Rockhounding in Brazil - Emerald Mine

[@justmeandmycats]

Natural emeralds in their matrix are so much prettier than the gem cut ones. That 1500ish foot tunnel is intense.

[@sandstorm6605]

That’s a loooong way down. Got a bit nervous just watching. How do they communicate to the topside that the sling is free and can be pulled back up/Visa versa?

[@TheCrystalBarista]

They had a radio mounted on the piping connected to the shaft. It was just a simple two-way radio to let the pully operator know we were off of it and it could be brought back up. There was no way to communicate other than yelling while on the pully itself.

[@davidleslie1963]

That is amazing...do they find good quality gem for cutting? Super rare?