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Sapphires from Sri Lanka
Author(s) -
Waltham Tony
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
geology today
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.188
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 1365-2451
pISSN - 0266-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2451.2011.00782.x
Subject(s) - colluvium , sri lanka , geology , thriving , alluvium , mining engineering , geochemistry , archaeology , geomorphology , geography , environmental planning , social science , sociology , tanzania
A rural industry of small‐scale mining, for sapphires and a host of other gemstones, is alive and thriving at Ratnapura in Sri Lanka. The minerals are extracted from alluvial gravels and colluvium, and most are then cut and polished locally for use in jewellery.