11 Of The Most Dangerous And Expensive Mining Expeditions In The World | So Expensive Marathon

In Uruguay, Renato is setting off an explosive to reveal an ancient, glittery stone - amethyst. While in Italy, Enrico is cutting slabs off of one of the most expensive marbles in the world - Calacatta.
Stones, salts, crystals, and other natural resources are worth millions of dollars. But getting to them is no easy feat. All over the world, miners are setting off on dangerous and strenuous missions on mountain tops, in underground tunnels, and below the seas to excavate these precious resources.
Our first stop is Scotland, where experienced stonemasons turn a rare granite into Olympic curling stones worth over $600 apiece.
00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:58 - Curling Stones
00:09:36 - Sulfur
00:21:48 - Pink Himalayan Salt
00:26:27 - Calacatta Marble
00:34:18 - Opal
00:40:41 - Tin Floating Mines
00:53:11 - Coal
01:03:54 - Amethyst
01:15:32 - Smithsonian Crystal
01:26:43 - Meerschaum Pipes
01:35:11 - Benitoite
1:42:29 - Credits
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11 of the Most Dangerous and Expensive Mining Expeditions in the World

[@repugnant__6379]

Not sure if this comp will mention it but shout out all the cobalt miners in Africa, those nine year Olds mined, so I could type this.

[@tommegg8486]

Cobalt miners are the backbone of modern battery. I salute them

[@kevineasterday9466]

AMEN! AS A MATTER OF FACT THE WARS WHICH ARE GOING ON WHICH THE UNITED STATES BLAMES ON OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE IT HAS TO IT CAN'T TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW DISGUSTING IT IS AND EVEN WHEN IT COMES OUT 20 TO 50 YEARS LATER THE UNITED STATES NEVER APOLOGIZES OR MAKES A MAN'S OR HOLDS ITS OWN ACCOUNTABLE FOR WAR CRIMES WHICH ARE FAR WORSE THAN HITLER OR STALIN COMMITTED. THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT FOR AMERICA SO WE CAN DRIVE A HUNDRED MILES ONE WAY ON A TANK OF CHEAP GAS TO BUY HALF A BAG OF S*** WE DON'T NEED NO MATTER WHOSE KID DIES NO MATTER WHO CATCHES CANCER NO MATTER WHAT PALESTINIANS ARE DRIVEN OUT OF THEIR HOMELAND FURTHER BY THE ISRAELIS SO THE ISRAELIS CAN STEAL THEIR OFFSHORE OIL WHICH WAS DISCOVERED 20 YEARS AGO AS IF STEALING THEIR HOMELAND WASN'T ENOUGH... JOOSKUM AND AMERICUNTS BROUGHT A KNIFE INTO THE RING AND WON THE FIGHT AND THEN CONTROLLED HISTORY AFTERWARD BY DOMINATING AND INTIMIDATING THE JUDGES...

[@machiii7394]

I want to see more of Mistar on his job in the sulfur mine, he’s so humble and it seems like he loves telling his story. I love seeing how other countries workers’ stories on how they make a living, since I know I haven’t had the same struggle.

[@nicolasalexander408]

It's horrendous what people have to go through so psychopaths can have another Yacht...I hope that universe is taking note....

[@kimd7300]

@@nicolasalexander408 Right? At least provide them mask at bare minimum!

[@cmmc3400]

If any worker in the world deserves a Go Fund Me. the sulfur miners do! If I could do it myself, I would in a heart beat but I am disabled. Bless them!🔥🔥

[@user-iy1vo2jf2q]

Its drama.. on the other side theyre mechanized, they want free money, people arent that stupid, and they can afford gloves for the love of god..

[@muhammadzulkarnaen4229]

@@user-iy1vo2jf2q That's a lot of assumptions without proof from your mouth, chill he's not robbing your riches, keep it in your pocket he's just telling his story and somehow you are the one that gets an attitude.

[@glitterfalls]

@@user-iy1vo2jf2q no, no they can't afford it

[@davidledford3522]

Rich people spend the money poor people die for

[@SemenTheSailor]

The narrators voice is so uncanny. Like they always perfectly pronounce everything perfectly in its native accent is incredible. Sometimes they have to switch accents 3 times in one sentence and it sounds weird. But when you go back and listen to each word it is pronounced perfectly in its language of origin. The seamlessness it’s so strange.

