Patrick Zachmann "Mina Real", one of the mines to be still owned by Colombian investors or families. There are 23 tunnels and 500 miners working in the mine. They usually are not paid or get a very little salary bu (...)
t they have the possibility to look for themselves for emeralds during a specific and limited period of time when they start the production (which means when a team has found the right rock). They also often steal some stones they will sell to traders in Quipima or Muzo. These stones will be then sold in Bogota in the street. Emerald story. Quipama. Region of Boyaca, Columbia. January 2017. © Patrick Zachmann | Magnum Photos
Patrick Zachmann "Mina Real", one of the mines to be still owned by Colombian investors or families. There are 23 tunnels and 500 miners working in the mine. They usually are not paid or get a very little salary bu (...)
t they have the possibility to look for themselves for emeralds during a specific and limited period of time when they start the production (which means when a team has found the right rock). They also often steal some stones they will sell to traders in Quipima or Muzo. These stones will be then sold in Bogota in the street. Emerald story. Quipama. Region of Boyaca, Colombia. January 2017. © Patrick Zachmann | Magnum Photos
Patrick Zachmann "Mina Real", one of the mines to be still owned by Colombian investors or families. There are 23 tunnels and 500 miners working in the mine. They usually are not paid or get a very little salary bu (...)
t they have the possibility to look for themselves for emeralds during a specific and limited period of time when they start the production (which means when a team has found the right rock). They also often steal some stones they will sell to traders in Quipima or Muzo. These stones will be then sold in Bogota in the street. Emerald story. Quipama. Region of Boyaca, Columbia. January 2017. © Patrick Zachmann | Magnum Photos
Patrick Zachmann "Guaqueros", men and women coming from all over the country, looking for the green precious stone which can make them suddendly rich. But nowadays, the chances to find them are very small since fo (...)
reign multinational enterprises such MTC have bought the main mines and have modernized and high-securised this traditional business. In the past, people could easily find emeralds in the river, or workers directly from the mines where they would steal them. The bosses usually would let them do as long as they didn't take a big one. Emerald story. Quipama. Region of Boyaca, Columbia. January 2017. © Patrick Zachmann | Magnum Photos
Patrick Zachmann "Guaqueros", men and women coming from all over the country, looking for the green precious stone which can make them suddendly rich. But nowadays, the chances to find them are very small since fo (...)
reign multinational enterprises such MTC have bought the main mines and have modernised and high-securised this traditional business. In the past, people could easily find emeralds in the river, or workers directly from the mines where they would steal them. The bosses usually would let them do as long as they didn't take a big one. Emerald story. Quipama. Region of Boyaca, Colombia. January 2017. © Patrick Zachmann | Magnum Photos
Patrick Zachmann "Guaqueros", men and women coming from all over the country, looking for the green precious stone which can make them suddendly rich. But nowadays, the chances to find them are very small since fo (...)
reign multinational enterprises such MTC have bought the main mines and have modernised and high-securised this traditional business. In the past, people could easily find emeralds in the river, or workers directly from the mines where they would steal them. The bosses usually would let them do as long as they didn't take a big one. Emerald story. Quipama. Region of Boyaca, Colombia. January 2017. © Patrick Zachmann | Magnum Photos
Patrick Zachmann "Guaqueros", men and women coming from all over the country, looking for the green precious stone which can make them suddendly rich. But nowadays, the chances to find them are very small since fo (...)
reign multinational enterprises such MTC have bought the main mines and have modernised and high-securised this traditional business. In the past, people could easily find emeralds in the river, or workers directly from the mines where they would steal them. The bosses usually would let them do as long as they didn't take a big one. Emerald story. Quipama. Region of Boyaca, Colombia. January 2017. © Patrick Zachmann | Magnum Photos
Patrick Zachmann Miner(s) working for the multinational company "MTC", which owns the main part of the mine of Muzo and Quipama. This forain entreprise pays the workers 1.200000 pesos (400US$) every month but the s (...)
ites are highly securised with armed guards and cameras to avoid stealing. Emerald story. Quipama. Region of Boyaca, Colombia. January 2017. © Patrick Zachmann | Magnum Photos
Patrick Zachmann Doris Vega, 55, has been working as a "guaquera" for seven years and her husband is still working as a guaquero in the river. Doris' daughter, Berenice, 34, has been shot in the head by accident a (...)
t the end of the "green war" in 1993 while she was 10 years old. Since then, she is mentally and physically disabled. Emerald story. Quipama. Region of Boyaca, Colombia. January 2017. © Patrick Zachmann | Magnum Photos
Patrick Zachmann "Guaqueros", men and women coming from all over the country, looking for the green precious stone which can make them suddendly rich. But nowadays, the chances to find them are very small since fo (...)
reign multinational enterprises such MTC have bought the main mines and have modernised and high-securised this traditional business. In the past, people could easily find emeralds in the river, or workers directly from the mines where they would steal them. The bosses usually would let them do as long as they didn't take a big one. Emerald story. Quipama. Region of Boyaca, Colombia. January 2017. © Patrick Zachmann | Magnum Photos