What is special about the 'gold' in this volcano that makes hundreds of workers risk their lives to get it?

They must daily face the dangers lurking, toxic sulfur smoke to get what is called "devil's gold". So why would they take the risk to get the stuff from these volcanoes.

In this article, we will search for answers when we come to Ijen volcano (a volcanic complex located on the boundary of Banyuwangi and Bondowoso districts in East Java province).

Digging gold in a volcano - the most dangerous job in the world

Here, each worker is only equipped with extremely rudimentary tools. What helps to protect them from the toxic smoke spewing from the volcano is the gas mask. Meanwhile, their costumes are nothing special.

Miner outfit.

They used a long pole to poke "golden blocks" that had solidified after a while flowing out from the fissures. Then they carried a weight of more than 90kg on their shoulders with a pole to carry this gold over dangerous steep terrain to the place of processing.

It is because of the dangerous nature of the work that very few miners can live to be more than 50 years old. But the people here still do not give up this job because according to a miner named Mistar who has worked here for 30 years, they are more afraid of hunger than afraid of toxic gas.

For one of Indonesia's most remote areas, this is a high-value job. Each miner will earn from 12 to 17 dollars/day (about 276 to 390 thousand VND per day, paid by mining company PT. Candi Ngrimbi).

Miners get "gold" from the crater.

However, to be able to earn this money, they have to wake up between 1 and 2 am, walk more than 3km to the top of the volcano or push the cart up. Then they went down the crater slope more than 300 meters to get to work.

The temperature here can be up to 38 degrees Celsius. In addition, they often have to go close to the edge of the volcanic lake with harmful gases below (SO2, H2S, CO2.). The acid concentration in the lake is equivalent to the acid concentration of the batteries (PH = 0.3), so slipping into the lake will be very dangerous.

Harsh workplace.

According to Mistar, if you let the water in the lake come into contact with your teeth, you can lose your teeth, even more dangerous if you drink it in your stomach. Toxic gas will come from two sources: One is from the lake on the crater, the other is from pipes from deep inside the volcano.

Many do not even have respirators or protective gloves. According to Mistar, the people working here will often feel tired, have intestinal pain and cough.

What will 'Devil's Gold' be used for?

These "devil's gold" blocks are mined for sulfur. This sulfur is not mixed with sand and is very clean compared to sulfur extracted from the main source of oil and gas (98%). People will use them for many different purposes.

Miners and tourists.

People will use sulfur to make matches, fireworks, gunpowder, detergents, paper, batteries, sugar whiteners, fertilizers, rubber or even alcohol.

Today, such sulfur extraction work exists only at the Ijen volcano. One of the reasons it still exists is tourism. Many people enjoy coming here to take pictures, see the green gas emitted from the volcano or observe the miners at work.