Digging for diamonds in South Kalimantan<\/p>\n
By Alex Abraham<\/p>\n
BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan (JP): Cempaka is a small town 38
\nkilometers out of Banjarmasin on the road to the coast of South
\nKalimantan. The town has neither famous landmarks nor any
\ninspiring touristic monuments. The market place is not crowded
\nwith visitors. But this is the land that many adventurers come to
\nin search of priceless treasures hidden under the ground. They
\ncome again and again to explore and to dig in the hope of finding
\nhidden wealth. For this is the land of gold and diamonds.<\/p>\n
The best locations to begin the search are the "secrets of the
\nelders" sites. Customarily, prospectors drill close to other
\nsuccessful finds. It is common to see eight to 10 derrick-like
\nstructures in one valley. The exploration starts with drilling
\nup to 10 meters below the ground and pumping out a muddy mixture
\nof sand, rocks and water. The piles of separated stones are then
\nsorted to isolate potential agate- and diamond-bearing rocks. The
\nmixture of water and fine sand, which has run into a carefully
\ndug pit is panned for gold dust.<\/p>\n
It was Friday and all was quiet in the valley. Only one site
\nwas being worked as everyone else was at jemaah (communal
\nprayer). Acacia and durian trees and elegant tall grasses cover
\nthe hillsides. Swaying young paddy painted the pretty valley
\ngreen. Iyuth and Yadi were patiently panning for gold and little
\nstones that glistened and showed promise of potential diamonds.<\/p>\n
They were using a uniquely Kalimantan technology: flattened
\nconical vessels made of wood with serrated surfaces to help hold
\nback fine particles as the water flowed away. When held up
\nagainst brilliant sunlight, there was indeed a faint glitter --
\nbut, said Iyuth, it was too faint and too little to be profitably
\ncollected. Yadi has been laboring in these mines for four long
\nyears. He likes the sense of adventure and of the hope of a big
\nfind, the promise of fortune.<\/p>\n
"That is the hope that keeps us going through heat and rain.
\nThere are some weeks when all that the panning produces is mud.
\nBut one good day, one good dig, and we can make as much as a
\nhundred thousand rupiah," he said, his eyes glowing.<\/p>\n
"Last year, Parlin, who had toiled for months with no luck,
\nfound a nugget the size of a pigeon's egg. They say he got five
\nmillion (rupiah) and he's gone to the big city. Anyway, we have
\nnot seen him since then."<\/p>\n
Iyuth is a more recent explorer, having heard from a cousin in
\nhis village of the opportunity to make wealth in these diggings.<\/p>\n
"Yadi has sharper eyes, that can locate the smallest glitter
\nand that's so important in this work," he said.<\/p>\n
They just cannot afford to miss any tiny particle. Every
\nlittle bit counts because they find so little after long hours of
\nwork.<\/p>\n
"Anyway, I'm better at selling to the dealers who come from
\nCempaka," he said.<\/p>\n
He said he knows that the city price for 24-karat gold is Rp
\n150,000 per gram and for diamonds it is more than Rp 50 million
\nfor a pure carat. But since they are dealing with raw stones,
\ntheir recovery is less than 10 percent for gold and even less for
\nthe stones.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, and as if from nowhere, Pak Syahbuddin appeared. He
\nwas tall, elegantly clad for these surroundings in faded tan
\ntrousers and a pale-blue shirt. He sported a natty felt hat that
\nhad seen better days. Deep-set eyes, bushy eyebrows, long nose
\nand sharp chin gave him a professorial air. A brown bag hung
\nlazily from his shoulder.<\/p>\n
"Persistence, hard work, dedication and most of all patience,"
\nhe said, "is the secret of successful mining. It is a demanding
\njob and fortune does not smile on you each day."<\/p>\n
His deep-set eyes, weather-beaten face and leathery hands
\nspoke volumes of the hard life he had led and underlined the
\nauthority of his revelation. "People talk of the wealth of the
\nancients," he said, almost secretively. "The grandeur of the
\nSingosari era, Airlangga and even Adityawarman.<\/p>\n
"What few realize is that before even Tarumanegara, there
\nflourished on this island a greater empire. Greater in wealth, in
\nextent and in glory. Much of that wealth and greatness came from
\nthe mines around Cempaka."<\/p>\n
Ever the optimist, he was sure his big find was yet to come.<\/p>\n
Those stones, he said, pointing at the pile near where Iyuth
\nand Yadi were hard at work, would become diamonds after cutting
\nand polishing.<\/p>\n
Then, with a gleam in his eye, he pulled out of his bag an
\nenvelope of gems. Not only were these stones of inestimable value
\nhe said, but they each had in them their own mysterious power to
\nmake all my wishes come true.<\/p>\n
He was now in his element. He offered gems that would ensure
\nboundless marital bliss, love, money, children and peace. As he
\nsaw the potential buyer hesitate, he pulled out more stones and
\nadded the promise of harmony, health and happiness.<\/p>\n
A superior salesman, Pak Syahbuddin would not give up even
\nafter the visitor said he had it all: happiness, love, two
\nwonderful children.<\/p>\n
Putting his hands into the deep depths of his bag, he pulled
\nout a little brown agate. "This," he declared authoritatively,
\n"will give you your youth!"<\/p>\n
This time, he won.<\/p>\n
The stone was handed over for Rp 15,000 -- half of his asking
\nprice.<\/p>\n
A month has passed. The brown agate sits at the center of the
\nwriting desk. It might not work, even if it is being polished
\neveryday, but it surely helps us remember Cempaka and of the
\nvigor for life.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/digging-for-diamonds-in-south-kalimantan-1447893297",
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