Traditional Tin Mining

 

 

 

 Dabo Singkep is an island of 1602 islands that comprise the entire Riau archipelago. The island was known as Tin City where the island is among the largest tin producer in Indonesia since 1812. During 1992, tin mining was stopped as a result of reduced market demand thus resulting in market prices plummeted. Nevertheless, the villagers still do the traditional tin mining activities. As early as 6am they went to the Batu Berdaun beach with cycling. An equipment such as trays and filters used for mining activities. These activities are done by people who mostly worked as a fisherman as a side job. According to one of tin miner, Shahri Mukhtar, 43, every day he and his colleagues could produce about 1 kg tin according to weather conditions and environment. Once the activities is finished, the tin will be dried and sold to market with 125 thousand rupiah a kilogram.

Workers activities at the Batu Berdaun beach.

Tin Miner, Rugayah Karim, 45 are sieving and sorting the tin from sand and mud.

Workers activities at the Batu Berdaun beach

Workers activities at the Batu Berdaun beach

Workers activities at the Batu Berdaun beach

Workers activities at the Batu Berdaun beach

Tin miner, Mukhtar Shahri 43, shows obtained tin in Batu Berdaun beach.

Workers activities at the Batu Berdaun beach