Gemstones
Madagascar is very rich in minerals and precious stones and 2300 operators are active in the sector today,
generating direct and stable employment for about 100,000 workers and an additional up to half a million
seasonal jobs. Since 1996, official mining exports have increased from US$16 million to US$37 million in
2000, largely in precious stones trading.
Unfortunately, poor governance and corruption in the sector have discouraged many formal investors
and have led to a smuggling of precious stones out of Madagascar with very little value added being created
in the country. The World Bank Group estimates illegal exports are a multiple of official exports and
estimates put the value of trafficking in precious stones ranging from a minimum of $200 million to the
maximum of US$500 million (or 10 percent of GDP) per year.
Madagascar's subsoil contains semiprecious stones such a rubies, sapphires, emeralds and beryls.
The country also boasts quartz, marble, and has the potential to produce bauxite, fluorine and dolomite.
There are three distinct types of layers:
- Layers found in metamorphic rock. These being primarily found in the northern parts of Madagascar (Anivorano), in the central part (Antanifotsy, Faratsiho and Moramanga).
- Layers of alluvial deposits, which are located in the regions of Ranohira, Ilakaka, Bezaha and Sakaraha.
- And the layers in marble, which are located mostly in the south (Andranodambo). The marble being of a limestone derivative rich in aluminum oxide.
Madagascar produces the finest morganite (pink/peach) beryl ever found. It's famous for aquamarine, tourmaline
such as parti-colored liddicoatite, garnets, amethyst, citrine, chrysoberyl and superb rose quartz.
Madagascar's geological history means that the potential of its mines is similar to that of countries
that already see substantial mining activity. Reserves remain un-exploited, and there is substantial potential
for growth, in terms of both quantity and diversity.
The preservation of this underground wealth is sometimes explained by the Malagasy's respect for
their earth.
Most of the gem stones have been producted by artisianal miners. Resources of semiprecious and
precious gemstones have been exploited at the artisianal level but the economies of exploiting them
at a large scale are yet undetermined.
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