Ilakaka in the centre of the arid, southern plains of Madagascar is a product of an explosion in Sapphire discovery and trade. In 1998 this sleepy town had a population of 40 villagers but now numbers close 60,000. Labourers have migrated in from across Madagascar and traders from around the globe. Madagascar’s sapphires resemble those from Sri Lanka as the two islands were once part of a single geological structure that was torn apart by plate tectonics. Concentrated by ancient rivers and alluvial deposits these stones are now found at a depth of 20-50m below the surface of the desert landscape.
Every day at 4pm precisely, miners from across the region descend on Ilakaka and the village of Manombe to the North to sell their day’s treasure. The Gem Traders, from Sri Lanka and Thailand, have purchasing posts ranging from simple wooden huts to giant marble palaces. Competing with each other for purchase of the stones the experts are armed with a simple magnifying torch, a water bowl and year’s of experience. The Malagasy miners queue and jostle with each other as they visit different dealers hoping to strike the best cash price. Tensions run high with each stone often representing a week’s labour from 5-25 men. Violence between the miners is common as is the occasional murder and robbery of a trader adding to the Wild-West atmosphere.
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