[@TheLumbologist]

I really hope these people get paid for their time during the interview.

[@EnvyTheRealest]

Most of the time they do

[@yessikaleticiamarriagapere631]

Tarea resuelta

[@Sreypich199]

Very good!

[@bfjrd]

hate to see that sulfur and coal mining ... government and mining company should do something to lighten the miners load like rails to carry their products, transportation and gears... greedy people taking advantage of the miners //SMH

[@user-iy1vo2jf2q]

sheep.

[@sammich4660]

i agree..the government or mining company can more than double profits if they make it easier for the miners, in reality them not making it easier for them is just hurting their own bottom dollar in the end

[@qilip7141]

I say you put your OWN MONEY up and start your OWN MINING company and do all the things you say others should do and see how much money you have left.... ppl with NO MONEY - bark orders around as if money does not exist.

[@qilip7141]

public schooled? - prove me wrong

[@Galvaxatron]

The narrator during the Tin Floating Mines segment is excruciating.

[@69Emoji]

Literally just had this thought had the video playing and came back to switch it lol. I dont know why they are whispering

[@thedomesticoperator]

@@69Emoji Voice overs in a hotel under the blanket in the bathroom. Producer probably sleeping....

[@Bilbobiloxin]

They must have braces based on the annunciation. It's incredibly rough.

[@-_MonsieurNashty_-]

I can't imagine the face a new opal miner gets whenever he's told by someone who's got 40-years of experience, "You've got just as much a chance at me dawg, good luck g 👍"

[@billholemo2518]

I TRULY appreciate your straight forward Analysis 🎉🎉😂😂

[@beverlylumley4150]

Interesting video

[@ralphralpherson9441]

I got the rock bug in 2008-2009, starting going down the Appalacians digging for quartz, then looking for smoky quartz and amethyst, then garnets, then pyrite cubes, then emerald/beryl (which the locals call "burl"), then aquamarine (also "burl"), then corundum (ruby/sapphire which the locals call "saffarr") and you just get SUCKED RIGHT IN. Before you know it, you'll be digging up stuff you never even knew to exist before you got into the rockhound hobby. "Oooh, kyanite!" "Wow! Blue fluorite!" "Oooh Elbaite!" Now (15 years later) I still love hunting quartz, beryl, corundum, and anything shiney and pretty, but I'm also on a little bit of a "gold" kick now. Looking for prospecting sites now and when the weather breaks, Ill be out in those ancient mountains looking for treasure. For me, crystals arent "healing" or any new-age bullsh... They're just beautiful miracles created by our Earth, and being the FIRST and ONLY person to ever see their immense beauty as you unearth them for the first time, helping them receive their first photons of sunlight in a hundred million years to reveal a geological miracle.... well, that's just a special experience I cant put into words. Spiritual almost... Go dig! But beware, its hard work! (not that any rockhound minds doing it)

[@AndrewJ951]

I heard a mineral dealer once say "If you're entranced by the natural beauty of stone, how is not therapeutic?"

[@ralphralpherson9441]

@@AndrewJ951 "Therapeutic" ??? Absolutely... That's a very wise mineral dealer. However, "Imbued with magical abilities based on "vibrations"???" Naaah, horsefeathers. I don't buy that new-agey horsecrap "Oh this peridot and adventurine will purify your throat chakra!"

[@sethstatler8480]

I'm in WV, I'd def be interested in starting this hobby myself. Whats your advice?

[@ralphralpherson9441]

@@sethstatler8480 First, read some local rockhound websites (North Carolina and Virgnia have very active geology club scenes... sounds dorky, but they do) so you know WHERE to start looking, then just get out on the weekends, trek into the woods (where its legal to dig) and start looking for cool rocks. In much of central Virgina and western and central North Carolina, you can dig down to the clay layer and start pulling out quartz crystals if you're in a "hot" area. The fancy stuff (aquamarine, sapphire, garnet etc...) is usually in the mountains... but you can find pyrite and calcite and whatnot in highway road cuts. I mean... its just reading online to learn where things are and then going to find them!

