Green Fire | Lotus Gemology's Guide to the Literature of Emerald

Welcome to the world of green fire — a curated list of the most important reference books and papers on emeralds from around the world, including Colombia, Russia, Zambia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and more.

General History & Gemology of Emerald

• [various authors] (2002) Emeralds of the World. extraLapis, No. 2, 102 pp.; RWHL*.
• [various authors] (2005) Third Annual John Sinkankas Symposium • Beryl. Edited by Merk, R., In John Sinkankas Symposium, Carlsbad, CA: Merk’s Jade, 56 pp.; RWHL*.
• Bombini, R. (2021) A brief account of the emerald and its magico-medical and symbolic-religious qualities against the Black Death.Ceræ: An Australasian Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies,Vol. 8, pp. 66–72; RWHL.
• Durlabhji, R., Durlabhji, Y., Fernandes, S. and Durlabhji, R. (2006) The Emerald Book. Jaipur, India: Jaipur Jewellery Show, 143 pp.; RWHL.
• Giuliani, G., editor (2022) Émeraudes, tout un monde. [Emeralds | A Whole World]. [in French], Glavenas, France: Les Editions du Piat, 448 pp.; RWHL*.
• Grundmann, G. (1991) Smaragd der Welt. [Emerald of the World]. [in German], extra-LAPiS, No. 1, Münich: Christian Weise Verlag; RWHL*.
• Hardy, J. (2014) Emerald • Twenty-one Centuries of Jeweled Opulence and Power. by Violette, R., London: Violette Editions, 272 pp.; RWHL.
• Lane, K. (2010) Colour of Paradise: The Emerald in the Age of Gunpowder. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 280 pp.; RWHL*.
• Marcus and Co. (1936) The Story of the Emerald. New York: Marcus and Co., unpaginated; 22 pp.; RWHL.
• Martin de Retana, J.M., editor (1990) El Gran Libro de la Esmeralda. [The Great Emerald Book]. [in Spanish], Bilbao, Spain: Editorial la Gran Enciclopedia Vasca, 491 pp.; RWHL*.
• Morgan, D. (2007) From Satan's Crown to the Holy Grail: Emeralds in Myth, Magic and History. Westport, CT: Praeger, 181 pp.; RWHL.
• Mueller, C.G. (1950) Emeralds. U.S. Bureau of Mines Trade Notes, Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 29–37; not seen.
• Ringsrud, R. (2009) Emeralds: A Passionate Guide. Saratoga, CA: Green View Press, 382 pp.; RWHL*.
• Ringsrud, R. (2025) The Hardness of Emerald. Campbell, CA: Green View Press, 283 pp.; RWHL*.
• Santos Munsuri, A. (1968) La Esmeralda: Las Gemas Y Otras Materias Preciosas. [The Emerald: Gems And Other Precious Materials]. [in Spanish], Madrid: Instituto Gemológico Español, 123 pp.; RWHL.
• Sauer, J.R. (1992) Emeralds Around the World. Rio de Janeiro: 160 pp.; RWHL.
• Schwarz, D. and Pardieu, V. (2009) Emeralds from the Silk Road countries – A comparison with Colombia. InColor, No. 12, Fall/Winter, pp. 38–43; RWHL.
• Sinkankas, J. (1981) Emerald and Other Beryls. Radnor, PA: Chilton Book Co., 665 pp.; RWHL*.
  One of the finest books ever written on a single gem species. A masterpiece of gemological scholarship and, with Kunz' Book of the Pearl, one of the two major inspirations for my books on ruby and sapphire. The Butterworths Gem Series book on beryl is a shortened version. Get the original.
• Sinkankas, J. and Read, P.G. (1986) Beryl. Butterworths Gem Books, London: Butterworths, 225 pp.; RWHL.
• Williams, G. (1873) Researchs on emeralds and beryls.—Part I. On the colouring-matter of the emerald. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Vol. 21, pp. 409–421; RWHL.

John Sinkankas' Emerald and Other Beryls (1981) is still today the most complete book ever written on emerald and should be in every gemologist's collection.

