Look: Thai women gold panners are rare winners in COVID-hit economy

As the yellowish mud swirls away in the waters of Thailand's Sai Buri river, Sunisa Srisuwanno lifts her wooden pan with a cluster of gleaming specks caught in the centre. "That's 100 baht," she said, pointing to grains worth about $3.30 after little more than 15 minutes work with her gold panning partner, Boonsom Aeamprasert.

"The gold panning business is doing well, especially during COVID-19," said Sunisa, a 37-year-old mother of two. "Panning gold is our main staple. We sell gold today; we can buy food to feed the family." The area's name - Gold Mountain - indicates that mining has gone on longer than anyone can remember in Sukhirin District, on Thailand's southern border with Malaysia. Above, Thai gold miner Sunisa Srisuwanno holds up gold worth 3,000 baht ($100) from the Sai Buri river at Sukhirin.

But it has been made more lucrative by rising gold prices, up nearly a quarter over the past year. The rest of Thailand's economy is suffering, with the central bank forecasting a 6.6% contraction this year. Above, Thai gold miners Boonsom Aeamprasert (L) and Sunisa Srisuwanno pan for gold on the Sai Buri river.

Thai gold miner finds grains of gold in his pan on the Sai Buri river at Sukhirin.

Some gold sifters use just a shovel, a pan and a plastic squeezy bottle to suck up the grains - and the occasional nugget. Others try to find the best prospects by scrabbling underwater with a snorkel mask.

Thai gold miners Boonsom Aeamprasert (L) and Sunisa Srisuwanno pan for gold on the Sai Buri river.

There are men among the gold panners, but miners said the draw of gold is particularly appealing for women. Men traditionally gather wood and forage in the forests.

A Thai gold miner in snorkel mask searches for place to dig for gold-bearing mud on the Sai Buri river, "Housewives who used to sell stuff, vegetables, food to tourists were forced to stop," said Wari. "They had to turn to gold panning. Its become the main job."