Gold Rush in the Desert
Gold has been mined in the deserts of southern Egypt since ancient history. The Kerman kingdom used slave labor in mines to become the primary source for gold in the Middle East. In 2009, the modern Sukari Gold Mine opened and returned industrialized gold mining practices to the Eastern Desert. But since Egypt's 25 January revolution, many individuals have taken the opportunity to strike out on their own and search for fortunes in the sand. Photographs and text by Françoise Beauguion.
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