Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-31
DIGGING GREEN GEMS
FAMOUS EMERALD MINES IN Re-
PUBLIC OF COLOMBIA.
Methods Employed in Taking the Pre-
cious Stones From the
Earth.
From the London Globe,

From the London Globe.
A report on the condition and trade of
the republic of Colombia, with the excep
ton of the district of Panama, for the year
1901, just issued by the foreign Office. states
that the emerald mines of Muzo and Cos
cuez, the property of the Colombian gov
eminent, have produced the finest emeralds
In the world They are at present rented
to British company. Up to the year 1875
all the emerald mines in the country were
the property of the nation. After that date
the government granted the right of ex-
ploration and working on private enter
prise, reserving only the right to the Muza
and CoscueZ mines. Since then several
companies have been formed and consider
able capital expended, with very poor re-
suits
The most promising of these seem to be
the Somondoco mines, worked by British
company. The department of Boyaca, from
mining point of view, is of totally diff
ferent geological formation to the other
mining departments of the republic, no gold
or silver being found save in the few rivers
emptying into the Magdalena. The one
great mine Of production is that of MuZo,
famous since the year 1855 for the produc-
ton of the finest emeralds of the world, a
stone in the rough weighing 1880 carats
having been taken from one of the many
veins of this mine. These mines are the
property of the Colombian government,
which leases them for periods of five years
to the highest bidder at public auction,
which takes place in the capital of the re-
public one year previous to the expiration
of the term in force. The value of the pro-
duction of these mineS has always been
kept secret by the lessons.
Blasting Slate Rock.
The mode of working is similar to that
adopted in Europe in large quarry mines.
tor washing until the slate rock is left bare,
this ,being cut away by means of long,
strong bars handled by native labor. which
is cheap. abundant and very good. and
with the aid of blasting with black powder
manufactured at the mines and employed
where no damag can be done to existing
veins. The precious stones are then ex-
tracted from the veins, which run in no
given direction or angle in this slate rock
formation. The stones found chiefly
in pockets, but occasionally some are found
isolated from the vein, necessitating con-
slant care and vigilance.
The immense amount of debris resulting
from the cutting which necessarily falls
from the quarry is carried away by means
of discharges of water from reservoirs at
an elevation above the workings by means
of siphons which empty the lock, when
full, automatically, great care being taken
conveniently to direct this great discharge
OF water so that no damage may be done
to existing productive veins. The short
term Of the lease does not admit of any
very extensive system being adopted, as,
for example, in Kimberly, to prevent steal
ing or the stones, but special care is taken
in the selection of the work people, who in
turn, watch most carefully all operations
on the banks. The stones. after extrac-
ton, are classified into their respective
classes, ranging from first to sixth quality,
by the superintendent in charge, who for
wards them, insured, to Europe The
greater quantity are forwarded to British
India to be cut, and afterward the better
qualities return to the markets of Europe
for sale.
Origin of the Crystals.
The theory is that the slicate of glucina
and alunina ran in the assures of the
veins, and there cooling off, formed this
particular hexagonal crystal. and, accord
ing to its abundance, produced greater or
less quantity, also the quality. accord
ing to the favorable or unfavorable condi-
lions existing. The CoScueZ group is said
by tradition to be very rich and the quail
ity of the stones said to be of the particu-
lar "canutillo' form and of superb quail
ity. Many attempts have been made to
find the actual locus in quo of the pro-
ductive formation, but up to the present
without success. l am informed (Says
Consul Dickson) that an emerald produc-
ing formation of great Importance has been
discovered by the aid of old Spanish parch-
ments in the Somondoco district, locally
has not been worked by the discoverers
at present only the old Spanish tunnels
and workings indicating that in past CEN
turtles great mining operations had been
carried on there have been oyerhauled,
giving proof of the existence of emeralds
of considerable specialization. 1t is in
tended to open up these extensive work.
iEgs, SO long lost to the world since the
suspension of the works by order of the
King of Spain in the year 1892, owing to
the fact that all the emerald properties
Muzo and Coscuez included. produced loss
and not profit to the kingdom Of Spain.
Captains Of the Mines.
This was due to the dishonesty of the
captains of the mines. who by law were
obliged to deliver the fifth part of the pro-
duction to the King of Spain in return for
the assistance afforded to them by the
royal house in the form of troops and
! ammunition to protect them from hostile
tribes. 1t was during this suspension that
SO many mines were lost sight Of and COM
pletey overgroWu with tropical vegeta-
ton. as were also the bride paths which
led to them through the forest and noun
tains. Even towns with 1000 inhabitants
dependent on the mines were abandoned;
some have been rediscovered by accident,
hunter coming upon a paved street or
some stone foundations of a house. The
Spaniards always built their houses with
stone foundations. Among these lost towns
Muzo may almost be counted At one time
1t boosted Of seventeen churches and a
large population. Today there Is one
church and only about 800 people 1t is in
teresting to note that, with one or two
exceptions only, all the mines Of any worth
now being worked were known to the Span
iards. and in the majority of cases consid-
cradle workings are evident
L.