The Big Five gemstones are diamond, sapphire, emerald, ruby and tanzanite. We went in search of them at the Mapatiza Gemstone Mine Tour in Kyalami. As you arrive you can feel the ‘spirits’ lifting from these precious rocks. There was aquamarine, agate, carnelian, jasper, onyx, crystal quartz, rose quartz, fluorite, lapis lazuli, obsidian, and South Africa’s very own tiger’s eye to name a few. They each had their own characteristics, shapes and powers.
The Mapatiza Mine, meaning ‘place of hard stone’, is not actually a mine but a replica of an amethyst mine in Zambia. We were lead underground and shown the vein which indicates the precious stone route. We laughed at Joseph, the tour guide, when he told us that an amethyst in a person’s pocket while drinking alcohol prevents drunkenness. However, I had felt the powers of these rocks. I also purchased the healing stone based on my birthstone, a rose quartz, which brings calmness and clarity to the emotional state and helps release muscular cramping.
After learning about the cobbling, sorting, cleaning and of course the mining of the stones, we were given a small bag of stones labelled ‘I went down’. We then viewed the artistic creations from the raw materials at Gecko Jewellers. The shop, situated at the mine, is well organised and an education of precious stones in its own way. There is variety of jewellery which ranges from expensive accessories to fun pendants under R100. My favourite were those made from tanzanite, which is rarer than diamond. This is because there is only one place and one mine in the world; which is in Africa, in Tanzania.
The experience had to include my own mining, or rather digging, in the Scratch Patch. As I scratched, I caressed the stones feeling their energy in my fingers. The gems sparkled and glittered in their authentic, natural form unlike the bling-bling found in the shops.
The day ended with delicious milkshakes at the tea garden and I decided to return when the Saturday Farmer’s market is established, which is opening at the end of January 2012.
Cost
Adults R40
Pensioners R30
Children R30
Mine Tour Operating Hours
Tues to Sat 08h00 – 16h00
Sun & Public Holidays 09h00 – 13h00
Contact Details
52 Mercury Ave, Crowthorne, Midrand,
Johannesburg, South Africa
Tel 011-468-1467
Fax 011-468-1569
Email: [email protected]
