How Are Emeralds Mined Today?
Since the age of antiquity, emeralds have been mined and cherished. They charmed Cleopatra and dazzled Spanish conquistadors in the New World. Since then, emerald mines have been discovered across the world, freckling the globe. Because of their exquisite composition, they are still as desirable to today's jewelry lovers as they were to Cleopatra. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Centuries ago, Cleopatra's mines were a popular source of emeralds. Emerald deposits are scattered across the globe. One of the earliest caches was in Ancient Egypt, near the Red Sea. Cleopatra was so infatuated with the gems that she had slaves and plebeian workers mine all emeralds that they found. Today that area is known as the "Cleopatra Mines." By the 19th century, the supply of emeralds was exhausted. Ancient Incas and Aztecs also unearthed and revered emeralds, feeling that they were holy gemstones, while the Vedas, sacred Hindu script, stated that emeralds possessed healing properties.
Formation
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Tectonic plates under Colombia catalyzed emerald formation. According to the International Colored Gemstone Association, emeralds began growing in the earth 2600 million years ago. Chemically, emeralds are formed by orogenesis, a process where tectonic plates in the earth's crust collide, causing enough upheaval to form mountain ranges. Because of the boundaries of tectonic plates, rich emerald deposits are found in such places as Muzo and Coscuez in Colombia. According to "Jewels: A Secret History," another possible explanation for emerald formation is a volcanic eruption.
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Early Excavation
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Ancient markings still exist on the cavern walls. According to Donald MacAlister, a writer for "Geographical Journal" who was stationed in Egypt in 1900, ancient excavation was primitive and crude. Workers had to crawl through a labyrinth of tunnels, which took hours. The tunnels were barely large enough for a body to fit through, while others were shafts that bore straight down into the earth and could only be accessed with ropes. Markings, such as numbers, have been discovered on the walls.
Process
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Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes were responsible for emerald formation. Today, emeralds are still mined by digging in the earth. In mines such as the Consorcio Mine in Colombia, South America, workers crawl as deep as 100 meters. Within such tunnels, the temperature can peak at 110 degrees. Workers comb through shovels of black shale, a form of sediment of mud or clay, and, using water, rifle through the piles of dirt, looking for green. They rely on luck, just as the ancients did. The most dangerous part of the process is entering new tunnels that are not yet enforced.
Alternatives
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In Brazil, excavation starts by simply checking the surface area. Mining emeralds varies by country. For example, in Brazil, the first step is to conduct geological surveys for likely emerald caches. Once a likely location is discovered, workers will sift through the soil to see if there are miscellaneous bits and pieces of gems on the surface. If there are, workers will dig a pit, slowly enlarging it as emeralds are discovered. From there, excavators will burrow tunnels, expanding outward from the initial emerald crater.
Considerations
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Jewelers prefer natural oils to reinforce emeralds. To enhance emeralds' cosmetic appeal, jewelers and excavators will sometimes "fill" the fissures or cracks. These enhancements are divided into two categories: natural and man-made. Dealers prefer natural substances such as oils like Canada balsam or cedar wood to keep the emeralds as organic as possible. However, such materials leak over time, forcing jewelers to use man-made substances thanks to their longevity.
Geography
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Emeralds are mined in mountain ranges in North Carolina. Colombia produces some of the world's most precious emeralds thanks to the fact that the stones from that part of the world tend to be dark green in color and are heavier. Muzo, a mine about 60 miles from Bogota, is one of the most famous mines. Other emerald-producing nations include Zambia, Brazil, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia. The United States also has emerald mines. In the Blue Ridge Mountains in west North Carolina, there is the Emerald Village while the Emerald Hollow Mine operates on the edge of the Brushy Mountains.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit bracelet emerald image by Tatyana Parfyonova from Fotolia.com Papirus image by morchella from Fotolia.com south america image by Christopher Meder from Fotolia.com cave image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com Volcano image by wojciechhajduk from Fotolia.com brazil flag icon. (with clipping path) image by Andrey Zyk from Fotolia.com three sorts of oil image by Tomo Jesenicnik from Fotolia.com wind twisted trees in north carolina image by Jorge Moro from Fotolia.com
