Sapphire and Colored Gemstone Issues
Learn about the historical problems and current challenges that face the sapphire and colored gemstone mining communities.
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Environmental Concerns
While sapphire and colored gemstone mining has led to environmental damages, the impacts are generally due to lack of planning and poor understanding of sustainable environmental practices.
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Labor Concerns
The global colored gemstone sector is largely unregulated and suffers from labor practices that offer little security for small scale miners and endanger lives.
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Community Concerns
Even as diamonds have been used to fund violent conflicts in parts of Africa, colored gemstones currently support the military regime of Myanmar, the country formerly known as Burma.
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