The color stones are being mined in a mine in the Ratnapura district in Sri Lanka

Miners in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka engaged in ‘river dragging’. This process involves dragging the soil in the river which includes the gem bearing layer. Later the miners will sieve the soil to find gemstones.

An entrance to a gem mine.
The mine is covered with a temporary structure.
The inside of a mine. To prevent the mine collapsing, a wooden structure is used.
Water is pumped out of the mine using a motor.
A metal tube is used as a communication device between the miners deep down in the pit and those outside.
A wood-and-metal sieve used in separating the stones from the soil and debris.
Rough stones among the debris.
The stones left over after the gemstones are separated and taken out. More