By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 05:54 EST, 31 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:33 EST, 31 July 2013 . Working in dark, cramped conditions in barren deserts often attacked by fierce sandstorms, these pictures show the brutal and uncompromising work of Sudan's gold miners. Supported by weak-looking pulleys, workers lower themselves into the deep, dark mines, which appear like huge crevasses in the middle of the desert. As those on the surface battle brutal storms and temperatures reaching 44C to hunt for gold with detectors, others lower themselves into the dangerous underground pits. Tough conditions: A gold mine worker searches for gold inside a local mine in Al-Ibedia locality at River Nile State in Sudan . Cramped: The man works in tough, cramped conditions in unremitting heat. He uses basic tools to dig for gold, barely able to turn his body . Difficult: This picture shows just how dark and claustrophobic the conditions are below ground . Using flimsy-looking pulleys, gold mine workers lower themselves into the deep  mines, left. Once inside, and wearing just basic headlamps, they search for the precious commodity. This man, right, displays a gold rock . The miners are part of a 60,000 strong workforce in South Sudan who take part in the back-breaking work, often because of widespread hunger. These images show miners working in the Al-Ibedia area at River Nile State. Miners are lowered into the pits on flimsy-looking pulleys held together by wood. The holes are so narrow, they can barely turn around. Wearing no safety jackets or helmets, the miners have just a headlamp to guide them in the bleak darkness. Once at the bottom of the mines, they use a variety of basic-looking tools to dig for the valuable commodity, in hot, and unremitting conditions. As the miners dig and search for long hours, above ground,  makeshift camps are created in which other workers prepare to deal with the findings from below. Fierce: Above ground, workers prepare for their day's work in shelters, which are often battered by brutal sandstorms . Basic: The mines appear as long, slim crevasses in the ground . The pulleys which the workers use to lower themselves down into are supported by planks of wood . Dangerous: The conditions are brutal, with the miners not wearing helmets or protective clothing . Valuable: The mines are dark and claustrophobic but the rewards for those who find gold are huge . Hard work: A gold mine worker lifts a bag down into one of the pits . Workers sift the earth, looking for any sign of gold. Others operate large gold crushing machines and weigh their findings to check on their value. Gold mining is big business in Sudan, particularly in the south. The land is endowed with many resources, many of which are undiscovered.  As well as gold, there is also believed to be copper, uranium and marble. But with this comes numerous problems, including smuggling. It was estimated recently that South Sudan loses $200m a year through gold smuggling. Temporary: The gold rocks which are discovered below ground are crushed by teams of workers in these makeshift camps . Hunt: Above ground, workers search for other areas to mine using detectors . Process: This man uses a gold crusher at the mine in Al-Ibedia to prepare the precious goods for sale . Search: The gold which is discovered below ground is sent to the top where it is sifted by another team of workers . This worker displays some of the findings . Windswept: Workers take shelter from a sandstorm in the tents, which are filled with various tools and instruments to help search for gold . Speaking to the Sudan . Tribune, the director general for mineral development, Arkangelo Okwang . Olerr revealed that about 17 kilograms of gold could leave the borders . of Eastern Equatoria state on a daily basis. 'In fact we did a rough calculation that if this was to have been . organised, I am sure we would have got in total say every year like $600 . million from this additional just local miners and applying taxation . rate of about 33% internationally we would have gotten about $200 . million on average,' he said. The authorities are now having to battle with illegal mining operations across many areas of the country. Officials . have warned they will soon deploy inspectors along with police to . areas suspected of illegal mining. Happy: Despite the work being tough, the rewards can be huge. These workers display large gold nuggets as they weigh them at the mine . Heavy: Large chunks of gold are weighed so workers can assess they value . Battle: Gold mining is fast turning into big business in Sudan. But the authorities are increasingly having to struggle to fight against smugglers . Preparations: Gold mine workers at the back of a truck take cover from the rain as they make their way to a local mine in River Nile State . Boost: The miners work long and brutal hours, so taking time out to eat food is important . Sandstorm: The conditions below ground are tough, but as this picture shows, it is often even worse on the surface . The government needs the money which . it generates as it looks for an alternative to oil, which currently . provides more than 90 per cent of the government's revenue. It is believed that about 60,000 people mine for gold in South Sudan. Many use their . bare hands which they once used to harvest crops. The back-breaking labour is even carried out by women, children and elderly people who are driven to work because of widespread hunger.
Sudanese miners use flimsy-looking pulleys held together by wood to lower themselves into dark pits .
They hunt for gold in deep, claustrophobic mines wearing no safety equipment .
Above ground workers battle fierce sandstorms as they prepare the gold for sale .
About 60,000 people mine for gold in South Sudan, many driven to it by hunger .