Emerald Localities

Afghanistan

• Bowersox, G.W. and Chamberlin, B. (1995) Gemstones of Afghanistan. Tucson, AZ: Geoscience Press, xx, 172 pp.; RWHL*.
• Bowersox, G.W., Snee, L.W., Foord, E.E. and Seal, R.R. (1991) Emeralds of the Panjshir Valley, Afghanistan. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 27, No. 1, Spring, pp. 26–39; RWHL*.
• Fijal, J., Heflik, W., Natkaniec-Nowak, L. and Szczepaniak, A. (2004) Emeralds from the Panjshir Valley (Afghanistan). Gemmologie: Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gemmologischen Gesellschaft, Vol. 53, No. 4, pp. 127–142; not seen.
• Snee, L.W., Lindsay, C.R., Bohannon, R.G., Turner, K.J., Wasay, A., Omar, M., Seal, R.R., Wilds, S.R. and Wilson, E.M. (2005) Emerald deposits of the Panjsher Valley, Afghanistan—preliminary assessment of geologic setting and origin of the deposits. USGS Administrative Report, US Geological Survey, 97 pp.; RWHL.

Australia

• Schwarz, D. (1991) Die chemischen Eigenschaften der Smaragde II, Austrnlien und Norwegen. Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gemmologischen Gesellschaft, Vol. 40, No. 1, pp. 39–66; RWHL.

Austria (Habachtal)

• Gübelin, E.J. (1956) The emerald from Habachtal. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 8, No. 10, Summer, pp. 295–309; RWHL*.

Brazil

• Barros, J.C. and Kinnaird, J.A. (1987) Emeralds from Goiás State – Brazil. Edited by XXI International Gemmological Conference, Abstracts, Rio de Janeiro: RWHL.
• Cassedanne, J.P. and Sauer, D.A. (1984) The Santa Terezinha de Goiás emerald deposit. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 20, No. 1, Spring, pp. 4–13; RWHL*.
• Hänni, H.A. and Kerez, C.J. (1983) Neues vom Smaragd-Vorkommen von Sta. Terezinha de Goiás, Goiás, Brasilien. [News from the emerald deposit of Santa Terezinha de Goiás, Goiás, Brazil]. [in German], Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gemmologischen Gesellschaft, Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 50–58; RWHL.
• Mendes, J.C. (1989) Aspectos Mineralogicos, Geológicos e Econômicos da Esmeralda de Santa Terezinha de Goiás. [Mineralogical, Geological and Economic Aspects of the Emerald of Santa Terezinha de Goiás]. [in Spanish], São Paulo, Brazil: Universidade de São Paulo, 163 pp.; RWHL*.
• Mendes, J.C. and Svisero, D.P. (1988) As inclusões cristalinas e fluidas da esmeralda de Santa Terezinha de Goiás seu significado geológico. [The crystalline and fluid inclusions of the emerald of Santa Terezinha de Goiás their geological meaning]. [in Spanish]XXXV Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia, Belém, In: ANAIS… v. 1, pp. 398–412; RWHL.
• Pulz, G.M., Silva, L.J.H.d.e.-R., Neto, L.S.B., Brum, T.M.M., Juchem, P.L., Santos, C.A., Pereira, V.P. and Silva, J.J. (1998) The chemical signature of emeralds from the Campos Verdes-Santa Terezinha Mining District, Goiás, Brazil. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 26, No. 4, October, pp. 252–261; RWHL.
• Schwarz, D. (1990) Die brasilianischen Smaragde und ihre Vorkommen: Santa Terezinha de Goiás/GO., Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gemmologischen Gesellschaft, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 13–44; RWHL.
• Schwarz, D. and Eidt, T. (1989) The Brazilian emeralds and their occurrences: Carnaíba, Bahia. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 21, No. 8, October, pp. 474–486; RWHL*.
• Schwarz, D. and Eidt, T. (1990) The Brazilian emeralds and their occurrences: Socotó. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 22, No. 3, July, pp. 147–163; RWHL*.

