Mineral intelligence
Gemstones mining assets in Africa
Coloured gemstones and diamonds trade on characteristics no assay can capture, which makes provenance and grading discipline the whole of the value.
STRATUM does not yet publish verified gemstones assets. Intelligence on this mineral is gathered continuously, and members are notified as assets clear verification.
What members see
Grades and assay results, resource and reserve estimates, evidence provenance, deal structure, infrastructure and power, and the geospatial layer. Identity of the operator is released only to compliance-cleared members on an approved request.
Gemstones mining: uses, market and Africa’s position
What gemstones is
Diamonds occur in kimberlite pipes and in alluvial deposits derived from them. Coloured stones form in a wide range of settings: emerald in schist and pegmatite, ruby and sapphire in marble and in basalt hosted deposits, tourmaline and aquamarine in pegmatites. Value depends on colour, clarity, size and cut, and two stones of identical weight can differ in price by orders of magnitude.
What gemstones is used for
Jewellery
The overwhelming use, driven by consumer demand and by fashion cycles that vary by stone.
Investment stones
Exceptional coloured stones are increasingly held as portable stores of value, particularly at the top of the ruby, emerald and sapphire markets.
Industrial diamond
Lower quality diamond is used in cutting, grinding and drilling, though synthetic material now supplies most of this demand.
Gemstones market outlook
The coloured stone market has professionalised significantly, with auction structures and disclosure standards that did not exist a generation ago. Natural diamonds face genuine competition from laboratory grown stones at the lower end, which has pushed the natural market to compete on provenance and rarity rather than on price.
Gemstones in Africa
Africa is central to this market. Botswana, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia and South Africa are major diamond producers. Zambia is a leading source of emerald, Mozambique of ruby, and Nigeria, Madagascar and Tanzania produce tourmaline, aquamarine and other coloured stones, including tanzanite which is found nowhere else.
What to check on a gemstones asset
For a gemstone asset, grade in carats per tonne matters far less than the quality distribution, because value is concentrated in a small number of exceptional stones. Look for a credible bulk sampling programme, an auction or sales history that establishes realised prices, and clean provenance documentation. Kimberley Process compliance is mandatory for diamonds.