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Tuesday, 26th June 2007 (5744 views)

A number of Guinean immigrants are making money by turning dust into gold, it has been revealed.

The immigrants work behind a family compound in Dakar, Senegal, using acid to turn the dust sweepings from jewellers floors into gold, before selling it back to the jewellers, Reuters reports.

According to the news provider, around 50 Guinean immigrants make a living panning recycled gold in this way and can make up to $3 per day compared to the average daily income in Guinea of $1 a day.

Once the gold is sold to the jewellers it is transformed into bracelets and necklaces and sold on to European tourists, the news provider reports.

"Guineans are specialists in gold. It's a gold mining country," gold recycler Michel Kamara told Reuters.

"They come here if they don't get other work because they know this place ... they've got family [and] friends here," he added.

Gold is one of Guinea's main exports, with other exports including diamonds, bauxite and coffee.

 

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