beryl, emerald, tourmaline, kunzite, Pala, American gems, San Diego county, California

Woehlke gives a firsthand account of a journey to the Colombian emerald-mining district, describing the country traversed, conditions at the mines, and the methods employed in extracting emeralds. Particular attention is given to the famous Muzo deposits, their geological setting, mining operations, and the search for emerald-bearing material. The article also discusses the value and marketing of the stones and the difficulties surrounding their production, providing a contemporary popular account of Colombia’s emerald industry in the early twentieth century.