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Mining & Natural Resources
processors to obtain fair market for the products by
exposing them to international trade fairs e.g. the
TUCSON Fair in the US, the Thailand, Gemstone
Trade Fair and the Shenzhen Gemstone Trade Fair
in China. Also sponsored the first ever Gemstone
Exhibition in Livingstone in 2002.
• Enhanced the exploitation of non-traditional mining
potential
The Mining Sector Diversification Programme devel-
oped the pilot project called the Mapatizya Process-
ing Centre in the Mapatizya Mining Belt in Kalomo
District, in the southern part of Zambia. This was in
addition to the Luanshya Project for the Luanshya
Former Miners Association of Zambia. The Mapa-
tizya Processing centre was handed over to Kalomo
Miners Association in May 2008. The purpose of the
processing centre is to provide miners in Kalomo
with improved processing methods of amethyst, to
attain international standards of grading, and to cre-
ate a market centre.
The vision for the future is to contribute to the econo-
my through exports of gemstones and other minerals
in order to alleviate poverty through the creation of
employment in the rural areas where most of these
operations take place and to decrease Zambia’s reli-
ance on Copper and Cobalt.
GEMSTONES
Zambia is endowed with a variety of high-quality
gemstones some of the most notable being emerald,
aquamarine, amethyst, tourmaline and garnet. Oth-
ers are citrine, topaz, agate, rose and crystal quartz
and beryl.
In terms of reserves, the country boasts of the one
of the largest deposits of emeralds and probably the
Polished Gemstones
Raw Garnet, mostly found around Sangu and Doost
Mines Northwest of Lundazi.
To date, over 600 small-scale mining licenses issued
by the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development
(MMMD) for the mining of gemstones throughout the
country, rejuvenating many rural areas.
Zambia’s export earnings from rough gemstones
are approximately $50 million per annum. This fig-
ure though could be higher if smuggling was to be
brought to controllable levels and value addition
made to the raw gemstones locally.
The Zambian Government has endeavoured to ad-
dress the above constraints through the promotion
of the exploitation, marketing and value addition of
the gemstones and precious metals as indicated in
measures that have been taken in the revised Min-
ing Policy and the Mines and Minerals Development
Act, 2008.
The management of mining rights in Zambia has
revised and has resulted in the establishment of a
modern computer based mining cadastre system to
improve its effectiveness, transparency and public
creditability.
largest deposits of amethyst in the world. The gem-
stone deposits occur throughout the country, namely
Copperbelt Province (emerald and beryl); Central
Province (tourmaline, amethyst, aquamarine, quartz,
citrine, beryl, garnet); Eastern Province (aquama-
rine, tourmaline, quartz, garnet, beryl); Southern
Province (amethyst, garnet); North-western Prov-
ince (amethyst, quartz, citrine); Northern Province
(amethyst, quartz).
Mining activity for gemstones, which dates back to
the early 1930’s, is however dominated by the ex-
ploitation of emerald, amethyst, aquamarine, beryl
and garnet.