Jewel__A_Celebration_of_Earth_s_Treasures

WHERE DO GEMS COME FROM? 025

Australia

In its heyday, Australia produced

the largest amount of precious

opals – around 95 per cent

Sri Lanka

Myanmar

Rubies are Myanmar’s main

gemstone, accounting for around

90 per cent of world production

Amethyst

Aquamarine

Garnet

Ruby

Sapphire

Tourmaline

Kenya

Coral

Jadeite

Pearl

Quartz

Rhodonite

Topaz

Japan

Aquamarine

Emerald

Garnet

Ruby

Spinel

Topaz

Pakistan

Aquamarine

Lapis lazuli

Ruby

Spinel

Tourmaline

Afghanistan

Garnet

Ruby

Sapphire

Zircon

Thailand

Aquamarine

Chrysoberyl

Diamond

Emerald

Garnet

Ruby

Sapphire

Tanzanite

Tourmaline

Tanzania

Aquamarine

Chalcedony

Chrysoberyl

Diamond

Diopside

Emerald

Garnet

Jasper

Moonstone

Pearl

Quartz

Rhodonite

Ruby

Sapphire

Sodalite

India

Amber

Amethyst

Aquamarine

Diamond

Nephrite

Pearl

Peridot

Ruby

Sapphire

Turquoise

China

Alexandrite

Amber

Diamond

Emerald

Garnet

Lapis lazuli

Malachite

Moonstone

Nephrite

Precious beryl

Quartz

Rhodonite

Sunstone

Topaz

Tourmaline

Russia

Smoky quartz

Tourmaline

Mozambique

Diamond

Indonesia

Turquoise

Iran

Nephrite

New Zealand

Amber

Chrysoberyl

Jadeite

Kunzite

Moonstone

Peridot

Rock crystal

Ruby

Sapphire

Spinel

Topaz

Tourmaline

Zircon

Chrysoprase

Coral

Diamond

Emerald

Jasper

Nephrite

Opal

Pearl

Sapphire

Amethyst

Chrysoberyl

Garnet

Moonstone

Ruby

Sapphire

Spinel

Topaz

Tourmaline

Zircon

Madagascar

At its peak, Madagascar was

producing around 50 per cent

of the sapphires in the world

Agate

Aquamarine

Chrysoberyl

Garnet

Kunzite

Moonstone

Precious beryl

Quartz

Sunstone

Topaz

Tourmaline

African countries
Africa as a continent produces
around 65 per cent of the world’s
diamond supply

Mining for gems

Revealing the treasures of the Earth

Large-scale mining for precious materials is mainly reserved

for “big names”, such as gold, silver, and diamonds, as well

as less precious material used in industry, such as copper.

Some large-scale mines also produce fine gem material,

such as malachite and turquoise, as by-products. Much

gem mining is relatively small scale, however, and is often

done using only hand tools.

The Superpit Located in Kalgoorlie in central Western

Australia, the Superpit is Australia’s largest open pit gold mine

and is one of the largest open pit mines in the world.

50 %

90 %

95 %

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