Canada

• Groat, L., Marshall, D.D., Giuliani, G., Murphy, D.C., Piercey, S.J., Jambor, J.L., Mortensen, J.K., Ercit, T.S., Gault, R.A., Mattey, D.P., Schwarz, D., Maluski, H., Wise, M.A., Wengzynowski, W. and Eaton, D.W. (2002) Mineralogical and chemical study of the Regal Ridge emerald. Canadian Mineralogist, Vol. 40, No. 5, pp. 1313–1338; RWHL.

China

• Cui, D., Liao, Z., Qi, L., Zhong, Q. and Zhou, Z. (2020) A study of emeralds from Davdar, North-Western China. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 374–392; RWHL.
• Cui, D., Liao, Z., Qi, L. and Zhou, Z. (2020) Gem News International: Update on inclusions in emeralds from Davdar, China. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 56, No. 4, Winter, pp. 543–545; RWHL.
• Marshall, D., Pardieu, V., Loughrey, L., Jones, P. and Xue, G. (2012) Conditions for emerald formation at Davdar, China: fluid inclusion, trace element and stable isotope studies. Mineralogical Magazine, Vol. 76, No. 1, February, pp. 213–226; RWHL.
• Michelou, J.C. (2009) A glimpse of the new fine emerald deposit at Xinjiang’s Davdar mine. InColor, No. 10, Spring, pp. 26–31; RWHL.

 Two catalogs dealing with the "Crown of the Andes," which features 450 Colombian emeralds. The oldest parts of the crown date to the 16th century. It was purchased by an American syndicate in 1936, who produced the catalog at left. The crown did not sell at the 1995 Christie's auction (catalog at right).

