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Commonly asked questions:

 

Why don't you call your crystals "ethical crystals"?

Because there is no industry standard for what ethical means in mining. Our vision is of a world where crystal mining is not just ethical and sustainable, but regenerative and beneficial. 

We envision mines that pay fair, living wages to mineworkers and without child labor or modern day slavery. Where harvesting crystals is actually beneficial to the local community. Where the earth and water that are disrupted in the extraction process are replanted with native flora or used to create food gardens for local communities.

Today ethical doesn't mean that. And while some sources will say they are ethical or fair trade, the reality is that are no industry-standard certifications as of yet. 

Until then, we focus on transparency. We let you know exactly what mine or distributor Coba Crystals are from.

 

How are crystals mined?

Over 80% of crystals are mined ‘artisanally.’ Artisanal and small-scale mining is the industry term for miners working alone, with their families or small groups, digging holes just wide enough to lower themselves and a 5-gallon bucket into the earth. (Check out this Guardian article for direct reporting). According to the International Labor Council upwards of 40 million people work in artisanal mining, including about 1 million children. (Source: ILO)

It is dangerous work. The holes can collapse or be filled with water when it rains. Quartz dust fills workers lungs leading to silicosis and lung cancer. And it is economically unsustainable, since miners are paid pennies on the dollar for what we buy at our local crystal shops. 

Consider the source of the rose quartz you’re using to call in love. It may be from Madagascar, one of the 4 top sources for rose quartz in the world. 80% of the rose quartz mined in Madagascar is done by hand by people who live below the global $1.90/day poverty line. And 85,000 children are estimated to work in Madagascar’s mines.

How do you vet your mining sources?

Right now we either visit the mining locations in person or ask for documentation. If we can visit in person, we document the conditions and standards on video and interview the workers. If not, we ask for video documentation.

Our vision is to have our global supply chain to be verified by the Fair Labor Association. One day we will have an independent third party auditor that visits each mining location and verifies its sustainability and ethical practices. Until then we will continue to be transparent with our sources. 

Where are your crystals from?

See our Coba Crystals Partners page here.

Where are you located?

Our HQ is located in Portland, Oregon.

Coba Crystals acknowledges and honors the Chinook Peoples and that our HQ in Portland rests on the traditional village sites of the Bands of Chinook and many other tribes that made their homes along the Columbia and Willamette rivers. These rivers are known to the Chinook Peoples as the Wimahl and Whilamut Rivers.

We recognize these Native communities in our region today, extend our deepest gratitude to those who have stewarded this land, and offer our respect to their elders past, present and future.

What is breathwork?

Breathwork is a guided meditation with active breathing that helps you connect to your body, move stagnant energy and work through blocks, often without translating them into words. It can be beneficial to breath through moments, emotions, beliefs and history that we have stored in our bodies. Breathwork is a liberating self-healing practice. 

The scientific aspect of breathwork is that sustained rhythmic breathing actually alkalinizes the blood by getting rid of more CO2. decrease inflammation responses in the body, and and induces a feeling of wellbeing.   Sign up for a 1:1 session here, group classes here, and read more about breathwork here.