By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 05:54 EST, 31 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:33 EST, 31 July 2013 . Working in dark, cramped conditions in barren deserts often attacked by fierce sandstorms, these pictures show the brutal and uncompromising work of Sudan's gold miners. Supported by weak-looking pulleys, workers lower themselves into the deep, dark mines, which appear like huge crevasses in the middle of the desert. As those on the surface battle brutal storms and temperatures reaching 44C to hunt for gold with detectors, others lower themselves into the dangerous underground pits. Tough conditions: A gold mine worker searches for gold inside a local mine in Al-Ibedia locality at River Nile State in Sudan . Cramped: The man works in tough, cramped conditions in unremitting heat. He uses basic tools to dig for gold, barely able to turn his body . Difficult: This picture shows just how dark and claustrophobic the conditions are below ground . Using flimsy-looking pulleys, gold mine workers lower themselves into the deep  mines, left. Once inside, and wearing just basic headlamps, they search for the precious commodity. This man, right, displays a gold rock . The miners are part of a 60,000 strong workforce in South Sudan who take part in the back-breaking work, often because of widespread hunger. These images show miners working in the Al-Ibedia area at River Nile State. Miners are lowered into the pits on flimsy-looking pulleys held together by wood. The holes are so narrow, they can barely turn around. Wearing no safety jackets or helmets, the miners have just a headlamp to guide them in the bleak darkness. Once at the bottom of the mines, they use a variety of basic-looking tools to dig for the valuable commodity, in hot, and unremitting conditions. As the miners dig and search for long hours, above ground,  makeshift camps are created in which other workers prepare to deal with the findings from below. Fierce: Above ground, workers prepare for their day's work in shelters, which are often battered by brutal sandstorms . Basic: The mines appear as long, slim crevasses in the ground . The pulleys which the workers use to lower themselves down into are supported by planks of wood . Dangerous: The conditions are brutal, with the miners not wearing helmets or protective clothing . Valuable: The mines are dark and claustrophobic but the rewards for those who find gold are huge . Hard work: A gold mine worker lifts a bag down into one of the pits . Workers sift the earth, looking for any sign of gold. Others operate large gold crushing machines and weigh their findings to check on their value. Gold mining is big business in Sudan, particularly in the south. The land is endowed with many resources, many of which are undiscovered.  As well as gold, there is also believed to be copper, uranium and marble. But with this comes numerous problems, including smuggling. It was estimated recently that South Sudan loses $200m a year through gold smuggling. Temporary: The gold rocks which are discovered below ground are crushed by teams of workers in these makeshift camps . Hunt: Above ground, workers search for other areas to mine using detectors . Process: This man uses a gold crusher at the mine in Al-Ibedia to prepare the precious goods for sale . Search: The gold which is discovered below ground is sent to the top where it is sifted by another team of workers . This worker displays some of the findings . Windswept: Workers take shelter from a sandstorm in the tents, which are filled with various tools and instruments to help search for gold . Speaking to the Sudan . Tribune, the director general for mineral development, Arkangelo Okwang . Olerr revealed that about 17 kilograms of gold could leave the borders . of Eastern Equatoria state on a daily basis. 'In fact we did a rough calculation that if this was to have been . organised, I am sure we would have got in total say every year like $600 . million from this additional just local miners and applying taxation . rate of about 33% internationally we would have gotten about $200 . million on average,' he said. The authorities are now having to battle with illegal mining operations across many areas of the country. Officials . have warned they will soon deploy inspectors along with police to . areas suspected of illegal mining. Happy: Despite the work being tough, the rewards can be huge. These workers display large gold nuggets as they weigh them at the mine . Heavy: Large chunks of gold are weighed so workers can assess they value . Battle: Gold mining is fast turning into big business in Sudan. But the authorities are increasingly having to struggle to fight against smugglers . Preparations: Gold mine workers at the back of a truck take cover from the rain as they make their way to a local mine in River Nile State . Boost: The miners work long and brutal hours, so taking time out to eat food is important . Sandstorm: The conditions below ground are tough, but as this picture shows, it is often even worse on the surface . The government needs the money which . it generates as it looks for an alternative to oil, which currently . provides more than 90 per cent of the government's revenue. It is believed that about 60,000 people mine for gold in South Sudan. Many use their . bare hands which they once used to harvest crops. The back-breaking labour is even carried out by women, children and elderly people who are driven to work because of widespread hunger.
workers lower themselves into the deep  mines, lowered into the pits on flimsy-looking pulleys held together by wood. The holes are so narrow, findings from below. Fierce: Above ground, at the mine in Al-Ibedia to prepare the precious gold nuggets as they weigh them at the mine . that about 60,000 people mine for gold in South widespread hunger.