Lost generation: The cost of living on gold in Lombok

By Jewel Topsfield and Amilia Rosa
Updated October 8 2017 - 6:38am, first published 6:31am
A tromol machine in a backyard of a home only metres away from the kitchen in Sekotong village. A tromol machine pulverises rock from the mine. Mercury is being used to extract gold from rock. A study has revealed that high levels of mercury have been found in women of child bearing age in Sekotong village, Lombok, Indonesia. 21st September, 2017. Photo:Amilia Rosa
A tromol machine in a backyard of a home only metres away from the kitchen in Sekotong village. A tromol machine pulverises rock from the mine. Mercury is being used to extract gold from rock. A study has revealed that high levels of mercury have been found in women of child bearing age in Sekotong village, Lombok, Indonesia. 21st September, 2017. Photo:Amilia Rosa
A gold mine worker holds rocks at the base of an underground mine in Sekotong village. Mercury is being used to extract gold from rock. A study has revealed that high levels of mercury have been found in women of child bearing age in Sekotong village, Lombok, Indonesia. 21st September, 2017. Photo:Amilia Rosa
A gold mine worker holds rocks at the base of an underground mine in Sekotong village. Mercury is being used to extract gold from rock. A study has revealed that high levels of mercury have been found in women of child bearing age in Sekotong village, Lombok, Indonesia. 21st September, 2017. Photo:Amilia Rosa
Sifaiyah swirls a bucket with mercury that has attracted the gold to it.  Mercury is being used to extract gold from rock. A study has revealed that high levels of mercury have been found in women of child bearing age in Sekotong village, Lombok, Indonesia. 21st September, 2017. Photo:Amilia Rosa
Sifaiyah swirls a bucket with mercury that has attracted the gold to it. Mercury is being used to extract gold from rock. A study has revealed that high levels of mercury have been found in women of child bearing age in Sekotong village, Lombok, Indonesia. 21st September, 2017. Photo:Amilia Rosa
Edo uses a blow torch to purify the gold and release foreign particles such as mercury. Mercury is being used to extract gold from rock. A study has revealed that high levels of mercury have been found in women of child bearing age in Sekotong village, Lombok, Indonesia. 22nd September, 2017. Photo:Amilia Rosa
Edo uses a blow torch to purify the gold and release foreign particles such as mercury. Mercury is being used to extract gold from rock. A study has revealed that high levels of mercury have been found in women of child bearing age in Sekotong village, Lombok, Indonesia. 22nd September, 2017. Photo:Amilia Rosa
Sifaiyah holds the gold extracted from the mercury process in Sekotong village. Mercury is being used to extract gold from rock. A study has revealed that high levels of mercury have been found in women of child bearing age in Sekotong village, Lombok, Indonesia. 21st September, 2017. Photo:Amilia Rosa
Sifaiyah holds the gold extracted from the mercury process in Sekotong village. Mercury is being used to extract gold from rock. A study has revealed that high levels of mercury have been found in women of child bearing age in Sekotong village, Lombok, Indonesia. 21st September, 2017. Photo:Amilia Rosa
 At their home in Sekotong village,Nursah (left) and his wife Fatimah (right)  hold photos of their son Iqbal who died at the age of 3yrs. Nursah worked in a gold mine where he used mercury to extract the gold from rocks. He has now changed his job and moved house after he realised that mercury could have contributed to his son??????s death. Mercury is being used to extract gold from rock. A study has revealed that high levels of mercury have been found in women of child bearing age in Sekotong village, Lombok, Indonesia. 21st September, 2017. Photo:Amilia Rosa
At their home in Sekotong village,Nursah (left) and his wife Fatimah (right) hold photos of their son Iqbal who died at the age of 3yrs. Nursah worked in a gold mine where he used mercury to extract the gold from rocks. He has now changed his job and moved house after he realised that mercury could have contributed to his son??????s death. Mercury is being used to extract gold from rock. A study has revealed that high levels of mercury have been found in women of child bearing age in Sekotong village, Lombok, Indonesia. 21st September, 2017. Photo:Amilia Rosa
Muhammad Fikri age 8 years old lies on a bed at home in Sekotong village. Muhammad suffers from severe mental & physical disabilities. Mercury is being used to extract gold from rock. A study has revealed that high levels of mercury have been found in women of child bearing age in Sekotong village, Lombok, Indonesia. 21st September, 2017. Photo:Amilia Rosa
Muhammad Fikri age 8 years old lies on a bed at home in Sekotong village. Muhammad suffers from severe mental & physical disabilities. Mercury is being used to extract gold from rock. A study has revealed that high levels of mercury have been found in women of child bearing age in Sekotong village, Lombok, Indonesia. 21st September, 2017. Photo:Amilia Rosa

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