The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) and Colorado School of Mines (popularly called ‘Mines’) are unveiling a long-term strategic relationship with an unparalleled multi-year research project that examines coloured gemstone supply chains in Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka. The goal is to identify best practices specific to the coloured stone industry and improve transparency and traceability, ethics, environmental sustainability, and human rights within it. The name of the project is the “Transparent and Traceable Gemstone Supply Chains Initiative.”

John W. Ford Sr., CEO of AGTA, said, “AGTA and Mines recognise that guidelines developed for responsible sourcing of diamonds and precious metals do not fit the coloured gemstone supply chain. Both AGTA and Mines share the common goal of improving the transparency and traceability within the international mining community and desire to identify and cement best practices at sites worldwide. AGTA plans to expand the project in future years to include South American and Asian supply chains.”

The research project kicks off immediately and includes a comprehensive multiyear plan. Research preparation will take place through March 2023, followed by site visits to Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka through November 2023. Different types of mining and sizes of operations will be examined as well as different environmental and social contexts.

In each location, data on the top coloured gemstone export will be analysed—a minimum of 10 different coloured stones will be scrutinised. Finally, analysis of findings and report writing will culminate in the spring of 2024.