Kawah Ijen is also the site of labor-intensive sulfur mining. There is no machinery, only continuous series of locals’ works. Since 1968, forced sulfur collectors have been working by day and night, in untenable conditions. A stream upwelling of sulfur from fumaroles at the crater base is the main source of a thriving enterprise.
Gathering the “yellow gold” and carrying heavy loads often 50 kg in weight or more make the company are capable to deliver at least 5 tons and even more every day. Paid more than usual daily wage, sulfur collectors are working for the only exclusive control of PT. Candi Ngrimbi for getting 600Rp per kilo. Having total 25,000Rp to 50,000Rp per day. But isn’t it equal for what workers get with the burden greater than hard physical labor. All these for what?
***
The Process of Sulfur Forming
The streaming flow of sulfur comes from fumaroles on the depth of the crater base. The steam and hot gases which enrich sulfur dioxide are emited. The series of steel pipeline installed on the fumaroles site help to establish the condensation process, which sulfur dioxide vapor flows through the pipeline condensate into liquid sulfur. Out from the hole of the pipelines, it turns out to solidify as the the temperature goes down.
0 comments:
Post a Comment