[@MooreInteresting]

I'm tired of clicking on a "new" video, just to realize it's a bunch of old content thrown together with a new title. 😂😂

[@daxhopkins7312]

You are not alone

[@wigm5669]

Be adviced: Some pink salts can, to my knowledge, potentially be higher in contaminants such as heavy metals…

[@user-iy1vo2jf2q]

Is true, also they contain alot of good micro nutes you need for overall health. My guess is theres worse in our drinking water than natural salts.

[@qilip7141]

some ppl's advices suck because it's really not advice. parrot copying another parrot and thinking they cured cancer is the product of public schooling.

[@cpcattin]

Those Scott’s really have the stones !

[@domfazool8326]

I wanna know who installed those pipes in the volcano.

[@AadenGueRReRo510]

I worked in landscaping and construction for 20 years as labor 😢.

[@franktrask1264]

The Sulphur is derived from a natural variation of the Claus Process. The oxidation-reduction production of native Sulphur. The original gas is hydrogen sulphide, which is more deadly than cyanide gas. This is partially burnt to Sulphur dioxide, and this is then reacted with unburnt hydrogen sulphide, they form the auto oxidation production of Sulphur. There are volcanoes where S is produced from volcanoes in Chile, with some of the elevations exceed 17,000 to 18,000 feet. They are now closed, but were operated for almost a hundred years to provide sulphuric acid for the nitrate and copper industries. These guys would knock off and play soccer in the evening at an elevation most people would faint at! The men in Indonesia are still working in between 10,000 and 11,000 feet. You should try climbing the trail next to them!

[@davidlahaye8804]

What major company do they sell the sulfur too

[@reddawg6091]

same question i was asking. $17 a day is crazy when im sure the company is making billions.

[@klikfaktapedia]

Look at the steep and rocky cliffs, there is a threat of landslides hitting the acid lake and causing an acid tsunami.

[@matthewkelly6997]

Send the president of IKEA a pendent!😅

[@krayxeez]

19:05 this is crazy.. The man is wearing a "Baťa" t-shirt, which is a shoe maker company, very old one, from near my home town in the Czech Republic.

[@flipotssss]

I had no idea Bata was Czech till I saw this comment 😱 They're still massive in India, and I always thought it was a South Asian brand.

[@krayxeez]

@@flipotssss yeah, it’s pretty fascinating that he is Still Well know in the world

[@ralphralpherson9441]

Well, when we the "1st world inhabitants" drop our old out-of-style clothes in the "donate your lightly used garments" boxes, I imagine these impoverished nations is where they all go. Doesn't surprise me. If they can use my old Affliction T-shirts from 2014, good for them!

[@user-ol6fe4zc9q]

shout out all the cobalt miners in Africa, those nine year olds mined,

[@Arash1996]

Your video is very good, keep it up

[@dotaallstars8081]

I subscribed for the massive plagiarizer Neri Oxman, Business Insider did an incredible job bringing light to the situation. Finally a source I can trust

[@caseypeterson3955]

You can travel by ship from Duluth MN to the Atlantic Ocean. So the Great Lakes are freshwater seas?

[@TheSock]

22:31 "Josh and his family drove the crystal *half-way* across the country"

[@GodzHarleyGirlStudio]

At least THIS time they included some I actually haven’t seen yet, fewer old posts.

[@julianbetancourt77]

👊🏼

[@icescreamkung276]

Imagine mining the whole island just to sliding competition 😂😂😂

[@Michael_Michaels]

The Opal time stamp is wrong. It stars at 34:18.

[@dinkvjr]

I was sure your profile picture was titties... Fake titties but titties no doubt. Right. WRONG!! 😂😂😂 NICE One but I also have a filthy mind😊

[@gicardee6756]

The miners are banking on the idea of quick buck, some refuse to farm because its not an instant process. The environment isnt deadly but the mentality the miners have is.

[@cnervip]

probably the live paycheck to paycheck and getting paid daily is the only way to not have to got hungry

[@glitterfalls]

So you're basically calling them greedy, greedy for wanting $12 dollars a day so that they don't die from lack of basic necessities. Shame on you.

