A small pit dug out using a mechanical digger then worked on by hand. Two workers dig the soil and one worker sorts through the soil with a knife and picks out the sapphires.

Raking through the soil with a knife.

The pockets of gray soil are where the sapphires are found.

 One of the miners showing me the stones they have found.

Peering down into a traditional style gem pit. These types of pits have become a rarity today with the arrival of modern mechanical mining techniques.

Foot holes are dug into the sides of the pit. The whole os too small for a ladder to be used.

Dealers inspecting parcels of rough sapphires.

A dark green sapphire crystal from Bang Kacha.

Splitting a sapphire crystal before cutting.

The sapphire crystal after splitting.

Inspecting the crystal after splitting.

A bucket full of sapphire crystals after cleaning.

Inspecting a large green sapphire crystal with a fibre optic light.

A large piece of black spinel or nin.

A large golden sapphire crystal.