Day

February 18, 2010

Update on trial underground mining of Zambian emeralds

As announced in its last operation update dated 28 January 2010, Gemfields PLC (“Gemfields” or “the Company”, AIM:GEM) initiated a trial underground mining project that, if successful, could provide a number of opportunities for expansion into areas that have a history of high quality production at its Kagem mine in Zambia. The Company is pleased to announce, today, the first production from its trial underground mining operation. This innovation has the potential to transform Zambian emerald mining by allowing mining operations to follow the ore zone efficiently.