka, Sapphire kingdom, Madagascar, Africa

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

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

Mine city of Ilakaka, Sapphire kingdom, Madagascar, Africa

Mine city of Ilakaka, Sapphire kingdom, Madagascar, Africa

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

Gold panning, Nong Kiew, River Nam Ou, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Woman panning for gold in the Mekong River, at Pak Ou, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Gold panning, Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, Pacific

Elderly man panning for gold, Elvire River, Old Halls Creek, Kimberley, Western Australia, Australia, Pacific

Gold panning, Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, Pacific

Women panning for gold in the waters of the Mekong River in Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Gold rush,ninjas precious metal in a river in sarangol valley, northwest of capital city ulan bator, mongolia. Ninjas named green pans they wear on their backs that make them resemble cartoon ninja turtle

People panning for gold, Sovereign Hill Mining Village, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, Pacific

Girl miss school to pan for gold in the mountains near Ankavandra, Madagascar

Girl miss school to pan for gold in the mountains near Ankavandra, Madagascar

laborers digging for sapphires in the mines of Ilakaka in Madagascar

laborers digging for sapphires in the mines of Ilakaka in Madagascar

laborers digging for sapphires in the mines of Ilakaka in Madagascar

laborers digging for sapphires in the mines of Ilakaka in Madagascar

Drone antenna testing

A boy helps crush stones in a special stone mill in Sudan. Illegal gold-mining in the region of the fourth cataract of the Nile in northern Sudan. People from the nearby villages work in shallow shafts in the desert. The rocks containing gold are crushed in a special mill. Some of the material is washed with water on the spot but the major part of it is taken to a village. 12/01/2007

Sacks filled with gold dust are put together in Sudan. Illegal gold-mining in the region of the fourth cataract of the Nile in northern Sudan. People from the nearby villages work in shallow shafts in the desert. The rocks containing gold are crushed in a special mill. Some of the material is washed with water on the spot but the major part of it is taken to a village. 12/01/2007

A gold miner works in a shaft using hand tools in Sudan.

A gold miner works in a shaft using hand tools in Sudan.

Gold mining in the territory area of Golden-crowned Sifaka, Daraina, Northern Madagascar, Africa

Gold mining in the territory area of Golden-crowned Sifaka, Daraina, Northern Madagascar, Africa