Emerald Miners: 10242007_Becherer_Emeralds003

Detonated dynamite throws rock and dust shooting out of an emerald mine on the rock face of the mountains above the Panjshir Valley village of Khenj, Afghanistan on Wednesday, October 24, 2007. Powdered explosive are shoved into holes that are drilled into the rock with a wood pole. A detonator is then inserted with a fuse and ignited. The miners blast rock as they follow promising veins looking for prized emeralds. The blast can be heard all the way to the village below and felt in the rocks of the mountain as miners work in adjacent mines.
October 24, 2007- Khenj, Afghanistan

Detonated dynamite throws rock and dust shooting out of an emerald mine on the rock face of the mountains above the Panjshir Valley village of Khenj, Afghanistan on Wednesday, October 24, 2007. Powdered explosive are shoved into holes that are drilled into the rock with a wood pole. A detonator is then inserted with a fuse and ignited. The miners blast rock as they follow promising veins looking for prized emeralds. The blast can be heard all the way to the village below and felt in the rocks of the mountain as miners work in adjacent mines.