The emerald was recovered during normal mining operations on February 5, the company said in a statement, and is being examined by Gemfields’ experts to establish a clearer understanding of its value and significance.
Gemfields said its experts “will continue to evaluate the gem before any final decision is taken in terms of its future”.
Ian Harebottle, chief executive of Gemfields, said: “This is a unique find. The Insofu displays wonderful colour and good translucency. Its sheer size, rich colour and fine protective biotite shell make it difficult to see deep into the gem. However, all indications suggest that the core of the emerald is competent and that it should yield a number of cut gems of significant size.”
The largest uncut emerald believed to have been found was in Carnaiba, Brazil in 1974. It was an incredible 86,136-carat natural beryl crystal. The stone was eventually valued at $1,120,080. The largest emerald crystal ever discovered was 7,025 carats and was found in a mine in Colombia.
[Telegraph Media Group]
There’s a place here called Idar Oberstein in the North Western part of Germany, where most of these precious stones wind up. Unfortunately, when these natural resources are supposed to be making the lives of Zambians better, it is mainly foreigners who become immensely rich from them.
This could be used to market Zambian gems and industry. The govt should publicise this find and would be good to see how much Zambia will make from this discovery.
why are we knowing about it this late?? typical zambian procedures bane. no transparency.deuces:)>-
Where was this discovered, exactly, and what’s the name of this mine?
Hopefully this find will aprove the wealth of ordinary Zambians,not the rich.
This shows how Zambia Bleeds daily. Just like the copper we process here, day and night trucks transporting copper outside to be sold. We never get even 1/2 the amount generated. It all goes to the pockets of offshore foreign accounts to benefit other pipo. Right now RB in China to sell ” ON OUR BEHALF” our RESOURCES without OUR imput.
Zambia’s wealth must be protected to benefit the locals and uplift the General well being of the country. Right now the gem in guestion is in the hands of a FORIEGNER/CROOK. The money will never be seen but will enrich a crook somewhere. Aah Pa ZED UNGAFUNTE.
Bushe bane is there a law that restricts locals from engaging in mining activities (even at small scale) if there is such a law then we are justified in crying if however there s no law then maybe instead of crying we should be engaging local entreprenuers in such ventures… bushe ama sene eko bachili???
i can guarantee a lot of such things goes unheard of. Some individuals(including prominant politicians) are silently benifiting from a lot of such discoveries(I call them “silent gems”):-$
this mine was originally called kagem but has been privatized as it was alleged it was not a profitable venture for government. Te bufi
A Businessman at a meeting in Vienna, Austria, was saying that the Emerald Stone that comes from Zambia is very good, and its found on the markets of Geneva through other routes, not straight from Zambia and he said his employers were interested to buy from Zambia but there is too much bureacracy!
Can someone explain what goes on with the Emerald mining in Zambia?
What happens is that many people got the mines way back from 1975 and Kagem is that old.
most mines are privately owned hence, owners of these mines get their own preferred investors to becomes partners in mining.
kagem is 43 square km mine lies at the main vain,there are other mines like Gentina mines,Miku mine,sandawana,Grizzly and others,actually there more than 500 small scale mines,if you are interested in either buying or investing contact me,will take you down there.
The foreigner are stealing our Emeralds and we there watching,does the Government really want money for its roads,health facilities,medicines…then lets get down and dig our Emeralds.