GEORGE ROBERTS: They lug their rocks for miles to a valley that's humming with thousands of processing plants.
The rocks are smashed up in tumbler machines and mercury or cyanide added to dissolve the gold.
Over the hill the part state-run, part Australian stock market listed Antam Pongkor Mine is drilling deep under the ground.
The mine's manager Hari Widjajanto says the illegal miners aren't just risking their lives.
HARI WIDJAJANTO (translated): They are doing mining without considering safety for themselves and others.
Also when they do processing, they use hazardous chemicals and they dump the waste directly into the river. With the increase in cyanide and mercury in the river, people can no longer use the water for bathing and washing.
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