Gems in Pakistan

The northern area of Pakistan is enriched with the variety of mineral treasures that include peridot, emerald, aquamarine, tourmaline, topaz, ruby, sapphire, garnet, red spinel, pargasite, actinolite, diopside, epidote, vesuvianite, axinite, rodingite, sphene, fluorite, apatite, zircon, rutile, azurite, moonstone, amethyst, rose quartz and agate.The trio of impressive mountain ranges that circle north and northwest Pakistan-namely, Himalaya (Pir Panjal), Karakorum and Hindukush--are where the country's gemstones are most often found. Pakistan is a mineral-rich country and exports many gemstones to the world market. Often, the gems are mined from very inhospitable areas.

Rubies range in color from light to deep red. The biggest Pakistani deposits are in Hunza Valley of the northern Kashmir, once known as the Gilgit Agency. The Hunza ruby is a deep "blood" red. Besides the nation of Burma, Hunza is the only region to have ever produced this type of ruby.

The peridot is lime green in color, with a hint of gold. It is the August birthstone. Popular in ancient Egyptian and Roman times, the peridot's popularity skyrocket in the 1990s after rich deposits were found in the Kashmir region of Pakistan.

Rubies range in color from light to deep red. The biggest Pakistani deposits are in Hunza Valley of the northern Kashmir, once known as the Gilgit Agency. The Hunza ruby is a deep "blood" red. Besides the nation of Burma, Hunza is the only region to have ever produced this type of ruby.

Tourmaline comes in a variety of colors including golden yellow, lime green and golden brown. It is found in pencil-shaped crystals. In Pakistan it occurs in Chitral, Swat, Dir, Gilgit and Azad Jammu Kashmir.

Like aquamarine, the emerald belongs to the beryl group of gems. Emeralds are geologically rare, but fine specimens are located in Swat, Pakistan. Pakistani emeralds are medium to deep green in color.

Like aquamarine, the emerald belongs to the beryl group of gems. Emeralds are geologically rare, but fine specimens are located in Swat, Pakistan. Pakistani emeralds are medium to deep green in color.http://yehpakistanhai.com/

Garnets are used extensively in jewelry. Garnet is the name given to a family of minerals with similar structures. Not all are of gem quality. In Pakistan, the blood red pyrope as well as the purple almadine and the green-colored grossularite occur in theKalat, Quetta, Dir and Swat areas.