Several times bro. Hell ya i liked it!
Unfortunately unless you got a good money maker then you stay broke.
I did mineral prospecting and mining for decades and it was a way to get paid for being homeless! (And picking up rocks to sell) just have to find pretty rocks lol. Gold was too much work tbh.
Also "scrap metals" is a good gig. It can vary from digging (Al) cans from the trash, to hauling away ded cars (Fe)... Or building demo where you reclaim old fancy wood counters and floors, or marble tiles, or copper (Cu) wire and pipe...
Requires strength and health though. As well as knowledge how to sell the stuff for the maximum amount...
You don't need to be smart but it is a cutthroat business these days...