Colombia: Into the Green Land: Emerald Mining in Colombia

Mar 20, 2017 | Javier Corso, Al Jazeera
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The struggle over land is Colombia's oldest conflict. Although Colombian environmental laws now prohibit the dumping of leftover grit and rocks from mining excavation, some surplus debris continues to be dumped on land and rivers around the mines. A few dozen emerald seekers scour this debris, often using their bare hands. Others mine the area informally.