The Muzo mines lie some 60 miles north-west of Bogotá in a far-flung corner of Boyacá department in the high Andes mountains. The path weaves its way from high cold altitudes among sheer cliffs in the clouds, finally dropping down through the semitropical jungle to humid warm valleys where the gems are hidden.
Muzo emeralds are the national pride of Colombia. These glittering beauties, each one unique, are steeped in the millennial tradition of the emerald mines in Muzo.
At present the mines of Muzo comprise five underground galleries. Four of these are vertical mines: Tequendama, Catedral and Volvere, which descend more than 300 feet, and the oldest gallery, Puerto Arturo, reaches 500 feet underground. The fifth gallery, La Rampa, unlike the others is spiral bored to 1,300 feet underground. La Rampa is a testing ground for modern mining methods that facilitate geological research and optimize extraction conditions. It is vast enough to accommodate large motorized machinery.
All five mines are fitted with a ventilation system and state-of-the-art instruments that track the visual, digital, physical and chemical traceability of the gems.
Today Muzo secure and integrate the supply chain from extraction to distribution across its subsidiaries. Thanks to new levels of traceability, the emerald with the dazzling personality can now boast rock-solid health and safety, environmental and ethical credentials.
NURTURING HUMAN STRENGTHS - With over 700 staff members we are a major employer in the growing economy of the region. Our miners now enjoy better opportunities for personal and professional development and have access to training programs in muzo itself, in our head office in Bogotá and in our other branches around Colombia.
Women were long excluded by the patriarchal system in the region but now have a say on life in the mines through direct and indirect job opportunities. Our core values include a strong commitment to the community and equal chances for both genders.
Giving back to local communities - Our corporate social responsibility extends beyond the perimeter of the mines in the boyacá region. The modernization of mining practices has improved living conditions for thousands of local residents, including retired miners, women, children and disabled people who benefit from access to a community canteen and free health clinics.
Environment - Since the quality of the crystal cannot be compromised, we strictly prohibit the use of aggressive mining with dynamite in the vicinity of emerald veins. We endeavor to protect the local environment through our reforestation, hydroseeding and erosion control programs.
