Interest in crystals and their supposed healing powers has soared over the past three years among celebrities and the wellness community , but little attention has been given to conditions in the mines . I try to stay as aware of their origins as possible, but I can be concerned about it while also feeling… impotent?” In the Democratic Republic of the Congo , seven - year - old children are used in the diamond mining process . Meanwhile , in Afghanistan , the Taliban reportedly earns up to $ 20 m annually from mining lapis lazuli . There are now calls for the rapidly - growing industry to be regulated , similar to the Kimberley Process established in 2002 to stem the flow of " blood " or " conflict " diamonds , to prevent human - rights abuses and environmental damage .
Interest in crystals and their supposed healing powers has soared over the past three years among celebrities and the wellness community , but little attention has been given to conditions in the mines . In the Democratic Republic of the Congo , seven - year - old children are used in the diamond mining process . Meanwhile , in Afghanistan , the Taliban reportedly earns up to $ 20 m annually from mining lapis lazuli . There are now calls for the rapidly - growing industry to be regulated , similar to the Kimberley Process established in 2002 to stem the flow of " blood " or " conflict " diamonds , to prevent human - rights abuses and environmental damage .