African countries
About 65 percent of the world's diamond supply is produced in Africa.
Madagascar
About half of the sapphires produced worldwide at its height came from Madagascar.
Colombia
Seventy percent of the emeralds in the world come from Colombia.
Australia
Approximately 95% of the world's production of precious opals was produced in Australia at its peak.
Myanmar
Myanmar's primary gem, rubies, account for about 90% of global production.
What is Gem Mining?
Precious metals are typically mined on a large scale for "big names" like gold, silver, and diamonds as well as for less valuable materials used in industry, like copper. Fine gem materials like malachite and turquoise are sometimes produced as a byproduct of large-scale mines. However, a large portion of gem mining is quite small-scale and frequently only employs hand tools. Kalgoorlie, in the heart of Western Australia, is home to The Superpit. One of the largest open pit mines in the world and the largest open pit mine in Australia is called The Superpit.
