See giant blocks of emeralds in Russia

A block of nearly 1.5 kg was found in the Malyshevsky ore mine in Russia's Sverdlovsk region, under the exploitation of Mariinskoye Priisk Joint Stock Company of Russia's Rostec High-Tech Group.

This is the largest exploited in this field during the last 10 years.

Picture 1 of See giant blocks of emeralds in Russia
The emerald block is kept in shape.

Experts estimate that this gem of 14cm x 7cm is worth about 4 million rubles (US $ 70,000).

Evgeny Vasilevsky - mine director Malyshevsky said: "This crystal has been exploited with meticulousness and still retains its original shape."

Vasilevsky said the employees involved in the operation were awarded a reward of 250,000 rubles.

Sergei Perestoronin, leader of Industry and Science of Sverdlovsk region (where Malyshevsky gemstone mine is located) - believes that this is not the last rare and precious stone to be mined from this mine.

Picture 2 of See giant blocks of emeralds in Russia
The emerald block is estimated to cost USD 70,000 (about VND 1.5 billion).

Emerald is the third most valuable gemstone after diamonds and rubies. This allows the new emerald block found in Russia to be even more expensive.

Malyshevsky mine is Europe's largest mining mine. Rostec invested a 5 billion ruble fund (88 million USD) for Mariinskoye Priisk Joint Stock Company to exploit new precious and semi-precious stone mines, including emeralds, alexandrit and beri.

Picture 3 of See giant blocks of emeralds in Russia
The emerald block was mined in fine detail, so it took the whole shape from the mine.

Rostec is raising the ambition to modernize the current production system with the introduction of new technology. By 2018, Malyshevsky mine will be fully exploited, with an amount of 400 tons / year. Sedimentary deposits may exceed 60 tons.

According to industry experts, the price of emeralds increases about 10% annually. They are particularly sought after by European, Chinese and American collectors. Colombia is currently the largest emerald producer in the world, accounting for about 50-95% of global production.