[@gicardee6756]

@@glitterfalls No, im calling them lazy, for sticking to an old obsolete way to live. they can move away and start a new life away from the sulfur mine and I promise you they will not die, staying will kill them, make sense?

[@gicardee6756]

@@glitterfallsthey can also FARM the land and not rely on Sulfur. are you telling me IT IS THE ONLY WAY? come on... thats the exact mentality thats killing the miners

[@gicardee6756]

@@glitterfalls just because I have a different opinion doent mean im wrong. What makes you say Ive never been through anything. Youre just mad and cant come up with a logical answer except an emotional reaction. Swipe left.

[@chucku.farley3927]

If spam suddenly cost $1,000 a can Pairs Hilton would be eating it.

[@seesaw777]

In Vancouver Canada people actually believe if it costs more it must be better. Because of this simple mindedness people have been taking full advantage by simply charging more for the same product which draws a wealthier customer base. Starbucks and marijuana dispensaries are examples of this. Tim Hortons sales went up after raising the prices and offering stronger tasting coffees.

[@wendypaolarodriguezarroyo]

😊

[@ogstackadollor85]

Because he did something so crazy some random guy get a free truck

[@bunzinod1964]

And you wonder how the Egyptians cut and shaped stone 4500 years ago with no machinery

[@moseyalong1]

At least no machinery that survived for 4500 years !

[@michaeltaylor4271]

39:12 I don’t believe that a lot of opal people normally find sells for $1k or more a karot or everyone and their mothers would be polishing rocks in Australia, I think it’s a very small sample size of opal that sells for that price. I feel the opal market is exaggerated a little bit with the TV shows and all that, and also because opal has to be made into a certain kind of jewelry, it’s not a traditional stone that would be set in a ring or necklace like a diamond or a sapphire, so that limits the market even more. I’m not saying opal isn’t beautiful and isn’t expensive I just think there is a small portion of opal that’s top notch and that has been exaggerated a little bit over the years for the sake of TV.

[@Zyworski]

Opal formation sounds a lot like agates

[@giannimazzei5935]

The future looks certainly bright er. Hahaha

[@krayxeez]

I wonder how did they get the pipes there and installed them at the volcano?

[@user-iy1vo2jf2q]

They can bury 3' pipes into the ground but cant afford masks or gloves COMON! What BS is this!?

[@gregrenox9644]

​@@user-iy1vo2jf2qThose pipes is instaled by the Company. And all those worker including Mistar himself are all Freelancer and not Employe. So they have to fund their own gear, its already mention by the narrator.

[@kipokip5987]

If I am exposed to sulfur fumes, I, who have climbed to the Ijen Crater, call it the term "mengi"

[@stefanjohansson2373]

12:32 The world has no problem with this! Would it be different if they said the same in a USA workplace? 🤔

[@Matty5000]

Wait, these guys are inhaling toxic sulphur and die from it at 50 but they’re required to socially distance for covid.. in 2024?

[@lesogardtherider887]

well nice message for the travelers ! pick extra masks with you and some fresh water !

[@matyasxfulop]

Indonesia needs to modernize this.

[@ItsMeYourRealDad]

The sulphur miners are breathing in the toxic gas all day everyday but they are worried about social distancing? Really you've got bigger things to worry about

[@gregrenox9644]

You don't know how LETHAL Covid is then. The toxic gas is chipping your life away bits by bits. But Covid is a lethal virus, one day you're healthy but in 1-2 days you will get huge fever, can't taste anything, huge headache and Insomnia. And its easily spreading. Those miners have a family too you know.

[@dylangabriel2703]

@@gregrenox9644Sulfur is very toxic

[@user-ov3cw8iy2c]

Another reason we should up the taxes on the rich

[@tomholroyd7519]

You'd think filtering the tin out of the sand would be good for the local sea life. Well, at least the ones that can survive the trip through the vacuum ...

[@davidjoost]

i just hope these curling stones get recycled somehow....

[@MarkBarrett]

9:37 I heard they have to buy their own gas masks! They should be getting hazard pay.

[@user-od8wp4xr1w]

sulfur has nothing to do with sugar

[@sootytheteddy]

It does look like a babybel!