Colombia

• Anderton, R. (1953) Tic-Polanga. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 254 pp.; RWHL.
• Barriga Villalba, A.M. and Barriga del Diestro, A.M. (1973) La esmeralda de Colombia: Descripción y Propiedades. [The Emerald of Colombia: Description and Properties]. [in Spanish], Bogotá: Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, Departamento de Publicaciones, 100 pp.; not seen.
• Bray, W. (2022) The lost emerald mines of Ecuador: Contrasting patterns of emerald use in native South America. Andean Past, Vol. 13, pp. 75–107; RWHL*.
• Brazeal, B. (2014) The history of emerald mining in Colombia: An examination of Spanish-language sources. The Extractive Industries and Society, Vol. 1, pp. 273–283; RWHL*.
• Buis, O. and Bronkie, W.F., editor (1966) Guide Book to the Geology of the Chivor Emerald Mine, [Field trip of] January 14-16, 1966. Bogotá: Colombian Society of Petroleum Geologists and Geophysicists, 31 leaves; not seen.
• Cepeda, I. and Javier Giraldo, S.J. (2012) Víctor Carranza, alias “El Patrón”. [in Spanish], Cundinamarca, Colombia: Grijalbo, (162 pp. + annex); RWHL.
• Chenevière, A. (1990) Emeraude: L’enfer de Colombie. [Emerald: The Hell of Colombia]. [in French], Planète: Terre des hommes, Paris: Editions Denoël, 120 pp.; RWHL.
• Claver Téllez, P. (1993) La guerra verde: Treinta años de conflicto entre los esmeralderos. [The Green War: Thirty Years of Conflict Around the Emeralds]. [in Spanish], Bogotá: Intermedio Editores, 166 pp.; not seen.
• Colombia Emerald Development Corporation (n.d.) The Story of Emeralds. New York: Colombia Emerald Development Corporation, 10 pp.; seen*.
• Colombian Society of Petroleum Geologists and Geophyicists (1966) Guidebook to the Geology of the Chivor Emerald Mine | January 14–16. Colombian Society of Petroleum Geologists and Geophyicists, 62 pp.; unpublished report; not seen.
• Domínguez A, R.A. (1965) Historia de las Esmeraldas de Colombia. Bogotá: Gráficas Ducal, 297 pp.; RWHL*.
• Feininger, T. (1970) Emerald mining in Colombia: History and geology. Mineralogical Record, Vol. 1, No. 4, Winter, pp. 142–149; RWHL.
• Furst, P.T. and Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. (1981) Sweat of the Sun, Tears of the Moon: Gold and Emerald Treasures of Colombia. Los Angeles, CA: Natural History Museum Alliance of Los Angeles County, 1st, 96 pp.; RWHL*.
• Johnson, P.W. (1961) The Chivor emerald mine. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 8, No. 4, October, pp. 1–27; RWHL*.
• Keller, P.C. (1981) Emeralds of Colombia. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 17, No. 2, Summer, pp. 80–92; RWHL*.
• Klein, F. (1941) Smaragde unter dem Urwald: Meine Entdeckungs- Und Erlebnisreisen in Latein-Amerika. Berlin: Oswald Arnold Verlag, 285 pp.; RWHL*.
• Latham, E.B. (1911) The newly discovered emerald mines of “Somondoco”. School of Mines Quarterly, Vol. 32, No. 3, pp. 210–214; RWHL.
• Marcial, M.J. (2018) The Tears of Fura. no city: Outskirts Press, 293 pp.; RWHL.
• Moncada, R. and Quinn, T. (1995) El Maravilloso Mundo de la Esmeralda Colombiana [The Remarkable World of the Colombian Emerald]. Santafé de Bogotá: Photo World Press-Editores, 131 pp.; RWHL.
• Moore, T.P. and Wilson, W.E. (2009) The emerald mines of Colombia; mines, minerals, history, treasures & legends. Mineralogical Record, Vol. 47, No. 1, January–February, pp. 3–68; RWHL*.
• Muñoz, G.O. and Barriga Villalba, A.M. (1948) Esmeraldas de Colombia. [in Spanish], Bogotá: Banco de la República, 133 pp.; RWHL*.
• Muzo Emerald Mines (2015) Muzo – Spirit of Adventure. Muzo Emerald Mines; not seen.
• Nassau, K. and Jackson, K.A. (1970) Trapiche emeralds from Chivor and Muzo, Colombia. American Mineralogist, Vol. 55, March–April, pp. 416–427; RWHL*.
• Olden, C. (1912) Emeralds: Their mode of occcurrence and methods of mining and extraction in Colombia. Transactions of the Institution of Mining & Metallurgy, Vol. 21, pp. 193–209; RWHL*.
• Oppenheim, V. (1948) The Muzo emerald zone, Colombia, S.A., Economic Geology, Vol. 43, No. 1, pp. 31–38; RWHL.
• Peretti, A. and Falise, T. (2018) Magnificent Green: On the Trail of the Legendary Colombian Emerald. Hong Kong: GRS, 363 pp.; RWHL*.
• Pignatelli, I., Giuliani, G., Ohnenstetter, D., Agrosì, G., Mathieu, S., Morlot, C. and Branquet, Y. (2015) Colombian trapiche emeralds: Recent advances in understanding their formation. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 51, No. 3, Fall, pp. 222–259; RWHL*.
