New York, November 8, 2005--Pursuing its worldwide program of promotion and awareness of colored gemstones, the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA), hosted an exclusive mine tour in Colombia the last week of October.
 
The 16 participants visited the back doors of local gem enhancement laboratories as well as gem-cutting shops and gem export offices before going on an extended visit of the 3 main emerald mining areas of Muzo, La pita and Coscuez.
 
After exploring the mile-long tunnel of La Paz mine in Coscuez, the ICA group was hosted at the Pita mine. From there, an extended tour of the new emerald production areas along the Rio Minero (Mining River) and the mines of Cunas, El Totumo, and Polveros were organized with underground visits of the Pita and Consorcio mining operations, followed the next day by an underground visit of the Mythical Muzo mine of Puerto Arturo.
 
Several meetings were held with the new generation of mine owners led by Mr. Yesid Nieto during which bases of cooperation between ICA and the Colombia gem trade sector were established.
 
As a starting point of a promising relationship, the ICA made a special donation of US$9,200 in assistance to the schools located in Coscuez, Pita and Muzo.  During the visit at Coscuez, President Joe Menzie presented two computers to the El plano and El silencio Schools with the children in attendance for the occasion. Further donations of school implements will be made according to a program which is being put together with local operators.
 
Following this successful event, prominent mining entrepreneurs and gem trade players have filed ICA membership applications enlarging the growing ICA active international community.
 
 The delegation of  16 participants were from the US, Asia, Europe and Brazil  and was led by ICA Vice President Jean Claude Michelou, together with President Joseph Menzie and the current Ambassador to Colombia, Benny Bezalel. The group included ICA Board Director Emmanuel Piat from France;  ICA Ambassador to Korea Sang Phil Oh; ICA Ambassador to Austria Bryan Pavlik;  the Director of  Gemology Course Development  at GIA Andrew Lucas; Cap Beesley, president of the American Gem Lab;  Eric Welsh, special photographer from GIA; as well as Teresa Novellino from National Jeweler; Jean Baptiste Senoble, special assistant to the director of the AIGS lab (Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences) from Bangkok; and ICA members Glenn Preus from  Hawai, Michael Haag from Germany among others.


Download hiRes images (300dpi):
(The images are in RGB mode, for Printing in Magazines you have to convert them to CMYK mode)

ICA_Columbia_01.jpg
Entrance of Puerto Arturo in Muzo. © ICA






ICA_Columbia_02.jpg
The one mile long Tunnel of La Paz mine at Coscuez. © ICA






ICA_Columbia_03.jpg
View of the Rio Minero from el consorcio mine campground. © ICA






ICA_Columbia_04.jpg
Entrance of el consorcio mine. © ICA






ICA_Columbia_05.jpg
Entrance to le polvero mine. © ICA






ICA_Columbia_06.jpg
ICA group at the heart of the Pita mine, Teresa Novellino, Michael Haag, Emmanuel Piat, Glenn Preus,Joe Menzie, William Moody. © ICA





ICA_Columbia_07.jpg
An “ ICA miner” hits an emerald vein. © ICA






ICA_Columbia_08.jpg
ICA President presents computer donated to school with VP Jean Claude Michelou and ICA Ambassador Benny Bezalel. © ICA





For additional information, contact:

Barbara Lipatapanlop
Executive Director
International Colored Gemstone Association
19 W. 21st St., Suite 705
New York, NY 10010
Tel: 1-212-620-0900
Fax: 1-212-352-9054
ica@gemstone.org