A Gem of a Story
Type of Gemstones:Emeralds
Total Carat Weight of Gemstones:180,000 carats
Our Price: $ 19,000,000.00
ebay
The Bahia Emerald
The Brazilian State of Bahia is known for many things, including sandy beaches, sea cliffs, mangrove swamps, and tropical islands. Bahia's coast is recognized worldwide as an area rich in culture and striking natural beauty, but travel westward into the state's interior region and you will find yourself surrounded by dense and rugged jungle. It is here, in the midst of unforgiving rainforest and wild beasts that the story of the Bahia Emerald begins.
On July 9, 2001, a miner in the Carnaiba Emerald mine came upon the head of an unusually large crystal protruding from black rock. Within minutes, everyone gathered around to watch one of the veteran miners excavate the rock around the crystal using a small pick and hammer. Several hours later, they all stood around the most awesome concentration of Emerald crystals that anyone had ever seen.
Knowing that word of such a treasure could cause unwanted attention, the mine supervisor quickly assembled a team of his most trusted miners with the purpose of moving the rock containing the crystals to a safe place. It took 8 men over 5 hours to move the 840 lb. rock to the nearest clear trail. There they assembled a team of mules for a journey that would take them over 700 miles through unforgiving jungle and last almost 11 months.
5 months into their journey, their mules were attacked by a pair of black panthers. Having no other choice, the 8 men built a stretcher from wood and vines and carried the rock by hand the rest of the way.
When the miners finally arrived in Sao Paulo on April 20, 2002, they brought the rock to the Bank of Brazil. A world renowned gemologist was brought in to appraise the find, and when he was finished, announced that it was indeed one of a kind. Fearing that the rock could fall into the wrong hands, it was immediately shipped to the United States under heavy guard so that it could be further examined by scientists and collectors.
posted by 10 men at 2:43 AM
20 Comments:
Good story..
Funny how it had to be shipped to the imperialist and conquering USA to be kept safe from the 'wrong' hands.
The story reminds me of Raiders of the lost Arc.
Complete nonsense. I work selling emeralds and other gemstones and live in Bahia. 11 months to walk to SP? Thick jungle. Total nonsense. There are paved highways and no thick jungles with panthers on the way to Sao Paulo. Also look at this rough... very low grade....19 mil ...this is someones scam
well after reading "Anonymous" comment, I had to get on here and say that you are completely wrong. I have visited Bahia and purchased rough stones there many times...many people there know of this emerald specimen as it bears the name of their state...it dissipated a while back there was a group out of Florida that was going to buy it but never came up with the money...also, the value of this emerald is not in the crystals you moron, its in the "art appeal" as it is the third largest of its kind in the world...you must be part of that group out of Florida trying to de-value the worth of this stunning piece to buy it for a cheaper price...that is the only conclusion I can draw.
WOW---looks like the meteor from Joe Dirt---a big piece of poopie. Classic Show.
I agree with the poster who found this story implausible. There are good quality roads, etc. in Bahia. As for the estimate of 180,000 carats. B***shit. It appears that much of the 850 lbs is just matrix holding the emeralds together - not uncommon. By result of their chemical composition and ultimate formation, "flawless" (as often related to daimonds) is impossible in emeralds. Until the matrix is washed off and every single crystal examined and graded, there is no way to estimate the value. Like all commodoties, emeralds are subject to market forces of supply and demand. That is one reason that deBeers tries so hard to stop the sales of so-called synthetic diamonds (produced in the lab - are just as real as those in nature). As soon as diamonds (or emeralds) were to become 'pedestrian', the cartels that control production would not longer be able to control pricing. Same is true of oil...anything else one wants to consider. all in all, this story is just that...a big story filled with media savvy embellishment.
Apparently it is worth up to $340 Million you pontificating morons.
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/27/giant.emerald/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
Shipped to the USA coz is the safest place in the world, you moran. If not already know, you moran, the US already conquered the world over financially and there is not a single country or alliance on the Planet to challenge the mighty US Military. We are the strongest, and yet we are the most helping nation.
pwnd.
The mine is located in Pindobaçu, Brazil. Google Maps will plan your road trip from there to Sao Palo and says it'll take twenty four hours to drive it.
Nobody could use a helicopter? Srsly?
I know the entire story, and what is posted here is nonsense, and the so called owner of the stone is a liar. The true value of the turd in question is $40,000.00 how do I know becuase the so called appraiser who deemed the stone value at $372,000,000.00 name is Demitri Paraskavopolos who is in Jail in Brazil for falsely over inflating values of items like this and using stolen stamps from the goverment office to seal the deal. and By the way I have the legal ownership of this worthless turd and have been conned out of millions for it.
In reference to anonymous who stated: By the way I have the legal ownership of this worthless turd and have been conned out of millions for it.
Oh really? If that is true, then why do you want this worthless turd so badly? Simple...you are the liar!
Hopefully the stone will be purchased by a museum so that all can enjoy!
As for having to keep the stone in the United States, where else in the world can you keep something of such value secure. All the other people in the world are too busy slaughtering each other for their backward, extremist beliefs and have no desire to move towards an era of progress and prosperity.
"The mine is located in Pindobaçu, Brazil. Google Maps will plan your road trip from there to Sao Palo and says it'll take twenty four hours to drive it."
Out of curiosity, what do you feed your mules to make them average 40 mph?
You got balls calling me the liar, everything about you is a lie Mr. Billionaire. This time you played the wrong guy for a chump. and I do not want this turd, I want my money back but you dont have it, do you? you frikken loser. That is ok when the feds are done with this perhaps I will send you a calender for you to hang on your prison wall. Tsk Tsk Tsk Time will tell now wont it.
I think you are all nuts! ITS MINE! AND I ALSO OWN THE LA LAKERS AND THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA!
THANKS FOR PLAYING
My name is Butch Vallee and own a natural arts Gallery in Laguna Beach,Ca called 'The Crystal Image'.
For clarification purposes, I am familiar with the natural emerald in question. I currently own an emerald specimen from the same mine found at the same time which I loaned to the GIA (Gemalogical Institute of America) which was on display in the lobby there for approx. 2 years. 2001 ~ 2003.
I had heard about some large natural crystals down in Brazil that had been found 20 years prior and sent my agent to contact the owner and inquire about purchasing them. The price I felt was too high for my clients and went to the mine that they were found in and left a business card for them to contact me if they happen to find any other large crystals in the future. By chance 3 months later they found some and contacted me. I immediately sent a deposit to hold the crystals until my agent could get there and have first choice. My agent went there and we purchased 7 large specimens, 1 of which happens to be the largest known crystal found to date. The single crystal measures over 15" in length and 2.5" wide.
I have been contacted several times, once by a major auction house for an appraised value of the specimen in question and I valued it at approximately $25K ~ $50K as my specimen was then for sale at $70K in my Gallery.
The photo of the specimen and documentation that I saw did not have any 'single' crystal as large as the one I owned and even if it did, the valuation would not be in the millions.
I am currently in Tucson, Az attending the Gem and Mineral show and have my emerald for sale at $45K.
nice post!
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