05/30/2026
Emeralds have captivated people for thousands of years. Some of the earliest known mines were in ancient Egypt, where emeralds were extracted from the Eastern Desert during the time of Cleopatra.
Today, the world’s most famous emeralds come from Colombia, where mines such as Muzo, Chivor and Coscuez produce gems prized for their strong green to bluish green color. Brazil is another important source, producing emeralds in a range of shades. In Africa, Zambia has become a major producer, known for stones that are often darker with a subtle bluish hue modifier.
Other notable deposits occur in Pakistan and Afghanistan, which can produce saturated crystals, as well as Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Madagascar.
Even the United States has produced emeralds. Deposits discovered in North Carolina in the 1800s still occasionally yield emerald crystals—showing that this remarkable green gem truly has a global story.
