Musakashi emerald mine
The Musakashi emerald mine was found by accident in 2000 when a small group of miners was prospecting for quartz and discovered green stones, which were unknown in this area outside the classical emerald district in the Copperbelt. The green pieces were identified quickly and some hundreds of miners immediately rushed in and occupied the place.
Since the initial finders had all the licence papers the mine finally could be cleared from the illegal miners, but it took until 2003 when the case was settled in court. It took another three years for the miners to gather the money to start mining by shovel and pick.
In 2009 they got themselves an old bull dozer and an excavator. The emeralds found at Musakashi are excellent in Quality with a good clarity and deep colour, but the production remained small, which kept hampering the activity at the mine.
A large gemstone mining company started a professional exploration campaign at Musakashi in 2010, but decided against it. Soon after a new court case closed the mine again. No production has been available since.
Musakashi: Driving to the Musakashi emerald mine starts early in the morning.
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Five hours on a bumpy and dusty road.
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: The entrance to the mine.
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: The entrance to the mine.
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Mine camp
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Emerald mine
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Open pit
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Emeralds were found embedded with quartz pebbles in the laterite.
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Early morning at Musakashi mine
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Breakfast
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Old gear
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Open pit
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Open pit
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Open pit br />Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Open pit
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Open pit
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Open pit
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Quartz crystal embedded in the laterite
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Open pit
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Open pit
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Musakashi River. Hard to find in the dry season; in the rainy season everything here is flooded
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Musakashi river
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Mine camp
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Mine camp
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Mine camp
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Hibiscus after the bush fire
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Neighbouring mine
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Neighbouring mine
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Neighbouring mine
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Neighbouring mine
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Some Nshima (maize porridge) before heading back to Kitwe
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.
Musakashi: Five hours on a bumpy and dusty road back to Kitwe
Photo: L. Klemm, published with the kind permission of Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd.