The Heart of Sri Lankan Mining is Sustainable

Sri Lanka is different from a lot of other places that do heavy mining. The government has rules to protect the earth and the environment. They do not let people use machines or do open-cast mining in areas where gems  found. This helps keep the air and water clean. Local people use methods to mine for gems. They build tunnels using local materials like wood and leaves. This way of mining is good for the earth. Helps keep the water clean. The people who live in Sri Lanka can grow rice and have safe jobs.

Finding the Hidden Gems

People know about sapphires. Sri Lanka has a lot of other beautiful gems that are not as well famous. These gems are really special. People who collect gems love them. The island has spinels that come in colors like blue, purple and red. Some of these gems are so beautiful that people used to think they were rubies. You can also find tourmalines in green and brown and garnets in orange and red. These gems are really pretty and strong. They cost less than sapphires.

 The Busy Gem Market in Beruwala

If you want to see where the gems are sold you have to go to Beruwala. This town has a market where people buy and sell gems. The market is like a party with many people talking and negotiating. You can see different kinds of gems and meet the people who mine them. Beruwala is an interesting place to visit and it is very different from the quiet countryside where the gems are mined.

 Cutting and Treating the Gems

When you buy a gem you should know if it has  treated with heat. The people of Sri Lanka have  using heat to make their gems more beautiful for a time. They call this process “cooking” the gem. The heat makes the gem more colorful and clearer.. It also changes the value of the gem. When you buy a gem you should ask the seller if it has been treated with heat. You should also make sure that the paper that comes with the gem says if it has  treated or not.