How Does
How Is Aquamarine Mined?
Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
Just Pick It Up Off the Ground
-
In South Africa, aquamarines are mined by hand. Fires are set adjacent to gigantic boulders that are suspected to hold the mineral. Once the boulders are blasted open, it is possible to just pull the aquamarines out with hammers and chisels. It comes out as rocks.
But Where Are They?
-
To find out where the aquamarines are hiding, two processes are employed. "The Complete Process Geological site investigation is the first step in the process of gemstone mining. EIA-environmental Impact Assessment is the next step," says Mithun Rao, a jewelry professional. These processes, combined with gemorphology, will lift the ground above sea level and inspect it for minerals, including aquamarines.
Mining Aquamarines is Green
-
Mining aquamarines is done without the chemicals used in finding many other minerals. There is no need for cyanide or mercury, which are used on gold and silver. The rocks that hold aquamarine can be broken open with fire, or by inserting air or gas into them to fracture them with pressure.
eHow Article: How Is Aquamarine Mined?
