sentences:  He spent his youth in the emerald mining zone in the cities of Muzo and Quipama in the department of Boyacá, centered about 120 km northwest of Bogotá, where he farmed cattle and worked as a butcher.Colombia’s emerald mines, are considered some of the richest in the world.He soon became involved with the emerald business as members of his family were members of a militia in charge of keeping the mines safe, called "La Pesada."