World Mining Report 2005


Colored gemstone mining is a hard thing to pin down. The vast majority of mining is still done by independent, small-scale miners, working in remote locations and selling to buyers who pay cash and may or may not declare their gems on export. For many producing countries, particularly in Africa, the real production from the mines probably outstrips the reported production by a factor of 10 -- or 20, or possibly 100. No one really knows. In compiling this report, weve included estimates from both official and unofficial sources, but in some cases there simply isnt any information available. This report isnt intended as a comprehensive list of gemstone deposits; its a guide to the most active mining areas in the world right now, with the humble acknowledgment that no matter how much we see, theres always more out there.

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By Morgan BeardMore from this author

Colored gemstone mining is a hard thing to pin down. The vast majority of mining is still done by independent, small-scale miners, working in remote locations and selling to buyers who pay cash and may or may not declare their gems on export.

For many producing countries, particularly in Africa, the real production from the mines probably outstrips the reported production by a factor of 10 - or 20, or possibly 100. No one really knows.

In compiling this report, we've included estimates from both official and unofficial sources, but in some cases there simply isn't any information available.

This report isn't intended as a comprehensive list of gemstone deposits; it's a guide to the most active mining areas in the world right now, with the humble acknowledgment that no matter how much we see, there's always more out there.

  • Africa
    • Congo
    • Ethiopia
    • Kenya
    • Madagascar
    • Malawi
    • Mozambique
    • Namibia
    • Nigeria
    • Somaliland
    • South Africa
    • Tanzania
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe
  • Central & South America
    • Argentina
    • Bolivia
    • Brazil
    • Chile
    • Colombia
    • Dominican Republic
    • Guatemala
    • Honduras
    • Peru
    • Uruguay
  • North America
    • Canada
    • Mexico
    • United States
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Montana
      • Nevada and Idaho
      • Oregon
      • Utah
  • Asia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • India
    • Laos
    • Myanmar
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam
  • Australia
  • Eastern Europe
    • Baltic Amber Region
    • Russia
  • The Middle East
    • Afghanistan
    • Pakistan
    • Tajikistan

This report was produced in collaboration with the International Colored Gemstone Association.

Acknowledgements:
The editors would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for their contribution to this article:
Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences
Terry Coldham, ICA Ambassador to Australia
Tom Cushman, ICA Ambassador to Madagascar
David Stanley Epstein, Precious Resources
Jim Work, Amber & Larimar by Jim Work
Guillermo Galvis, Emeraldelegance.com
The Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand
David Glickman, Lambert Holding Co. Ltd.
Susie Kennedy, ICA Ambassador to Kenya
Dick Mandell, Dick Mandell's Blue Jade
Auwal Sani, Gems Exports Nigeria Ltd.
Eric Saul, ICA Ambassador to Tanzania
William Larson, Pala International
Robert Lowe, Lowe & Associates
Arnold J. Silverberg, AJS Gems Ltd.
Dennis Patrick, Gemco of Honduras
Gary W. Bowersox, Geovision Inc.
John Cleary, Ventana Mining Co.
Niyi Abe, Fassoca Gems
Kirk Bond, Jungle-Gems.com
Holly Chmil, Amberjewelry.com
Jim Davis, Leeward Capital Corp.
Jim Fiebig, Gem Adventures
Farooq Hashmi, Intimate Gems
Jeff Graham, Gram Faceting
Farooq Hashmi, Intimate Gems
Jewel Quest International
Jose Lopez, Rhodo Co.
Keith Luzzi, TerraTreasures.com
Leslie Schwing, The Amber Lady
Raja Shah, Color First
Sirimitr Mining
Star Shine Limited
Richard Shull, Out of Our Mines
Jim Walker, Tsavorite USA
Maria Zawadzka, Amber Gems
Antonio Carlos Goncalves, Jr., Rocha Mineração S.A.
Ramiro Rivero M., Minerales y Metales del Oriente SRL
Fazalur Qazi, S & F Gems and Commodities (Pvt.) Ltd.
Leslie Faye Marsh, ICA Ambassador to Zimbabwe
Piotr Wiszniewski, Amber Planet/Peter's Amber Shop
Pornchai Chuenchomlada, Pornchai International
By Gordon Austin, Morgan Beard, Mick Elmore, Cara Woudenberg, and Megan Zborowski
2005 November/December
In association with
color-stone-140
This report was produced in collaboration with the International Colored Gemstone Association.

You assume all responsibility and risk for the use of the safety resources available on or through this web page. The International Gem Society LLC does not assume any liability for the materials, information and opinions provided on, or available through, this web page. No advice or information provided by this website shall create any warranty. Reliance on such advice, information or the content of this web page is solely at your own risk, including without limitation any safety guidelines, resources or precautions, or any other information related to safety that may be available on or through this web page. The International Gem Society LLC disclaims any liability for injury, death or damages resulting from the use thereof.


Morgan Beard

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