[@Heavenly_Dreaming]

Interesting. But this made me feel thankful for the life I've got back home. ❤❤4ALLTHEM❤❤

[@niteravencrypto]

The sulfur miners need crypto. Life changing for them.

[@user-iy1vo2jf2q]

Last I looked digital currency will collapse when the SHTF, ill stick to my gold,guns and silver thank you.

[@myruffleddreams1906]

So sad that these countries that produce so much of value are the poorest. Not just the natural resources being exploited but the people are too. The riches of their land are being stole from them.

[@corners3755]

1:19:47 You mean a massive tax write off is what you got out of it for "donating" it to the museum.

[@AadenGueRReRo510]

Man someone helped them out!😢

[@-severednerve-767]

Can I find where the sulfur miners are I was thinking about going with my KZbin crews first mission to buy them some liquor and gas maks if I have the money where can I find them

[@duanleksi8512]

Ijen Volcano in Indonesia

[@reneedover1863]

So very sad !

[@tech4life884]

There digging for GOLD. Not Tin.

[@seniorqueefs8687]

since u guys did the story on them why wouldnt u buy them all mask like wtf

[@seesaw777]

A 10 year old child from NA would easily automate the sulphur mines in Indonesia and develop easier ways of transporting it while using gloves. What's wrong with these people? More sulphur means more money which means more PPE etc.

[@chucku.farley3927]

why is it so expensive , because rich people spend their money on stupid things.

[@David-hz3ol]

Lisp lisp lisp lisp

[@CatalinArseniu]

Social distance lol

[@tierrabatido]

lol curling. That's one way to make up an industry.

[@edwardballiet2167]

The sulfur minors would get much more work if "stop oil now" get their way. The developed world is so out of touch with those that don't have what we have, and in the same breathe claim that they themselves are oppressed

[@endtimeslips4660]

Stone is a symbol of paganism for long time. it not because stone is faulty item. it because how human valuing a stone with human life. even make those item as a source of man problem as such sin.

[@michaeltaylor4271]

1:01:40 did she ever think maybe she was getting taller and maybe yer house isn’t sinking into the ground?

[@machinesrus9212]

She just wants to grow up to be a scammer like the rest of her family hahahahha

[@scarlettjoehandsome6130]

Since Trump is banned from conducting real estate business in New York, maybe he can license his name and likeness to be placed on products such as stink bombs, itching powder, slime, etc.

[@kdub11]

Calcutta isnso boring

[@gemmataylor4868]

i call my friend a twat for no clear reason and he looks nothing like one

[@vasilevasile1672]

You forgot to mention all the scammers in Kolkata.....

[@liamdaniel993]

First

[@The_Argent]

Don't see many feminists calling for quotas at the sulfur mines huh?

[@khadijahbegum3546]

Bruh what does femenism have to do with it. There's women and little girls in foreign countries that absoloutely go in dangerous mines and in general do dangerous jobs for as little as 80 cents so stop yapping😂

[@khadijahbegum3546]

Bruh what does femenists have to do with this, there's many women and little girls that do mining and dangerous jobs in foreign countries and get paid as little as 80 cents so stop yapping mate. Making everything about femenism when it ain't that deep😂😴 And I'm not even a femenist but you sound like a zesty angry men's rights activist😅

[@khadijahbegum3546]

Your probably American/British saying this. They want their women to be safe unlike you guys😂

[@The_Argent]

@@khadijahbegum3546 lol, I don't want women working in sulfur mines wearing sandals and t shirts either.

[@EmmaGodLovesTruth95]

What are you even trying to say…? Women in the west are doing fine in the jobs available to them. The whiny genderless left are not actually feminists, just complainers. Go donate protection supplies to those men if you so desire.

[@user-iy1vo2jf2q]

Simple observation, why dont they have baskets they can lower/fill rinse repeat? this is drama people.. REALLY? Cant afford a pair of gloves eh? BULLS^$%

[@udittlamba]

that indonesian sulfur miner 🤌

[@user-pv5es9pk6m]

So sad that these countries that produce so much of value are the poorest. Not just the natural resources being exploited but the people are too. The riches of their land are being stole from them.

[@johnstamos54288]

no they are selling the riches just to dumb to get a good price.