Andes

Basic Introduction to Columbian EmeraldsColumbia is the world's most important source of emeralds, with 75% of the world market's supply coming from there during a recent period. The three most significant mines, Muzo, Chivor, and TRAPICHE, are all located in the Andes Mountains. These mines' emeralds generally feature a clear, pure green color, with some displaying unique growth patterns (such as six green arms). Product CharacteristicsAn emerald is the gemstone-quality form of the mineral beryl, colored green. Its green color must reach a medium to vivid green hue, meaning the saturation of the color must be relatively intense. Pale green varieties are typically referred to as green beryl.When describing emeralds, someone once said: "Even the most ignorant savage, stumbling upon an emerald in a humid forest, would recognize its bright, crystalline beauty and value." Historical and FolkloreIt is said that around 1600 AD, in Muzo, over 200 kilometers north of the Colombian capital, the river swelled, flooding with powerful torrents and carrying away large amounts of sediment. After the floodwaters subsided, the local Moscas people returned to their former homes and found that the once clear river water had turned murky black, assuming that the mud at the bottom of…