ocr: undermine the Spanish conquistadors boundless greed for the gem. The Spaniards were told that a real emerald would not shatter when hit with a hammer, but a false one would: they destroyed countless emeralds this way before they realized they were being duped. The Patricia Emerald is one of a very few large, gem-quality emeralds that have been preserved uncut. Though emeralds have been found in several locations, including Siberia and the United States, Colombia is the world's major emerald-producing region today. 212