gems, beryl, emerald, Afghanistan, Panjshir

Giuliani examines the geology and genesis of the emerald deposits of the Panjshir Valley in Afghanistan, placing the mineralization within the regional tectonic and metamorphic framework of the Hindu Kush. Emerald occurs principally in fracture and vein systems developed in metamorphosed sedimentary rocks, where hydrothermal fluids circulated along faults and shear zones. The chapter describes the host rocks, structural controls, mineral associations, and alteration accompanying emerald formation and considers the sources and transport of the chemical components required for crystallization. Fluid-inclusion, stable-isotope, and geochemical evidence is used to constrain the nature of the mineralizing fluids and the physicochemical conditions of emerald formation. The Panjshir deposits are presented as an important example of emerald mineralization controlled by tectonic structures and fluid-rock interaction, explaining both the localization of the emerald-bearing zones and the distinctive geological character of this major Central Asian gem deposit.

gems, beryl, emerald, Afghanistan, Central Asia, Pakistan, China

Superb book on emeralds around the world, covering the history, geology and gemology of emerald in all the major localities. Beautifully illustrated and printed.

gems, beryl, emerald, Austria, Habachtal

The Habachtal emerald deposit in Austria, one of Europe’s oldest known sources of emeralds, has a rich history dating back to at least 1797, when it was first described in scientific literature. While there are speculative links to Roman or Celtic exploitation, no definitive archaeological evidence confirms such early mining activities. Regular mining began in the early 1860s under Samuel Goldschmidt, a Viennese jeweler, who initiated operations that were later taken over by the English company Emerald Mines Limited in 1895. However, the venture faced legal and financial challenges, leading to its decline by 1903. By 1914, the property returned to Austrian ownership, acquired by local farmers and municipal leaders from Bramberg. This historical account, detailed in the Winter 2021 issue of Gems & Gemology, provides insights into the complex legal, geological, and economic factors that influenced the development of this unique alpine emerald source.

gems, Arabic mineralogy, al-Biruni, ruby, corundum, history.1

The history of vision aids was hitherto written almost entirely with material gathered only from the West, where there is an unmatched wealth of information. Dealing with the Islamic world, one is struck by how little is known about the origins and early uses of vision aids in the cultures of Islamic lands. This article is an attempt to close this gap by presenting and analysing a few texts produced between the 11th and 14th centuries, in the Eastern and Western parts of the Islamic world, with regard to the knowledge about the use of vision aids. The aim of this paper is (1) to show that, according to reliable Arabic sources that are gradually emerging, vision aids are indeed inscribed in a larger Arabic-Islamic tradition of knowledge and know-how; (2) to provide clear evidence for the use of such tools and present texts that help understand their cultural background; (3) to move the chronology of vision aids a little backward in time; (4) to help write the first chapters in a general history of visions aids in the cultures of Islamic lands; (5) to create an awareness for this subject and spark a critical debate in what looks like a new field of investigation.

gems, beryl, emerald, Egypt, inclusions

gems, archaeology, archaeogemology, beryl, emerald, Egypt, Sikait Project

This article outlines the preliminary results of the fieldwork carried out by the Sikait Project in the 2020 and 2021 seasons in the Smaragdos area (Egyptian Eastern Desert). Our work is focused on the study of beryl/emerald mining in the Roman and Late Antique periods from a diachronic perspective. By the end of the 2021 season, some 150 mines had been identified, with the total area of the delimited mining zones so far measuring about 100,000 m².

gems, beryl, emerald, Austria, Habachtal

The Habachtal emerald deposit in Austria, one of Europe’s oldest known sources of emeralds, has a rich history dating back to at least 1797, when it was first described in scientific literature. While there are speculative links to Roman or Celtic exploitation, no definitive archaeological evidence confirms such early mining activities. Regular mining began in the early 1860s under Samuel Goldschmidt, a Viennese jeweler, who initiated operations that were later taken over by the English company Emerald Mines Limited in 1895. However, the venture faced legal and financial challenges, leading to its decline by 1903. By 1914, the property returned to Austrian ownership, acquired by local farmers and municipal leaders from Bramberg. This historical account, detailed in the Winter 2021 issue of Gems & Gemology, provides insights into the complex legal, geological, and economic factors that influenced the development of this unique alpine emerald source.

gems, metals, Arabic mineralogy, ruby, sapphire, spinel, pearl, corundum, history.1, jade, Fischer-Other

