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

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

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

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