• Pogue, J.E. (1916) The emerald in Spanish America. Bulletin of the Pan American Union, Vol. 43, July–December, pp. 706–720; RWHL*.
• Pogue, J.E. (1917) The emerald deposits of Muzo, Colombia. Transactions of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, Vol. 55, pp. 810–834.; RWHL*.
• Puche Riart, O. (1996) La explotación de las esmeraldas de Muzo (Nueva Granada), en sus primeros tiem. XI Congreso Internacional de AHILA, Liverpool, 17–22 September, pp. 99–104; RWHL.
• Rainier, P.W. (1929) The Chivor-Somondoco Emerald Mines of Colombia, with Appendixes by Charles Mentzel and C. Kendrick MacFadden. The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Class H, Non-metallic Minerals, No. 11, Vol. 96, Technical Publications No. 258, 21 pp.; RWHL*.
• Rainier, P.W. (1931) The Chivor-Somondoco emerald mines of Colombia. Transactions, AIME, Vol. 96, pp. 204–223; RWHL*.
• Rainier, P.W. (1942) Green Fire. Garden City, NY: Blue Ribbon Books, 1st ed. (also issued in London by John Murray in 1943), 216 pp.; not seen.
• Rainier, P.W. (1953) Green Fire. New York: Bantam Books, reprint of 1942 ed., 274 pp.; RWHL*.
• República de Colombia (1911) Informe presentado al Senado de la República por la comisión especial encargada de estudiar los asuntos referentes a las Minas de Esmeraldas. [Report presented to the Senate of the Republic by the special commission in charge of studying matters related to the Emerald mines]. [in Spanish], Bogotá: Imprenta Nacional, 169 pp.; not seen.
• Restrepo, H. (1961) Reconocimiento de las minas de esmeraldas de Muzo, Departmento de Boyaca. [Recognition of the emerald mines of Muzo, Department of Boyaca]. [in Spanish], Boletin Geologico, Vol. 7, Nos. 1–3, pp. 61–84; RWHL*.
• Restrepo, V. (1884) El Gobierno Español fomentó la industria minera de los Estados Unidos de Colombia. [The Spanish Government promoted the mining industry of the United States of Colombia]. [in Spanish], Revista Minera Metalúrgica, Vol. 35, No. 1.022, pp. 253–254; RWHL.
• Ringsrud, R. (1986) The Coscuez mine: A major source of Colombian emeralds. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 22, No. 2, Summer, pp. 67–79; RWHL*.
• Rodríguez Vargas, G. (1992) Esmeraldas de Colombia. [Emeralds of Colombia]. [in Spanish], Bogotá: Compañía Litográfica Nacional : Editorial Colina : Fundación Fondo Educativo de Boyacenses en Bogotá, 174 pp.; RWHL.
• Scheibe, R. (1926) IV. Die Smaragdlagerstätte von Muzo (Kolumbien) und ihre nahere Umgebung. [The emerald deposit of Muzo (Colombia) and Its immediate surroundings]. [in German], Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paläontologie, Vol. 54, Series B, pp. 419–447; not seen.
• Scheibe, R. (1933) Informe geológico sobre la mina de esmeraldas de Muzo (Presentado por el autor al Gobierno Nacional en el año de 1916). [Geological report on the Muzo emerald mine (Presented by the author to the National Government in 1916)]. In Compilacion de los Estudios Geologicos Oficiales en Colombia 1917 a 1933, [in Spanish] Bogotá: Imprenta Nacional, Vol. 1, No. 4 [incorporates ‘Las Llamadas Maclas Multiples de Esmeralda de Muzo y sus Anomalias Opticas’ by F. Bernauer en Charlottenburg and Scheibe’s ‘Informe Sobre las Esmeraldas de Nemocon’], pp. 169–228; RWHL*.
• Schmetzer, K., Martayan, G. and Ortiz, J.G. (2020) History of the Chivor emerald mine, Part 1 (1880–1925): From rediscovery to early production. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 56, No. 1, Spring, pp. 66–109; RWHL*.
• Schmetzer, K., Martayan, G. and Blake, A.R. (2020) History of the Chivor emerald mine, Part II (1924–1970): Between insolvency and viability. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 56, No. 2, Summer, pp. 230–257; RWHL*.
• Stewart, F. and Crown of the Andes Company Chicago. (1936) Crown of the Andes: A History of the Oldest and Largest Collection of Emeralds in the World. Chicago: Crown of the Andes Co., 29 pp.; RWHL.
• Uribe Alarcón, M.V. (1992) Limpiar la Tierra | Guerra y Poder Entre Esmeraleros. [Clean the Earth | War and Power Between Emeralds]. [in Spanish], Bogotá: Cinep, 150 pp.; RWHL.
• Vuillet, P., Giuliani, G., Fischer, J.-C. and Chiappero, P.-J. (2002) Les émeraudes de Gachala, Colombie. [Emeralds of Gachala, Colombia]. [in French], La Régne Minéral, No. 46, pp. 5–18; RWHL*.

