[SLIDESHOW] The Life of an Iranian Coal Miner

Coal mining is hard. Coal mining in Iran is even harder.

Although extremely underdeveloped, Iran contains some of the most important mineral deposits in the world, ranking in the top 20 of mineral-rich countries. However, there is one major drawback.

According to the Guardian, International sanctions have stalled the import of heavy machinery and modern technology in all sectors, including the coal mining industry. The following slideshow presents the nine to five of a typical coal miner in the northern province of Mazandanran in Iran.

In terms of mineral reserves and prosperity, Iran is a jackpot.