Sapphire Rush in Kataragama - National Gem & Jewellery Authority

A few days later, another crop of
gemstones was exposed by the rains.
This time, the rough sapphires ended
up right in front of a villager’s home.
The mad dash for the gemstones
began. Prospectors, from politicians
to pedestrians, spread out and dug
every inch of land that was even
remotely suspected of having come
into contact with the gravel of the
famed hillock.
In Sri Lanka, all mining rights,
whether on private or state land, lie
with the state. Soon, the sapphire
rush became uncontrollable, more so
since the hillock stands on government
property. The authorities stepped in,
and called on the police to clear the
area of hopeful prospectors. When
the task became too precarious for
the police to handle, the Army was
deployed. The NGJA, a government
body vested with powers to oversee
and regulate all gem-mining activities,
took control of the situation, and in an
orderly manner, blocked the site into
several small areas and auctioned off
the mining rights for one year.
More than 20 major and established
miners from Sri Lanka’s better-known
mining towns obtained the mining
rights to the gem deposits. Alas, the
villagers who are virtually sitting on a
treasure were unable to compete and
bid for these rights. However, in a wellappreciated
magnanimous gesture,
the NGJA has given the low-income
villagers three plots to be mined as a
special cooperative mining project.
The NGJA has also allocated a
portion of the mine’s proceeds to a
fund dedicated to uplifting the lives of
villagers.
In a wise move, the authorities also
permitted the villagers to dig up the
partially finished road to their hearts’
content, knowing only too well that
the road would never have been left
in peace unless this was allowed. To
this day, the formerly level road is
pockmarked with craters – some as
deep as 1.5 meters.
And the “work” goes on.
Mining activities continue at a
The search for blue sapphires continues. (Photos: Gamini Zoysa)
feverish pace, with loads of gravel
being hauled off to a nearby stream for
washing. As is typical with this type of
activity, it is difficult to accurately gauge
the yields immediately. One has to wait
for news of the finds coming down the
grapevine. One thing is certain though.
The authors have seen some superb
specimens.
Geology and Gemology of
Kataragama’s Sapphires
The sapphires are an excellent
vivid blue and come in near-perfect
bi-pyramidal habit – some as big as
the index finger, enabling several
gems to be cut easily from a single
crystal. The gems display a glassy,
www.gemstone.org InColor Spring 2012 59