Published on : 07 May 20203 min reading time

The extraction of gemstones is part of man’s exploitation activities. It can be carried out either by craftsmen or industrially. In both cases, the extraction processes are almost similar. Indeed, precious stones are mostly found in stone deposits and minefields. And to extract stones from these places, methods must be applied with the use of appropriate instruments.

Use of crushing and winnowing

It is possible to carry out an extraction by the crushing method. Generally, this method is used in large mining operations, especially quarries. It is best known in gold mining. But long before crushing, it is necessary to explode the rocks in order to get the blocks of stone. The crushing mechanism consists of crushing the blocks of stone to obtain small particles. There are three distinct stages: primary crushing, secondary crushing and tertiary crushing. These stages process the crushed rocks until the small particles are ready for the winnowing process. This stage consists of separating the fine particles from the coarse particles. And often, it is done by the intervention of water. These two steps are crucial in the extraction of gemstones.

The use of screens before polishing

It is a useful instrument for separating stones of uneven quality and size. It is a useful tool for separating stones of uneven quality and size. It allows to obtain the useful stones faster. In other words, the operations carried out by this instrument allow the extraction of the much sought-after stones. Once obtained, they can proceed to the final stage. The last step is polishing. This is the step that gives the stones their shiny appearance. This shiny state is due to the use of the instruments with specific methods. The use of stone barrels is de rigueur in stone polishing. The advantage with the stone barrel is its ability to polish dozens of stones at a time. And without forgetting to sort the stones before putting them in the barrel. This avoids scratching the softer stones by the harder ones.

The artisanal extraction process

In contrast to modern quarrying, the extraction of artisanal stones is carried out in a cursory manner. It is characterized by the simplicity of the methods to be used. Artisanal extraction is usually found on river banks. The shovel is the material used to extract the mud from the river. Then the sludge is sieved with an instrument designed for sieving. With the use of water, it is easier to separate the small particles from the large ones. And when the stone is extracted, it can be polished. This step is often done by hand using sandpaper. This ensures the stone’s brilliance.