The mining of colored gemstones—such as sapphires, rubies, emerald, and tanzanite—has grown as a source of livelihood for ASM workers as consumers’ tastes in precious gemstones expanded beyond diamonds, a trend that seems likely to continue. The mining of colored stones is widespread. Forty-seven countries are known producers of mined and refined gemstones (Boehm 2014, GIA 2016) and the size of the global industry is valued between $10 and $15 billion (Crosset al. 2010, GIA 2016). Because ASM workers are responsible for about 80 percent of colored gemstone production—and because these ASM outfits tend to be informal, often driven by small family groups working together to mine, clean, cut, and sell the stones—the industry lacks supply-chain tracking and transparency, making it difficult to impossible for end consumers to know when stones are sustainably and ethically mined (Responsible Ecosystems Sourcing Platform 2016, GIA 2016).

The most common mode of colored gemstone mining is through gravel collection from alluvial deposits. The gravels are cleaned and colored gemstones are then separated by hand (USAID 2017). The greatest threat colored gemstone mining poses to ASM workers occurs in the cutting and grinding of the gemstones, which is primarily done by the ASM workers themselves. It is estimated that 30 percent of all ASM workers responsible for grinding gemstones die of silicosis, a lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust (National Labor Committee 2010, GIA 2016). According to a report by ASM-PACE (Artisanal and Small scale Mining in Protected Areas and Critical Ecosystems), effects on local ecosystems include: “soil erosion and degradation, deforestation, and harm to plant and animal life... [H]abitat loss, spread of disease to animal species, population decline of critically threatened or endangered species, increased human/wildlife conflict, decline in water quality, and destruction of land and aquatic ecosystems” (ASM-PACE 2012).

Additionally, colored gemstones have a history of being used to finance organized violence and illegitimate governments. Notably, in Afghanistan—which has an abundance of emeralds and rubies—it has long been rumored that these gemstones finance Taliban authorities (USAID 2017).

Guiding questions for innovation

• What role can consumers play in driving and ensuring environmentally responsible ASM for cobalt, tin, tantalum, tungsten, colored gemstones, gold, and other resources mined through ASM?

• How can downstream manufacturers and brands influence the environmental and social conditions of ASM mine sites to ensure reliable and environmentally responsible sources for necessary minerals, metals, and gemstones?

• Is it possible to know where past, present, and future ASM sites are located? In what ways can this knowledge incentivize different stakeholders along the supply chain to improve environmental and social outcomes?

• What innovative financial tools or business models can be applied to ASM to reduce environmental and human health impacts at mining sites?

• What tools and techniques used by large and industrial scale mining operations can be adapted for ASM to prevent or remediate negative environmental and human health impacts?

• Where are there currently data on ASM, how can more useful data be collected? Who needs access to these data to make better decisions about environmental and social outcomes of the ASM sector?