Miners wait in front of the fence to get a job in the emerald deep mine of Muzo, Colombia, 21 April 2006. Despite of a persisting civil war conflict and related difficulties Colombia still produces 60 percent of world emerald production. Due to the special clarity and deep vivid green color, gemstones from Muzo are considered the most beautiful emeralds in the world. There have been thousands of treasure hunters coming to Muzo during last decades. They have been searching for a fortune,...
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Miners wait in front of the fence to get a job in the emerald deep mine of Muzo, Colombia, 21 April 2006. Despite of a persisting civil war conflict and related difficulties Colombia still produces 60 percent of world emerald production. Due to the special clarity and deep vivid green color, gemstones from Muzo are considered the most beautiful emeralds in the world. There have been thousands of treasure hunters coming to Muzo during last decades. They have been searching for a fortune, infatuated by so-callled green fever. The major part of guaqueros (emerald miners) spent long years in the hot and wet unhospitable jungle working hard, they contracted malaria or tropical diseases but they still kept their dream about magic green stone alive.
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