of Muzo. A third campaign to submit the Muzo was executed by conquistador Pedro de Ursúa in 1552. Also he failed to conquer the Muzo. A fourth time the Spanish attempted to subdue the Muzo to the Spanish Crown was successful; Luis Lanchero returned to the area where he was driven out almost two decades earlier, defeated the Muzo and founded the town of Villa de la Santísima Trinidad de los Muzos on February 20, 1559. Colonial period The first evangelisation was performed by Juan de los Barrios in 1566. The Spanish were highly interested in the emeralds of Muzo, proving to be the highest quality emeralds worldwide. They set up encomiendas to guard the valuable gemstones and used the indigenous people to perform slave labour for the extraction of the minerals. Economy The main economical activity with approximately 75% of the municipal income is emerald mining. Agriculture and livestock farming comprise the remaining quarter of the economy of Muzo. Agricultural products cultivated are sugarcane, cacao, yuca, avocadoes and citrus fruits. Emerald mining The Muzo mines are situated in the western flank of the Eastern ranges of the Colombian Andes. The Devonshire, one of the world's most famous uncut emeralds, is from the Muzo mines. It is a emerald and was a gift to the 6th Duke of Devonshire by Emperor Dom Pedro I of Brazil in 1831. The US National Museum Division of Mineralogy and Petrology carried out a study of the mines in 1916. Gallery See also Las Pavas Chivor, Somondoco Muzo people References Bibliography External links MUZO Emerald Colombia official site of Muzo Emeralds, with details on the emerald mine The Emerald Deposits of Muzo, Colombia Online copy of the 1916 U.S. National Museum study Municipalities of Boyacá Department Populated places established in 1559 1559 establishments in the Spanish Empire Colombian emeralds