What term is used to describe the theft of gemstones or production by workers from a mine?

The term "high grading" specifically refers to the act of selectively stealing the best-quality gemstones from a mine. This practice is often carried out by workers who take valuable stones for personal profit rather than reporting them to the mining operation. High grading undermines the financial integrity of mining companies and can significantly decrease both their immediate profits and long-term resource management.

In the context of mining operations, this term emphasizes the unethical nature of capitalizing on one's position to extract the most valuable items, which is a serious concern within the industry. It is distinct from other terms such as embezzlement, which generally pertains to the theft of funds rather than physical assets, or mining fraud, which might suggest falsification in mining operations rather than the direct theft of gemstones. Resource misappropriation can be broader and encompass more than just gemstones, making high grading the most precise term for this specific action.