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Gem deposits are highly significant in terms of monetary value, with annual worldwide production exceeding several billion dollars. However, accurate production figures are extremely difficult to come by, as many of these deposits are worked by individuals or small groups of miners. They are of especial monetary significance in a number of developing economies in SE Asia and Africa where they account for a significant proportion of the gross domestic product, both in terms of mined rough and manufactured product. In economic geology terms, gem deposits are mostly low-tonnage and low to very low grade deposits, but of very high intrinsic value with individual gems (especially rubies and diamonds) commanding over US $5 million per carat (i.e., 0.2 g). Thus, even though some of the deposits can be of very low size, they can be more valuable than a large base metal, gold or other deposit type.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Earth Sciences
Research Group:	Geology
Research Field:	Mineralogy and Crystallography
Objective Division:	Mineral Resources (excl. Energy Resources)
Objective Group:	Mineral Exploration
Objective Field:	Stone and Clay Exploration
UTAS Author:	Zaw, K (Professor Khin Zaw)
ID Code:	53047
Year Published:	2008
Web of Science® Times Cited:	8
Deposited By:	Centre for Ore Deposit Research - CODES CoE
Deposited On:	2008-10-23
Last Modified:	2014-11-07
Downloads:	1 View Download Statistics