What surprised me is that finding gemstone minerals is not big business, it's really just individual prospectors hacking away at rocks in caves and holes hoping to find something valuable. Small traders in the towns buy the finds and assemble them into what are called "flats". Basically a small tray with a collection of 20 - 30 stones arranged to show off the best aspects. These "Flats" are bought by gemstone traders that turn up often in campervans, and ship them back home the long way. Apart from the flats are the more spectacular finds,  Vanadinite is one of the most famous. Our man Ismail took us out into the desert to meet a friend of his who mines vanamight, living in a simple shack close to his staked location, he spends the nights (because it is cooler) in search of his dream stone. Ismail told us a couple of years ago he found a piece that he sold for $4000. I bought this small piece from the guy directly for €20 he seemed very happy.

Here is one of the many small traders that buy up the finds and some pictures of the more special stones he had to offer.