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Year 7 Issue 3 April 2008 | |||
 GIA
photo exhibit provides rare access to exotic gem lands... |
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| GIA photo exhibit provides rare access to exotic gem lands | |||
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has just installed a new photo exhibit, "On the Gem Trail." On display at the Institute's student commons area are 35 spectacular images of gems, landscapes, and cultures from Mozambique and Colombia. These photos were taken by GIA staff members Brendan Laurs and Robert Weldon, both of whose pho-ngraphs and articles have been widely published in the gemological and jewelry trade. |
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"This
is a very special exhibit because of the exclusivity of having access
to these remote and secure areas," said Elise Misiorowski, director
of the GIA Museum. "Gaining entrance into mining localities, trading
centers, cutting facilities, auction houses, design studios, and manufacturing
houses is closely guarded and entry by outsiders is a rare privilege." |
Muzo Mine & Rio Minero Confluences of the Rio Itoco help frame the emerald green Eastern Cordillera of the Andes. This aerial view of the region encompasses the historic Muzo mine, below left. Photo by Robert Weldon/GIA |
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Emeralds
in Colombia Robert Weldon, an award-winning photographer and manager of Photography and Visual Communications at GIA, visited Colombia in late 2005. His photo essay chronicles the path an emerald takes - from the mines in Boyaca State to the main market at Calle Jimenez in the city of Bogota. Mr. Weldon has reported about gemstone and gemological issues for over 16 years. In his capacity as a gemological photojournalist and researcher, he continues to travel to some of the world's major gem sites, including such places as Burma, East Africa, India, Thailand, Russia, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Colombia, and Bolivia. Mr. Weldon's photographs have appeared in scores of international gemological, jewelry, and consumer publications, and in several books. |
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| Unmistakble Green Colombia's emeralds grow within seams of carbonaceous shale & calcite. Occasionally, crystals. Emerald crystal courtesy of Ronald Ringsrud Co., Saratoga, CA. Photo by Robert Weldon/GIA |
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Paraiba-type Tourmaline in Mozambique Brendan Laurs, editor of GIA's award-winning publication, Gems & Gemology, visited Mozambique in August-September 2007. His photo essay depicts what is probably the world's largest deposit of Paraiba-type tourmaline. His images document the landscape, mining, and culture of this area. Mr. Laurs is a gemologist and geologist specializing in the formation of gem deposits. In addition to Mozambique, he has documented the mining and geology of gems in Brazil, Madagascar, Namibia, Zambia, and Malawi. Mr. Laurs has published articles in Gems & Gemology, Canadian Mineralogist, and several conference proceedings. He has made numerous presentations to technical conferences, gem and mineral societies, and museum groups. |
 Color Palette Waterwornpebbles of copper-bearing tourmaline from Mozambique show striking hues. Photo by Brendan Laurs/GIA |
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The
On the Gem Trail exhibit is free and will be on display at GlA'a Carlsbad
headquarters throughout the year and available for the public to view. www.gia.edu |
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| Step Right
Down
Miners dig through several meters of hard soil in a series of benches to reach the alluvial tourmaline-bearing horizon. Photo by Brendan Laurs/GIA Top ^ |
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