The present book is a translation and annotation of a copy of the Persian book Goharnāmeh [Book of Jewels] written by Mohammad ben Mansur. The manuscript has 110 sheets and each page consists of 19 lines. The manuscript is written in Persian in naste’aliq script. Mohammad ben Mansur wrote the manuscript Goharnāmeh for the ruler Uzun Hasan Āq Qoyonlu in the 9th-century hijra (15th century CE), mentioning the name of the son of Sultan Ozun Hasan Āq Qoyonlu, namely Sultan Xalil as well. In the first section of his book, Ben Mansur talks about different types of stones. This part consists of twenty-one parts. In the second section of his book, Ben Mansur explains different types of metals. The present book clearly shows that patterned crucible steel was considered a gohar (jewel) in Persian. The book consists of the following parts; 1. Introduction: This part provides the historical background of the manuscript, its author, and the topics of the manuscript. 2. Goharnāmeh [Book of Jewels] by Mohammad ben Mansur: This part provides a detailed analysis and comparison of similar books of jewels and gems in Persian and places it in its historical context. 3. Mines and farms/fisheries: This part talks about the geographical locations of mines and pearl fisheries as described in the Goharnāmeh, and interestingly, it measures all these locations from the Persian Gulf, Sri Lanka, Egypt, and other locations in comparison to the geographical location of Canary Islands. 4. Classification of stones and animal products: This section describes all precious stones, semi-precious stones, and other stones, animal products, and metals as described in the book Goharnāmeh, and compares its descriptions to the modern geological and scientific descriptions of these items. The precious, semi-precious stones, and other stones include: yāqut (ruby, oriental topaz, white sapphire, pleonaste, oriental emerald, sapphire); emerald; peridot; diamond; chrysoberyl cat’s eye; spinel (shades of red, garnet red, yellow, blue, green, brown, orange and black); turquoise (green and blue); chalcedony (agate and carnelian, blue chalcedony and other colors); precious stones resembling yāqut (zircon, garnet, and bādehenj); onyx; magnet; corundite (emery); malachite; lapis lazuli; jade; rock crystal; amethyst; jetstone; rain stone; jaundice stone; limestone; olive stone; eaglestone; blood stone; milk stone; mouse stone; moonstone; color stone; sleep stone; miskal stone; marcasite;

gems, beryl, emerald, Pakistan, Swat

Swat Valley has become an important source of emeralds, including recently discovered trapiche-type crystals. In this study, emerald samples from Swat were examined by standard gemological testing, UV-Vis-NIR, FTIR, Raman analysis, EDXRF, and LA-ICP-MS. The study found three-phase hexagonal inclusions consisting of water, gaseous carbon dioxide and nitrogen, and a magnesite crystal. The gaseous mixture in two-phase inclusions is characteristic in both trapiche-type (CO₂ + N₂) and non-trapiche samples (CO₂ + N₂ + CH₄). Mineral inclusions of hematite, magnetite, rutile, graphite, and siderite are reported for the first time. Regular non-trapiche-type Swat emeralds contain high chromium (avg. 7471 ppmw), alkali metal (avg. 21,040 ppmw), magnesium (avg. 34,263 ppmw), and iron (avg. 9265 ppmw), as well as scandium (avg. 633 ppmw). Infrared spectra show that the absorption of type II H₂O is stronger than that of type I H₂O. Logarithm plots of trace elements appear to be diagnostic. Based on Raman spectroscopy, the trapiche-type emeralds’ colorless core, light green hexagonal growth zone area, and green rim are emerald, while the six black arms are a mixture of hematite and graphite.

gems, beryl, emerald, Colombia, Chivor

The history of the Chivor emerald mine in Colombia is a saga with countless twists and turns, involving parties from across the globe. Indigenous people initially exploited the property, followed by the Spanish in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, before abandonment set in for 200 years. The mine was rediscovered by Francisco Restrepo in the 1880s, and ownership over the ensuing decades passed through several Colombian owners and eventually to an American company, the Colombian Emerald Syndicate, Ltd., with an intervening but unsuccessful attempt by a German group organized by Fritz Klein to take control. With the Colombian Emerald Syndicate succumbing to bankruptcy in 1923, the property was sold and then transferred in 1924 to another American firm, the Colombia Emerald Development Corporation. Under the new ownership, stock market speculation played a far more prominent role in the story than actual mining. Nonetheless, periods of more productive mining operations did take place under managers Peter W. Rainier and Russell W. Anderton. Yet these were not enough to prevent the company, renamed Chivor Emerald Mines, Inc. in 1933, from entering insolvency in 1952 and being placed into receivership. Leadership by Willis Frederick Bronkie enabled the firm to regain independence in 1970 and shortly thereafter to be sold in a series of transactions, with Chivor gradually being returned to Colombian interests.