Episode #013: Safari to a Diamond Mine in Zimbabwe | Working with Heirloom Gemstones | Show & Tool

Hop in the Land Cruiser and hold on tight...we're headed down a dusty, red road to the Murowa Diamond Mine in Zimbabwe with Alexandra Hart of Ethical Metalsmiths as our guide. Located not too far from Zimbabwe's famed Hwange National Wildlife Park and the 11th century ruins of Great Zimbabwe, Murowa is a model for ethical mining in Africa. We’ll meet the locals, see mining practices and learn to bring ethical material sourcing into our own studios. And speaking of sustainability, Anne will share a recent commission that involved some beautiful but challenging heirloom gems. Carrying on from there we'll examine a cool, old tool belonging to a student. As always we'll finish by talking about current projects, sharing ideas & resources and having an open Q&A. MAAA is a FREE weekly online metal arts presentation followed by an open discussion Q&A. In this fun, interactive gathering we offer demos, share tips & tricks, feature work by artists and students from around the world, go on virtual studio tours, discuss historical metal arts traditions, test out tips and tricks and share resources.

---

Links and resources in this episode:

• The Craft Emergency Fund: cerfplus.org.
• Ethical Gem Fair: gia.edu.
• Responsible Jewelry Conference:
• November 5-7, this year  a deep dive into diamond supply structures why the diggers live in poverty and what you need to know.  How you as a jeweler can join in the Sustainable Development Goals and what that means , with UN SDG speakers. What is the Clean Gold Campaign all about and what’s our responsibility to the Amazon. Gemstone coming from Africa,  the old way is not ok. Smuggling and opaque trading rob miners and their countries of revenue. responsiblejewelryconference.com. 
• Support Rotary to create a mining camp in Kenya: gofundme.com/f/support-women-miners-in-taita-kenya.
• Free resources at ethicalmetalsmiths.org.
• Info about the Kimberly Process to ensure that blood diamonds do not enter the supply chain: kimberleyprocess.com. Download an informational pdf: kimberleyprocess.com.
• Perpetuum Jewels: https://perpetuum-jewels.smugmug.com.
• Compassion for African Villages: compassionforafricanvillages.org.
• Lucy Walker Jewellery: lucywalkerjewellery.com