Otto Scheibe's rare geological report on the Muzo emerald mine. Based on field work in 1914–1915, it was delivered to the Colombian government in 1916, but wasn't published until 1926 (reprinted 1933). It included illustrations of trapiche emeralds. Scheibe's Muzo article was also reprinted in Dominguez (1965).

Colombia | Atocha Wreck

• Kane, R.E., Kammerling, R.C., Moldes, R., Koivula, J.I., McClure, S.F. and Smith, C.P. (1989) Emerald and gold treasures of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 25, No. 4, Winter, pp. 196–206; RWHL*.
• Lyon, E. (1976) The trouble with treasure. National Geographic, Vol. 149, No. 6, June, pp. 787–809; seen.
• Lyon, E. (1979) The Search for the Atocha. New York, NY: 2nd ed. 1985; RWHL.
• Lyon, E. (1982) Treasure from the ghost galleon. National Geographic, Vol. 161, No. 1, February, pp. 228–242; seen.
• Mathewson, R.D., III (1986) Treasure of the Atocha. fine, Ed. New York: E.P. Dutton, 160 pp.; RWHL.
• Mathewson, R.D.I. (1985) The Search for the Nuestra Senora de Atocha. Woodstock, Vermont, USA: 2nd ed.; seen.
• Peterson, M. (1979) Graveyard of the quicksilver galleons. National Geographic, Vol. 156, No. 6, pp. 850–876; seen.
• Sullivan, G. (1987) Treasure Hunt: the Sixteen Year Search for the Lost Treasure Ship Atocha. New York, NY; seen.
• Trupp, P.Z. (1986) Tracking Treasure. Washington, D.C.: Acropolis Books, 256 pp.; RWHL.

Egypt

• Grubessi, O., Aurisicchio, C. and Castiglioni, A. (1990) The Pharoahs’ forgotten emerald mines. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 22, No. 3, July, pp. 164–177; RWHL.
• Harrell, J.A. (2004) Archaeological Geology of the World's First Emerald Mine. Geoscience Canada, Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 69–76; RWHL.
• Harrell, J.A. (2024) Archaeology and Geology of Ancient Egyptian Stones. 2 Vols., 1049 pp.; RWHL*.
• MacAlister, D.A. (1900) The emerald mines of northern Etbai. Geographical Journal, Vol. 16, No. 5, Nov., pp. 537–549; RWHL.
• Ogden, J.M. (2022) Cleopatra’s emerald mines: The marketing of a myth. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 38, No. 2, pp. 156–170; RWHL*.
• Schneider, O. and Arzruni, A. (1892) Der ägyptische Smaragd nebst einer vergleichenden mineralogischen Untersuchung der Smaragde von Alexandrien, vom Gebel Sabara und vom Ural. [The Egyptian emerald together with a comparative mineralogical study of the emeralds of Alexandria, the Gebel Sabara and the Urals]. [in German], Zeitschrift für Ethnologie, pp. 41–100; RWHL.
• Sharaky, A.M. (2009) Emerald mineralization in Africa: A case study from Marsa Alam district, Egypt. Institute of African Research and Studies, Second International Conference of Natural Resources in Africa, Cairo, 21 pp.; RWHL.

Ethiopia

• Renfro, N., Sun, Z., Nemeth, M., Vertriest, W., Raynaud, V. and Weeramonkhonlert, V. (2017) Gem News International: A new discovery of emeralds from Ethiopia. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 53, No. 1, Spring, pp. 114–116; RWHL*.
• Vertriest, W., Girma, D., Wongrawang, P., Atikarnsakul, U. and Schumacher, K. (2019) Land of origins: A gemological expedition to Ethiopia. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 55, No. 1, Spring, pp. 72–88; RWHL*.
• Vertriest, W. and Wongrawang, P. (2018) A gemological description of Ethiopian emeralds. InColor, pp. 73–75; RWHL.

India

• Wojtilla, G.Y. (2012) Contributions to the cultural history of emerald in early India. Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, Vol. 65, No. 4, December, pp. 463–478; RWHL*.

