Seven-year-old children work in the cobalt and copper mines, where covetable ‘healing’ stones such as citrine and smoky quartz abound. International NGO Global Witness found that the TALIBAN earns up to $20m a year from Afghanistan’s lapis mines, lapis lazuli being, as crystal websites explain, one of the best stones for activating psychic abilities. It is impossible to know for sure if your crystal was obtained via an environmental and human rights horror show Http://www.theguardian.com/global/2019/jun/16/are-crystals-the-new-blood-diamonds-the-truth-about-muky-business-of-healing-stones
@Armchaircouch Dude smoky quartz is found all over in MD, WV, VA, and NC as are many more expensive stones including blue lapis - there are little mini mining tourism places everywhere and also you can just pan on the side of a stream. My point is it's ridiculous for these "crystals" or "gems" to come from forced and/or child labor when we are perfectly capable of doing it ourselves in our own country.
I say mine your own stones and pay a local jeweler to cut and set them. Harm no children.
@apsuche @Armchaircouch
I'm saving up for a rock tumbler. My grandfather used to make jewelry using local rocks (SoCal) he cut and tumbled.
@Jeber @Armchaircouch We finally got a rock tumbler for Christmas. Stay tuned for cruelty free tumbled pendants! I hope you are close to getting yours as well 🤗