EMERALD MINING
DESCRIPTION :
Emerald is the green to greenish-blue variety of beryl, which also includes aquamarine among other colors. Gem experts vary in their opinions on the shade of green that distinguishes an emerald from a less expensive green beryl. Some individuals in the trade tend to label any green beryl as emerald. GIA uses lab-graded comparison stones to ascertain whether the green color is sufficiently dark and saturated to qualify as emerald.
* BENEFITS OF WEARING AN EMERALD
HOW ARE EMERALDS MINED ?
Mining for emeralds requires delicate work as these gemstones are often concealed within less valuable rocks. The highest quality emeralds are typically located near the earth's surface, which makes initial exploration a delicate task. Hand exploration is preferred to avoid the risk of machinery destroying or blasting away the stones.
* OPEN- PIT MINING :
One method of mining emeralds is through the open-pit technique. Workers excavate a large pit approximately 12 meters deep and then use water blasting to expose the mineral-bearing rocks. This method involves the removal of a significant amount of waste rock. The mining area is essentially shaped like a pit capable of accommodating equipment and workers.
* TERRACE MINING :
Terrace mining resembles open-pit mining, involving the excavation of a large hole about 12 meters deep. In terrace mining, parallel steps or "benches" are formed along the pit's descent. These benches serve as exploration areas where miners seek emerald-rich rock or as platforms to remove waste rock. This method is employed for emerald extraction in Colombia.
* TUNNEL MINING :
Tunnel mining is a method used to extract some emeralds, where miners dig tunnels through the earth's surface to access veins of emerald-bearing rock. These tunnels can vary greatly in size, from small enough to accommodate just one person with a pickaxe to larger structures. According to the Mineral Gallery website, in a small town in Brazil, when rumors spread about emeralds near the surface, people dug small tunnels in their backyards and lowered miners on ropes to recover the gemstones.
* TOOLS USED :
Using blasting equipment is not ideal for mining emeralds due to their proximity to the surface and potential concealment by other minerals. Extracting emeralds requires thorough and delicate work. In North Carolina mines, tourists are provided with screens to sift through pre-mined gem dirt to remove impurities. Emerald mining has a long history spanning hundreds of years, predating the discovery of electricity and mechanized mining techniques.
EMERALD TREATMENT :
Oiling is a common treatment for emeralds and is often performed at the mining location. The term 'oiling' refers to immersing emeralds in colorless oil or resin, typically cedar oil, to enhance their color, clarity, and stability. This process may also involve using a vacuum chamber to aid penetration. These treatments significantly enhance the appearance of the gems. Steam cleaners, solvents, and ultrasonic cleaners can remove the oils, revealing inclusions that may appear sharp. However, since emeralds can be rejuvenated through re-oiling, any damage is considered temporary. The term 'Chatham emeralds' is often used for lab-grown emeralds, and there are also numerous emerald doublets available. These doublets often consist of a natural upper-half cemented to a glass or synthetic pavilion using emerald-green paste, and they are commonly used in jewelry.
WHERE ARE EMERALDS FOUND?
The principal emerald deposits are currently mined in Colombia, Brazil, and Zambia. While emeralds are also mined in other parts of the world such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, Australia, and the United States, these three locations are the major sources. Colombia is widely recognized for producing the finest emeralds. Brazilian emeralds typically have a darker tone and more inclusions compared to Colombian emeralds, which usually have lighter-colored inclusions.
Zambian emeralds often exhibit a bluish hue unlike Colombian or Brazilian emeralds, and they may have a slight grayish tint absent in the others. Zambian and Brazilian emeralds can also derive their color from vanadium, whereas Colombian emeralds typically get their color from chromium.
Muzo is the most renowned mining district in Colombia, situated 60 miles north of Bogota. The area has a hot and humid climate with frequent rainfall. Major mines in Colombia include Muzo, Cosquez, and Pena Blanca. Emerald crystals are found in calcite deposits within shale and in veins containing pyrite, quartz, and albite. Unlike diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, emeralds are not typically found along riverbanks but are embedded in rocks, making their extraction challenging. Sometimes emeralds are hidden within layers of thin mineral mica, requiring cutting through the mica to access the hidden emerald inside.
PRODUCTION STATISTICS :
BENEFITS OF WEARING AN EMERALD :
* Wearing an emerald promotes intellectual progress.
* Individuals wearing an emerald often experience enhanced creativity, artistic talents, linguistic skills, and improved ability to innovate.
* In medical astrology, wearing an emerald is associated with several benefits, such as aiding speech difficulties, respiratory troubles, allergies, and nervous disorders.
* Emerald is believed to cleanse emotional toxicity and help dispel illusions.
* Emerald is considered to have antidotal properties against poison.
* Natural emerald is highly recommended for individuals who stutter, feel shy to interact with others, or struggle with confidence issues.
DESCRIPTION:
Emerald is a gemstone from the beryl family. It is known for its fragility and delicacy. Emeralds are typically found in coal mines. Black spots and fibers are often visible in emeralds due to the presence of carbon. Authentic emeralds frequently have cracks, which do not significantly affect their value.
COMPOSITION OF EMERALD:
It has a hardness of 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale. All emeralds have internal gaps and cracks that make them susceptible to breaking upon physical impact. Emeralds have a specific gravity ranging from 2.63 to 2.91. Specific gravity refers to how many times heavier a gemstone of a certain volume is compared to an equal volume of water.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES :
Color
Emerald is renowned for its green beauty and is available in nearly all shades of green. The variation in green color occurs due to changes in the chromium content within the crystal's chemical composition. As the amount of chromium increases, the color becomes richer and darker.
Clarity
This stone is never flawless. It forms over thousands of years and naturally contains some imperfections. These inclusions are considered part of the stone and are well recognized in the gemstone industry. A completely flawless and clear stone is impossible to find in nature. However, the number of imperfections varies from one stone to another. It also has flat fractures that are filled during the initial gemstone processing.
Carat Weight
The ideal carat weight for jewelry pieces ranges between 0.5 to 4 carats. Gems weighing over 4 carats are rare and command very high prices.
NATURAL OCCURRENCE:
The highest quality emeralds come from the Muzo mine in Colombia. Emeralds are also found in India, Brazil, Australia, the North Urals, Norway, Austria, South Africa, Rhodesia, Pakistan, Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia, and the USA.
AVAILABLE COLORS:
It is a green-colored beauty and is available in nearly all shades of green. The variation in the green color occurs due to changes in the chromium content within the chemical composition of the crystal. With an increase in the quantity of chromium, the color becomes richer and darker.
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