Mining Seasons
The artisanal diamond mining sector works on a seasonal basis, alongside the dry and rainy seasons: during the dry, or ‘pulling’ season, miners identify an area to mine. Then the miner employs diggers and kosovo to remove the overburden and excavate the land. This period can last between one and two months.
Once the diggers reach the gravel layer, they begin ‘pulling’ the gravel and stockpiling it to along the side of the mining pits. This period lasts between one and three months. During the rainy, or washing season, diggers begin washing the gravel. This period can last between two and seven months, depending on the supporter’s level of capital and the quantity of diamond-bearing gravel.