Gemstones of Pakistan

PAGE 15

EARTH & SPACE SCIENCES SECTION

ISSUE 1

B Y B I L A L A H M E D S A R W A R

Gemstones are precious minerals and stones use as jewelry or adornment. They can classify on different bases like Formation (Natural Gemstones, Synthetic Gemstones, Simulated Gemstones, etc.), beauty & appearance, durability & hardness, rarity, fashion and superstition. Pakistan has a huge potential for gems. The Himalayas, Hindukush, and Karakoram ranges are the center of gemstones. “It can be said that Northern areas of Pakistan

are as much beautiful from inside as from outside. ”

Pakistan considered as home to many varieties of minerals, some of which are very prominent such as Ruby, Emerald, Sphere, Tourmaline and Quartz. Peshawar is the main trading hub for Gemstones. Gemstones Corporation of Pakistan (GEMCP) under the administrative control of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources. The kinds of gem Pakistan produces include Emeralds, Topaz, Ruby and Tourmaline. Apart from these, other gems in low quantity include Aquamarine and Peridots.

Introduction to main gems of Pakistan

Platinum group is linked with mafic and ultramafic rocks, and in placers as well. A tiny amount of gold was recovered by panning in the upper Indus and its offshoots. Pakistani emerald is a rare and highly precious variety of the natural emerald gemstone, recognized for its lively deep green appearance, distinctive smoothness and faultless transparency. It is counted amongst the world’s most beautiful emerald gemstones. This gemstone can be worn to gain success in career, financial stability and good health. It is also the birthstone for the people born in the month of May.

Figure 1 Emerald gem.

The third important gem is quartz. These crystals can be used in best jewelry for attraction as diamond. . Pakistan has many quartz crystals deposits. The violet quartz or amethyst is the birthstone for the February born and to symbolize durability, friendship and stead fastness in love.

Figure 2 Quartz crystal.

PAGE 16

EARTH & SPACE SCIENCES SECTION

ISSUE 1

Ruby is a pink to the blood-red colored gemstone. The word ruby comes from ruber, Latin for red. The deposits are being mined and the reserves are estimated at about 24.9 million grams (Malik 1995).

Figure 3 Ruby gem.

Tourmaline is classified as a semi-precious stone and the gemstone comes in a wide variety of colors. Tourmaline is found in granite and granite pegmatites and in metamorphic rocks such as schist and marble.

Figure 4 Tourmaline gem. Topaz has a definite, uniform sky-blue color, usually without any overtones. Often pale, it can be bright or very rarely an intense blue. lt sometimes has a slight gray or even greenish tinge, giving it a lifeless appearance.

Figure 5 Topaz gem.

Figure 6 Map of Pakistan showing distribution of different precious minerals and gemstones..

PAGE 17

EARTH & SPACE SCIENCES SECTION

ISSUE 1

Mining areas of Pakistan

Northwest Frontier Province

This province includes Swat (Malakand division) –Emerald, various types of quartz, and epidote, Dir (Malakand division) – Corundum and quartz, Mansehra (Hazara division) – Corundum and smoky quartz, Kohistan (Hazara division) – Peridot and Peshawar district (Frontier province) – Quartz with astrophyllite/riebeckite fiber inclusions, xenotime, and bastnaesite.

Federally Administered Tribal Area

This province includes gems and minerals from Mohmand Agency – Emerald, clinozoisite, sphene, and epidote; Bajaur Agency – Emerald, garnet, and orangecolor scapolite; Khyber Agency – Quartz with astrophyllite/riebeckite fibers inclusions, xenotime, and bastnaesite; North and South Waziristan Agencies –Faden quartz, diamond quartz, phantom quartz, chloriteincluded quartz, and window quartz.

Northern Areas

The area contains gems and minerals from Chilas (Diamer district) – Alluvial diopside, zircon, rutile quartz, aquamarine, and tourmaline; Gilgit, Hunza, and Shigar (Gilgit district) – Aquamarine, topaz (golden and white), Emerald (new find), ruby, pollucite, rutile quartz, morganite, apatite, spinel, and pargasite, Shengus, Stak Nala, and Tormiq Nala (Baltistan Skardu Road, Baltistan district); Aquamarine, topaz, tourmaline, apatite, sphene, morganite, and quartz, Shigar Proper (near Skardu, Baltistan district) – Apatite, zoisite, rutile quartz, epidote, and morganite, Childee, Kashmal, and Yuno (Shigar area, near Skardu, Baltistan district); Aquamarine, emeraldcolour tourmaline, apatite, morganite, topaz, and quartz.

Hyderabad, Testun, Dassu, Net Tahirabad, and Goyungo (Shigar area, Baltistan district); Topaz (best golden colour here), aquamarine, tourmaline, morganite, rare earth minerals, apatite, quartz, and new find emerald. Appu Aligund, Fuljo, Braldu, Bashu, and Karma (Baltistan district) – Tourmaline, aquamarine, garnets,diopside, ruby, pargasite, emerald, topaz, amethyst, scheelite, and quartz, also Khappalu and near Siachin area (Gaanshai area, Baltistan district) – Aquamarine, amethyst, and fine golden rutile quartz.

Baluchistan Province

Minerals and gems from this province includes Kharan district – Brookite, anatase, quartz and Chaman (near Quetta) – Diamond quartz, window quartz, quartz on prehnite-base, and faden quartz included by chlorite.