【Muzo, Colomb】Colombian Miners Hunt for Dreams in Leftover Emeralds
Editor’s NoteThis article explores the unique economy of Muzo, Colombia, where the discarded material from large-scale emerald mining creates…
Informal Economy
【Ilakaka, Mad】Madagascar’s Sapphires: Abundant Reserves and Rising Prices, but Meager Profits for Miners
Editor’s NoteThis article examines the paradox of Madagascar’s sapphire wealth amid deep national poverty. While global demand fuels a lucrative…
【Ilakaka, Mad】”If I Find a Big Sapphire, I’ll Be Rich”: The Allure and Peril of Madagascar’s Gemstone Mines
Editor’s NoteThis article examines the human cost of Madagascar’s sapphire rush, where dreams of fortune are shadowed by exploitation and violence….
【Colombia】Colombia: Meeting the Emerald Hunters
Editor’s NoteThis article explores the lives of Colombia’s “guaqueros,” the informal miners who search for emeralds in the country’s famed mines. It…
【Coscuez, Col】Women Staff Colombian Emerald Mines
Editor’s NoteThis article explores a quiet shift in Colombia’s perilous emerald mines, where women are now entering tunnels traditionally worked only…
【Panjshir, Af】In the Panjshir Mines, Forced Reconversion for Those Banished by the Taliban Regime
Editor’s NoteThis dispatch from Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley reveals the perilous reality behind the global gem trade, where former professionals…
【Madagascar】Document: The Sapphire Rush in Madagascar
Editor’s NoteThis article examines the complex reality of Madagascar’s sapphire industry, which supplies an estimated 40% of the world’s gems. It…
【Cameroon, Ce】Approximately 5,000 Carats of Diamonds Produced Annually Along Cameroon-CAR Border
Editor’s NoteThis article highlights the persistent challenge of formalizing artisanal diamond mining in eastern Cameroon. While annual production is…
【Jaipur, Raja】India’s Dirty Jewels
Editor’s NoteThis article examines the troubling reliance on child labor in Jaipur’s gemstone industry, highlighting the harsh daily realities faced…