Non-Diamond Gemstones (Natural): World Production, By Country Or Locality And Type

The table presents detailed data on the global production of natural non-diamond gemstones, categorized by country or locality and gemstone type, spanning the years 2017 through 2021. This information is crucial for understanding the supply dynamics of a diverse range of gemstones that hold significant economic value in the jewelry, ornamental, and industrial sectors. Tracking production volumes helps stakeholders assess market trends, resource availability, and the economic impact of gemstone mining on producing countries. Moreover, these statistics inform policy decisions, investment strategies, and trade negotiations within the global gemstone industry.

Analysis of the data reveals notable production trends and shifts among key producing countries. For instance, Afghanistan’s semi-precious stone output halved from an estimated 1,400 metric tons in 2020 to 700 metric tons in 2021, indicating a significant contraction. Burma (Myanmar) remains a dominant producer of jade, though its production dropped sharply from approximately 23.9 million kilograms in 2020 to 12.5 million kilograms in 2021. Sri Lanka continues to lead in sapphire production with around 2.9 million carats in 2021, maintaining stable output despite minor fluctuations in other gemstones like ruby and cat’s eye. Tanzania’s production of tanzanite showed a steady increase, rising from 21,582 kilograms in 2017 to an estimated 52,000 kilograms in 2021, underscoring its growing importance in this niche market. Meanwhile, Zambia exhibited volatile amethyst production, peaking at over 1.1 million kilograms in 2019 before declining to 700,000 kilograms in 2021. These variations reflect the complex interplay of geological, economic, and political factors influencing gemstone mining worldwide.

TABLE 13
NON-DIAMOND GEMSTONES (NATURAL): WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY AND TYPE1, 2

(Kilograms, unless otherwise noted)