Madagascar

• Hänni, H. and Klein, H.H. (1982) Ein Smaragdvorkommen in Madagaskar. [An emerald deposit in Madagascar]. [in German], Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gemmologischen Gesellschaft, Vol. 31, No. 1/2, pp. 71–77; RWHL*.
• Kleyenstüber, A. (1991) Observation of inclusions in a Madagascar emerald and their possible implications. South African Gemmologist, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 4–9; not seen.
• Pardieu, V., Sangsawong, S., Cornuz, L., Raynaud, V. and Luetrakulprawat, S. (2020) Update on emeralds from the Mananjary-Irondro area, Madagascar. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 416–425; RWHL.
• Schwarz, D. (1994) Emeralds from the Mananjary region, Madagascar: Internal features. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 30, No. 2, Summer, pp. 88–101; RWHL*.
• Schwarz, D. and Henn, U. (1992) Emeralds from Madagascar. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 23, No. 3, pp. 140–149; RWHL.
• Thomas, A. (1993) The emerald mines of Madagascar. South African Gemmologist, Vol. 7, No. 3, pp. 3–11; not seen.

Mozambique

• Gübelin, E.J. and Gysler-Sanz, J. (1991) Emeralds from Mozambique: Gemmological and mineralogical study. Edited by XXIII International Gemmological Conference, Stellenbosch, South Africa: not seen.

Nigeria

• Schwarz, D., Kanis, J. and Kinnaird, J. (1996) Emerald and green beryl from Central Nigeria. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 25, No. 2, April, pp. 117–141; RWHL*.

Norway

• Rondeau, B., Fritsch, E., Peucat, J.-J., Nordrum, F.S. and Groat, L. (2008) Characterization of emeralds from a historical deposit: Byrud (Eidsvoll), Norway. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 44, No. 2, Summer, pp. 108–122; RWHL*.
• Schwarz, D. (1991) Die chemischen Eigenschaften der Smaragde II, Austrnlien und Norwegen. Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gemmologischen Gesellschaft, Vol. 40, No. 1, pp. 39–66; RWHL.

Pakistan

• Clanin, J. (2008) Gemstone and mineral mining in Pakistan’s mountains. InColor, Spring, pp. 19–25; seen.
• Gübelin, E.J. (1982) Gemstones of Pakistan: Emerald, ruby and spinel. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 18, No. 3, Fall, pp. 123–129; RWHL*.
• Gübelin, E.J. (1992) La présence d’émeraudes au Pakistan, la vallée de Swat. [The presence of emeralds in Pakistan, the Swat Valley]. [in French], Revue de Gemmologie A.F.G., No. 134–135, pp. 185–192; not seen.
• Guo, H., Yu, X., Zheng, Y., Sun, Z. and Ng, M.F.-Y. (2020) Inclusion and trace element characteristics of emeralds from Swat Valley, Pakistan. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 56, No. 3, Fall, pp. 336–355; RWHL*.
• Hanser, C.S., Stephan, T., Gul, B., Häger, T. and Botcharnikov, R.E. (2023) Comparison of emeralds from the Chitral District, Pakistan, with other Pakistani and Afghan emeralds. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 38, No. 6, pp. 582–599; RWHL*.
• Kazmi, A.H. and Snee, L.W., editor (1989) Emeralds of Pakistan: Geology, Gemology and Genesis. New York: Geological Survey of Pakistan and Van Nostrand Reinhold, 269 pp.; RWHL*.

 A variety of monographs on emerald in Richard Hughes' personal library.

Russia

• Hughes, R.W., Koivula, J. and Boyd, W. (2006) Emerald and alexandrite from Russia • A closer look. LotusGemology.com; RWHL*.
• Kozlov, Y.S. (2005) Александрит: монография. [Alexandrite: Monograph]. [in Russian], Translated by Pitskhelauri, M., Moscow: Nauka, 144 pp.; RWHL*.
• Laskovenkov, A.F. and Zhernakov, V.I. (1995) An update on the Ural emerald mines. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 31, No. 2, Summer, pp. 106–113; RWHL*.
• Leikum, M.S., Albrecht, V.G., Popov, M.P. and Reus, P.A. (2016) Загадочный камень царя Александра (об александрите, Александре II и не только о них [Мysterious Stone of Tsar Alexander (On Alexandrite, Alexander II, and More)]. [in Russian], no city: Publishing Solutions, 2nd edition, 376 pp.; RWHL*.
• Meiksina, Y.L. and Evdokimov, M.D. (2005) Physicochemical parameters of formation of emerald mineralization as illustrated by deposits in the Urals. [in Russian], Zapiski RMO (Proceedings of the Russian Mineralogical Society), Vol. 134, No. 2, pp. 57–67; RWHL.
• Popov, M.P., Rassomakhin, M.A. and Demina, L.A. (2023) Rare mineralization from quartz-plagioclase veins of the Mariinsky deposit (Ural emerald mines). News of the Ural State Mining University, Vol. 71, No. 3, pp. 25–31; RWHL.
• Schmetzer, K. (2010) Russian Alexandrites. Stuttgart: Schweizerbart Science Publishers, 141 pp. (141 pp.); RWHL*.
• Zhernakov, V.I. (2009) Ural emerald mines: Notes on mineralogy. Mineralogical Almanac, Vol. 14, No. 2, 125 pp. (whole issue); RWHL*.

