Gemstone mining is typically a very primitive operation. That, combined with political instability, government restrictions, difficult terrain, sporadic deposits and even crime, makes one truly appreciate what goes into bringing the beautiful gems we see to the marketplace.
Many gemstones are mined by individual miners working with old-fashioned picks, shovels and wash pans, reminiscent of the days of the California gold rush. The work is very strenuous. And since gemstones are generally found in veins that are spread across vast areas, the mining process is very difficult and slow. Sometimes a vein is mined out in just a few months and sometimes it’s years.
Emerald Crystal
Emerald mining actually began in ancient Egypt beginning in about 3500 B.C. Today, Colombia is where most exceptional emeralds are mined, but that is a very dangerous place. Miners often work along side armed bodyguards, and even gem wholesalers traveling to Bogota have to be very careful. Other emerald sources include Brazil, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Madagascar. The Panjshir Valley in Afghanistan also produces some of the finest emeralds in the world. But the production is uneven because of modern wars and safety concerns. Foreign dealers must have the protection of local authorities. The mountainous regions mined in Afghanistan consist of narrow tunnels in very hard rock. When Afghanistan was at war with the Soviet Union, emerald miners tried to make something good of an otherwise bad situation. They would actually place burned out vehicles in areas they wanted to mine. The vehicles attracted the Soviet bombs which then broke up the hard rock and made the mining a bit easier.
Stay tuned to this blog for much more on gemstone mining, emeralds and everything that goes in to creating a beautiful emerald ring.
