Explore / Asia / India & Indian Ocean
India & Indian Ocean, Sabaragamuwa Province
Ratnapura
Sabaragamuwa gem-pit district & gem markets
Gem locality Source-confirmed findsLicence or permit
What you could find
Reported finds from this ground.
Crystals and mineralsAlso reported: tour-and-buy: blue sapphire, star sapphire, ruby, spinel, moonstone rough at morning street markets.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Stephanie Clifford from Arlington, VA, USA (CC BY 2.0).
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Why this spot
Rockhounding locality: Sri Lanka's 'City of Gems', hand-dug illam gravel pits 10-50 m deep in paddy fields, feeding street gem markets traded since antiquity
World-famous sapphire and ruby district; pits, washing and the Abagahamula, Clock Tower and Demuwamawatha gem markets documented on Wikipedia and by NGJA
Before you go
Hazards noted for this site.
Deep unfenced shaft pitsMonsoon-flooded workings, leeches in wet season
Keep exploring nearby
More spots in this area.