Volumetric, embodied and geologic geopolitics of the seabed: offshore tin mining in Indonesia

Figures & data

Figure 1. Bangka and Belitung Islands, Indonesia.

Source: Map by authors using data from Esri, Garmin, USGS, and UC Berkeley.

A map of Indonesia and Bangka and Belitung Islands.

Figure 2. A flattened, two-dimensional map representing Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) off and on the Bangka and Belitung Islands.

Source: PERDA (2020) and the MSP publication permission is given by the Department of Fisheries and Marine at the province level on Bangka and Belitung Islands, Indonesia.

A map of Bangka and Belitung islands and their land and marine administrative boundary.

Figure 3. A tin diving member sitting atop seabed sediments mixed with tin ores on a wooden floating raft, holding a yellow breathing pipe.

Source: Personal documentation, 2022.

A person holding a hose and mud under his feet.

Figure 4. The process of descending into the seabed pit. (a) A tin diver is wearing a wet suit on a wooden floating raft offshore. (b) Using a rope tied to a cemented weight to orient the diver’s body to the seabed pit to avoid getting swept away by the ocean current using the rope to orient the diver’s body to the seabed pit. (c) As the tin diver goes deeper using the rope, the water's colour changes to green. (d) The water then changes to yellow. (e) The water's colour turns grey as the tin diver approaches the seabed pit. (f) When the tin diver reaches the seabed pit, the water's colour turns dark.

Source: Personal documentation, 2022.

A collage of images of a person holding a rope. A wooden plank, a boat and a person wearing a wet suit. A hand holding a rope underwater. A person holding a rope underwater. A close-up of a rope underwater. A hand holding a rope underwater. A black background with a light.

Figure 5. Tin floating rafts operating offshore Bangka and Belitung Islands.

Source: Personal documentation, 2022.

Several boats and wooden float rafts at sea.