The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has worked with Pact, a non-profit international development organization based in Washington, to prepare a booklet, Selecting Gem Rough: A Guide for Artisanal Miners, to offer basic gemmological and market knowledge to artisanal miners in gem-producing regions.
The project, which cost approximately US$120,000, was funded by the GIA’s endowment and is the brainchild of GIA research fellow, Dr. James Shigley.
“There is often a knowledge differential between the artisanal miners and those further along the supply chain, says Christina Villegas, technical program manager for Pact’s Mines to Market program. “”This new GIA resource will help miners in rural areas better understand the quality and value of their products, which will help reduce that differential and improve their economic development opportunities.”
The booklet will remain free of charge as the GIA expands training into other rural areas in East Africa. It has been distributed to approximately 45 women miners in the Tanga region of Tanzania and is available in English and Tanzanian Swahili.
