Pick a gem to light up the countries that mine it, from the main sources today to the historic ones, with the key mining areas marked. Switch on the trade centres to see where rough is bought, cut and sold.
Mines are only the first stop. Most stones travel through a few trading cities and cutting centres before they reach a jeweller.
Paraíba tourmaline from Ethiopia: GIA, GIA and Gübelin Gem Lab confirm new source of copper-bearing tourmaline from Ethiopia (27 August 2026).
Diamond: Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, annual global production statistics 2024 (carats by country), as reported by Rapaport, Russia still largest rough producer by value in 2024.
Ruby: International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA), Ruby; W. Vertriest and S. Saeseaw, A decade of ruby from Mozambique: a review, Gems & Gemology, Summer 2019.
Sapphire: ICA, Sapphire; GIA, Sapphire description. Emerald: ICA, Emerald. Opal: ICA, Opal. Aquamarine: ICA, Aquamarine. Tanzanite: ICA, Tanzanite.
Spinel: GIA, Spinel; V. Pardieu et al., "Jedi" spinels in Mogok, G&G Spring 2014; GemGuide, Gem Focus: Spinel (2019). Alexandrite: GIA, Alexandrite. Tourmaline: GIA, Tourmaline; copper-bearing (Paraíba-type) tourmaline from Nigeria and Mozambique: B. M. Laurs et al., Gems & Gemology, Spring 2008.
Trade centres: general trade knowledge; "most of the world's diamonds are cut and polished in India" per the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). Mining-area points are approximate and for orientation only. Map: Natural Earth 1:110m via world-atlas (public domain).