Country or locality and gemstone type		2017		2018		2019		2020		2021
Afghanistan:
Precious stones		51	r, e	53	r	55	r	60	r	30
Semi-precious stonese	metric tons	1200000	r	1300000	r	1320000	r	1400000	r	700000	e
Argentina:
Rhodochrosite		15443		22534		127152		120000	e	120000	e
Other, unspecified		5548		5000	e	5000	e	5000	e	5000	e
Bolivia:
Amethyst		221585		243487		216000	e	210000	e	210000	e
Ametrine, bolivianite		1628		474		100	e	100	e	100	e
Botswana, semi-precious stonese		64000		64000		64000		46000		63000
Brazil, quartz crystal	metric tons	14000		14000		14000	e	14000	e	14000	e
Burma:
Jade		37986000		28136000		36835000		23894000	r	12513000
Pearl		1766		1630		2130		2768	r	2901
Precious and semiprecious stones		1486		1295		159		4	r	--	e
Cameroon, sapphire		NA		NA		NA		NA	e	NA	e
Canada, amethyst	metric tons	89		87		49		50	e	50	e
Colombia, emerald	carats	2411661		2127964		654558		1585122	r	1590000	e
Congo (Kinshasa) tourmalinee, 3	metric tons	7		11	r	14	r	18	r	18
Czechia:
Moldavite-bearing rock	metric tons	97000		110000		76000		83000	r	83000	e
Pyrope-bearing rock	do.	34000		13000		12000		1000	r	1000	e
Ethiopia:
Aquamarine		95		69		65	e	65	e	65	e
Citrine		2	e	5		5	e	5	e	5	e
Emerald		2293		2650		556		550	e	550	e
Garnet		9		10		10	e	10	e	10	e
Morganitee		1		1		1		1		1
Opal		693		2711		3591		3500	e	3500	e
Peridot		5		6	e	6	e	6	e	6	e
Rubye		34		34		34		34		34
Sapphire		23		53		284		280	e	280	e
Tourmaline		53		95		90	e	90	e	90	e
Greenland, corundum:
Ore		1616000		2706990		15614500		16000000	r, e	16000000	e
Sorted, untreated		250	e	1026		1279		1300	r, e	1300	e
Guatemala, jadeite	metric tons	1891		1611		--	r	63	r	100
Iran, turquoisee		21000		21000		21000		21000		21000
Kenya:e
Amethyst		48000		24000	r	19000	r	2600	r	2600
Aquamarine		8		8		8		6	r	6
Cordierite		2		2		2		2		2
Garnet, green		1800		1200	r	980	r	130	r	130
Garnet, other		2400		1400	r	300	r	40	r	40
Rubye		3400		3400		3400		460	r	460
Sapphire		5600		5600		4400	r	2300	r	2300
Tourmaline		3700		3700		3700		860	r	860
Madagascar:
Agatee	metric tons	670		670		670		670		670
Amazonitee	do.	520		390		350		350		350
Amethyste		180000		140000		180000		180000		180000
Calcitee	metric tons	130		130		130		130		130
Cordieritee		60		60		60		60		60
Emerald		36		35	e	35	e	35	e	35	e
Garnet		214		210	e	210	e	210	e	210	e
Labradorite	metric tons	5325		4828		4800	e	4800	e	4800	e
Ruby		72		70	e	70	e	70	e	70	e
Sapphire		2130		2100	e	2100	e	2100	e	2100	e
Tourmaline		124		120	e	120	e	120	e	120	e
Malawi:
Agate		14739		110288		68855		1931	r	30000	e
Amethyst		21000	e	18000	e	15000	e	12000		12000	e
Epidote		--		6		--		--		--	e
Fluorite		--		19		19		3	r	130	e
Garnet		1570		393		508		20643	r	90	e
Quartz		74632		1054448		471344		1067655	r	190000	e
Ruby		2		255		13		3	r	--	e
Sapphire		1		384		129		1	r	--	e
Other		44283		31209		7982		99718	r	100	e
Mozambique:
Aquamarine		508		9		8		20	r, e	20	e
Garnet		159143		154864		128738		162440	r, e	162000	e
Ruby		1135		593		452		460	r, e	460	e
Tourmaline		1932		6265		4267		8650	r, e	8650	e
Nepal:
Kyanite		10		40		400	r	150	r	150	e
Quartz		--		135		500	r	100	r	100	e
Tourmaline		--		40		120	r	--		--	e
Nigeria:
Amethyst		5700	e	6300		10000	r	10000	r, e	10000	e
Garnet		600	e	800		800	e	800	e	800	e
Sapphire		320	e	644	r	640	e	640	e	640	e
Topaz		6013		22240		1760	r	1800	r, e	1800	e
Tourmalinee		5500		5500		5500		5500		5500
Pakistan, emerald		11890		25420		23325		23000	e	23000	e
Poland, quartz and quartz crystal	metric tons	8000		8800		14400		14600	r, e	14600
Rwanda:e
Amethyst		2000		--		--		--		--
Tourmaline		4800		5000		4300	r	3400	r	3400
South Africa:
Amethyst		500		500		500		460	r, e	460	e
Emerald		--		2		2		--	r	--	e
Sri Lanka:
Alexandrite	carats	4993		4650		3982	r	4000	r, e	4000	e
Cat's eye	do.	71724		61852		62851	r	63000	r, e	63000	e
Pathmaraga	do.	7390		5706		8158	r	8200	r, e	8200	e
Ruby	do.	34488		27520		27110	r	27000	r, e	27000	e
Sapphire	do.	3168034		2935576		2940791	r	2900000	e	2900000	e
Other, unspecified	do.	6030051		5581319		5262949	r	5300000	r, e	5300000	e
Tanzania:
Alexandrite		1		1	e	1	e	1	e	1	e
Amethyst		19937		20000	e	20000	e	20000	e	20000	e
Aquamarine		5967		6000	e	6000	e	6000	e	6000	e
Emerald		12		12	e	12	e	12	e	12	e
Garnet		131278		130000	e	130000	e	130000	e	130000	e
Quartz		71275		71000	e	71000	e	71000	e	71000	e
Rubye		20000		20000		20000		20000		20000
Sapphiree		500		500		500		500		500
Sunstone		9377		9400	e	9400	e	9400	e	9400	e
Tanzanite		21582		32000	r, e	42000	r, e	51542	r	52000	e
Tourmaline		33041		33000	e	33000	e	33000	e	33000	e
Turkey:
Chalcedony	metric tons	832		2149		1213		6352	r	6400	e
Olivine	do.	177493		411612		469545		269554	r	270000	e
Uruguay, agate	metric tons	13030		12610		14924		10083		10000	e
Zambia:
Amethyst		749425		546821		1104372		600000	r, e	700000	e
Beryle		21000		6600		8300		3400	r	4500
Emeralde		38000		12000		15400		6400	r	8400
Tourmalinee		18000		6000		12000		10000	r	12000

^eEstimated. ^rRevised. do. Ditto. NA Not available. -- Zero.

¹This table is not all inclusive. It consists of data reported to the U.S. Geological Survey by companies and by the Governments of countries.

²Table includes data available through September 1, 2022. All data are reported unless otherwise noted. Estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits.

³About 20% gem quality and 80% industrial quality; the majority of production is from artisanal mining.