John Saul Ruby Mine

From bench to parcel.

Open cast benches and underground workings, then weighing, sorting, grading and a sealed parcel to Nairobi.

01Extraction

Extraction.

Rockland works the deposit by open cast benches, and has mined underground since 2008.

The open cast method captures the whole deposit, at capital cost. The underground method uses vertical shafts and horizontal adits, with material hoisted by crane through the shafts.

A red lattice-boom crawler crane standing on a pale rock bench, below a wall of dark red strata in the open pit.
Open cast benchJohn Saul

Geological record

Reports on the mine from 2000 assessed the deposit and recommended moving the Kimbo vein to underground extraction, the method Rockland has worked since 2008.

02Sorting and grading

Sorting and grading.

Ruby is separated from the rock face, then washed and cleaned. All material, including overburden, is weighed and accounted for.

Stones are graded into three quality levels on colour, saturation, clarity and size, then grouped by size for parcels that match.

Sorters in tan work coats inspecting trays of rough ruby inside an open-sided sorting pavilion, with a security officer in the background.
Sorting pavilionJohn Saul Ruby Mine

03Dispatch

Sealed and dispatched.

Graded stones are grouped by size, sealed and sent to the head office in Nairobi under night escort.

The head office receives the parcels and handles trade enquiries from there.

The mine's processing plant and headframe silhouetted against the setting sun over the Tsavo bush.
Processing plant at last lightJohn Saul
Trade enquiries

Write to the head office in Nairobi about the material you are looking for.