Q. Are Zambian emeralds real emeralds?

Answer

Value-wise, emeralds mined in Zambia are ranked second only to those mined in Colombia (after Colombia). The deposits can be found in the Ndola Rural Restricted Area, in close proximity to the Kafubu River. Although emeralds have been sourced from this area since 1928, it wasn't until the 1970s that commercial production really took off. On the Mohs scale of hardness, emeralds mined in Zambia typically range from a 7.5 to an 8. That's really tough, but it still falls short of the perfect 10 that diamonds and rubies and sapphires both have on the Mohs scale. Emeralds mined in Zambia are also more durable and less porous than their counterparts mined elsewhere.