The Ijen volcano on Indonesia’s largest island of Java is one of the few places in the world where sulphur is still mined without machines.

For the locals who mine the raw sulphur it is a source of income and the local economy thrives off the sulphur industry. So much so that there was been continuous resistance to any form of modernisation in order to protect jobs. Everyday up to 100 miners navigate their way up the volcano and down into the crater to mine for sulphur. It’s dangerous work but despite the long term health implications that breathing in sulphur gas can cause, there is no shortage of locals willing to risk everything to earn a good salary. Long term sulphur miners often suffer from multiple health problems such as decreased mobility, lung cancer, bronchitis and reduced vision.

The extracted sulphur is taken to a processing factory in the surrounding area where the sulphur undergoes a purification process before being exported internationally. The pure sulphur is used for a variety of purposes ranging from its use in household cleaning products, make up, explosives and even the purification of sugar.