Losing its sparkle: Colombia's emerald capital weighs the cost of its precious stones
As big companies and informal miners blame each other for the damage to rivers and forests, mining risks long-term harm to those living nearby
Iñigo Alexander in Muzo, Colombia
Thu 1 May 2025 09.00 EDT
The small town of Muzo, nestled deep in Colombia’s emerald-rich valleys of Boyacá province, is a place where the soil holds great wealth. Brick-red homes and tin-roof shacks cling to the mountainside, their bases resting on black sand and dark mud. Below, the Río Minero weaves through the valley, its waters tainted by the silt and debris of continuous excavation.
The region’s natural beauty is marred by scattered waste and discarded mining materials, evidence of an industry that supports the town’s economy – but also harms its environment.
Muzo, known by local people as the emerald capital of the world, has been at the centre of Colombia’s tumultuous, profitable and frequently perilous trade in the precious stones for decades.
Colombia is a global leader in emerald production. According to Colombian authorities, it is the world’s largest producer and reportedly accounts for 55% of the global market. Muzo’s emeralds are highly prized for their quality and intense colour, generating approximately $150m (£113m) in annual sales.
Yet, the valleys surrounding Muzo are grappling with the environmental cost of mining: polluted water and dangerous erosion. In a region exploited by authorised mining companies and informal operators, the two parties blame one another.
Informal emerald mining is widely practised by local people in search of a livelihood. By the river, older men and women wade knee-deep in the water, their shovels driving into the sand in search of the green gems. This type of mining is known locally as guaquería, which typically entails sifting through the leftover soil and debris that mining companies leave behind.
More:
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/may/01/colombia-emerald-capital-water-pollution-erosion-mining-precious-stones
Or:
https://www.removepaywall.com/search?url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/may/01/colombia-emerald-capital-water-pollution-erosion-mining-precious-stones