Sri Lanka, the tropical paradise island of gems, also known as Ceylon is blessed with the highest concentration of gems on earth and has a well established traditional gem industry from the time immemorial.
Gem Mining Process
Exploration for gems has been carried out in traditional methods for generations by gem miners – locating mines mostly by word of mouth without any knowledge of geology. In the exploration for gem minerals, miners excavate until they reach the gem bearing gravel or illama.
River Dredging
Miners build dams in shallow rivers where the water flow is slow. In this method of gem mining, miners stand in the river facing the direction of the water flow. They hold their mammoties on the river bed collect sediments including gem minerals.
The Washing Process
After a sufficient amount of illama has been collected at the surface, miners come up to the surface for the washing and sorting process. This is the most important part of the mining operation.
Gem Cutting Process
The reputation of the Sri Lanka lapidary and the low cost of labour during the last three decades have increased the demand for service cutting of calibrated stones.
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Gem Mine & Buying Tours
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Sri Lanka Gem Buying Guide 