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Miner

Safety conscious Staffordshire mine worker Craig Notman travels to Mongolia to dig for gold in a precarious and dangerous network of tunnels deep in the Mongolian steppe.

Craig Notman, a mine worker from Staffordshire, is travelling to Mongolia to dig for gold in some of the toughest conditions on Earth. Mongolia is a country enjoying the world's biggest economic boom, entirely supported by mining. But while some people are getting rich, more than 40 percent of the population lives in poverty. Craig is staying in a traditional Mongolian tent, or ger, and working with local miner Sukhbaatar.

Like tens of thousands of small-scale miners, Sukhbaatar digs tunnels into the Mongolian steppe, searching for gold deep underground. It is a gruelling and dangerous way to earn just a few pounds a day. Thousands have died in the precarious networks of underground tunnels. Safety conscious Craig braves the tunnels himself as he learns to dig and pan for gold. He has to endure extreme weather and back-breaking work, and get to grips with unusual cuisine. Along the way, he discovers that a traditional nomadic people have been driven off their land by unprecedented extreme weather. With no other work in prospect, they must risk their lives every day in a desperate attempt to make money.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 25 Nov 2012 00:30

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See Mongolia's nomadic horse herders in action - and witness a traditional Mongolian tent or 'ger' being built in one minute flat.

Credits

Role Contributor
Director Simon Muriel
Director Simon Muriel
Producer Simon Muriel
Producer Simon Muriel
Executive Producer Sam Bagnall
Executive Producer Sam Bagnall
Series Producer Simon Watts-Davies

Broadcasts

  • Sun 19 Aug 2012 21:00
  • Mon 20 Aug 2012 23:20
  • Mon 20 Aug 2012 23:50
  • Fri 24 Aug 2012 22:30
  • Wed 5 Sep 2012 01:30
  • Sun 25 Nov 2012 00:30