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The Curse of the Bahia Emerald, a Giant Green Rock That Ruins Lives (2017)

57 points by pmcpinto 8y ago

specializeded 8y ago
This was the link that got me back into reading long form journalism regularly again, it’s more movie than article.
speeder 8y ago
For those wondering about why Brazil claims to own the Emerald: in Brazil all minerals are literally property or government, to open a mine you need to lease the land and jump through lots of hoops and red tape. If you just go, dig something up and try to sell, even if it was literally in your backyard, Brazilian government considers it theft of its property. EDIT: went looking for news on this... found out in 2017 they found another one in the same region, this time they did it legally (asked the govenrment to come and do all paperwork), and seemly the "second" Bahia Emerald has a legal owner. Also it is conveniently shaped like a obelisk or something, the owner said he plans in renting it to museums around the world... https://s04.video.glbimg.com/x720/5886155.jpg https://s04.video.glbimg.com/x720/5886155.jpg
- quirkot 8y ago
  I don't think it's polite to photograph a giant emerald when it's in the shower.
- freeone3000 8y ago
  That looks impressively ugly. I would hope some polish would be applied (perhaps literally?) before display.
nimbius 8y ago
I was really hoping for some more legitimate "cursed rocks" in history. Generally cursed gems and such are considered cursed for a reason: Arsenopyrite, if heated, releases arsenic. it was popular to coat spears in the dust in the past. Chalcanthite will kill you if its introduced into a water supply. Torbernite and Cinnabar are also lethal if heated thanks to Radon and Mercury. its also worth noting that powdering or ingesting these rocks, as was pretty common up to the victorian era, will absolutely send you to the grave in agony.
- okmokmz 8y ago
  >Generally cursed gems and such are considered cursed for a reason Even if the gems themselves weren't inherently dangerous, were some not considered cursed due to their value/rarity causing people to kill each other for them?
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - leoc 8y ago
    There was an FT article on the Koh-i-Noor recently: https://www.ft.com/content/0f17f436-5089-11e7-bfb8-997009366969 https://www.ft.com/content/0f17f436-5089-11e7-bfb8-997009366... The British royal family never gives it to a man to wear, just in case.
thecouve 8y ago
Slightly off topic, but does anyone know the artist of the article? Loved the graphics.
- NoNotTheDuo 8y ago
  FTA: illustrations by Tim McDonagh
- tecleandor 8y ago
  https://www.mcdonaghillustration.com/ https://www.mcdonaghillustration.com/ https://create.adobe.com/2015/12/11/a_fine_line_the_illustrations_of_tim_mcdonagh.html https://create.adobe.com/2015/12/11/a_fine_line_the_illustra...
lolc 8y ago
A rock that ruins lives? Haha, the title got it the wrong way around: Personalities liable to ruin their lives are attracted by it.

57 points by pmcpinto 8y ago

This was the link that got me back into reading long form journalism regularly again, it’s more movie than article.

For those wondering about why Brazil claims to own the Emerald: in Brazil all minerals are literally property or government, to open a mine you need to lease the land and jump through lots of hoops and red tape. If you just go, dig something up and try to sell, even if it was literally in your backyard, Brazilian government considers it theft of its property. EDIT: went looking for news on this... found out in 2017 they found another one in the same region, this time they did it legally (asked the govenrment to come and do all paperwork), and seemly the "second" Bahia Emerald has a legal owner. Also it is conveniently shaped like a obelisk or something, the owner said he plans in renting it to museums around the world... https://s04.video.glbimg.com/x720/5886155.jpg https://s04.video.glbimg.com/x720/5886155.jpg

quirkot 8y ago
I don't think it's polite to photograph a giant emerald when it's in the shower.
freeone3000 8y ago
That looks impressively ugly. I would hope some polish would be applied (perhaps literally?) before display.

nimbius 8y ago

I was really hoping for some more legitimate "cursed rocks" in history. Generally cursed gems and such are considered cursed for a reason: Arsenopyrite, if heated, releases arsenic. it was popular to coat spears in the dust in the past. Chalcanthite will kill you if its introduced into a water supply. Torbernite and Cinnabar are also lethal if heated thanks to Radon and Mercury. its also worth noting that powdering or ingesting these rocks, as was pretty common up to the victorian era, will absolutely send you to the grave in agony.

okmokmz 8y ago
>Generally cursed gems and such are considered cursed for a reason Even if the gems themselves weren't inherently dangerous, were some not considered cursed due to their value/rarity causing people to kill each other for them?
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- leoc 8y ago
  There was an FT article on the Koh-i-Noor recently: https://www.ft.com/content/0f17f436-5089-11e7-bfb8-997009366969 https://www.ft.com/content/0f17f436-5089-11e7-bfb8-997009366... The British royal family never gives it to a man to wear, just in case.

thecouve 8y ago

Slightly off topic, but does anyone know the artist of the article? Loved the graphics.

NoNotTheDuo 8y ago
FTA: illustrations by Tim McDonagh
tecleandor 8y ago
https://www.mcdonaghillustration.com/ https://www.mcdonaghillustration.com/ https://create.adobe.com/2015/12/11/a_fine_line_the_illustrations_of_tim_mcdonagh.html https://create.adobe.com/2015/12/11/a_fine_line_the_illustra...

lolc 8y ago

A rock that ruins lives? Haha, the title got it the wrong way around: Personalities liable to ruin their lives are attracted by it.