Tanzania

• Gübelin, E.J. (1974) The emerald deposit at Lake Manyara, Tanzania. Lapidary Journal, Vol. 28, No. 2, May, p. 338; not seen.
• Gübelin, E.J. (1976) Das Smaragd-Alexandritvorkommen von Lake Manyara/Tansania. [The emerald-alexandrite deposit of Lake Manyara/Tanzania]. [in German], Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gemmologischen Gesellschaft, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 130–147; not seen.
• Hennebois, U., Delaunay, A. and Karampelas, S. (2022) Gem Notes: Zircon inclusions in emeralds from Lake Manyara, Tanzania. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 38, No. 2, pp. 117–118; RWHL*.
• Moroz, I., Vapnik, Y., Eliezri, I. and Roth, M. (2001) Mineral and fluid inclusion study of emeralds from the Lake Manyara and Sumbawanga deposits, Tanzania. Journal of African Earth Sciences, Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 377–390; RWHL.

United States (Utah, North Carolina)

• Rozendaal, S.W. (n.d.) The Red Emerald: Pink Portfolio. no city: privately published, 31 pp.; RWHL.

Zambia

• Graziani, G., Gübelin, E.J. and Lucchesi, S. (1983) The genesis of an emerald from the Kitwe District, Zambia. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie – Monatshefte, No. 4, April, pp. 175–186; not seen.
• Graziani, G., Gübelin, E.J. and Lucchesi, S. (1984) Report on the investigation of an emerald from the Kitwe district, Zambia. Australian Gemmologist, Vol. 15, No. 7, August, pp. 227–234; RWHL.
• Koivua, J.I. (1982) Tourmaline as an inclusion in Zambian emeralds. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 18, No. 4, Winter, pp. 225–227; RWHL.
• Koivula, J.I. (1984) Mineral inclusions in Zambian emeralds. Australian Gemmologist, Vol. 15, No. 7, August, pp. 235–239; RWHL.
• Zhang, Y. and Yu, X.-Y. (2023) Inclusions and gemological characteristics of emeralds from Kamakanga, Zambia. Minerals, Vol. 13, No. 3, RWHL.
• Zwaan, J.C., Seifert, A.V., Vrána, S., Laurs, B.M., Anckar, B., Simmons, W.B., Falster, A.F., Lustenhouwer, W.J., Muhlmeister, S., Koivua, J.I. and Garcia-Guilerminet, H. (2005) Emeralds from the Kafubu area, Zambia. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 41, No. 2, Summer, pp. 116–148; RWHL*.

Zimbabwe (Rhodesia)

• Gübelin, E.J. (1958) Emeralds from Sandawana. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 6, No. 8, October, pp. 340–354; RWHL.
• Gübelin, E.J. (1959) Promenores sôbre as novas esmeraldas de Sandawana. [Details on the new emeralds from Sandawana]. [in Portuguese], Revista Gemologia, Ano 5, No. 17, pp. 1–10; not seen.
• Zwaan, J.C. (2006) Gemmology, geology and origin of the Sandawana emerald deposits, Zimbabwe. Scripta Geologica, Vol. 131, 211 pp.; RWHL*.
• Zwaan, J.C., Kanis, J. and Petch, E.J. (1997) Update on emeralds from the Sandawana mines, Zimbabwe. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 33, No. 2, Summer, pp. 80–100; RWHL*.

Auction Catalogs

• Christie’s (1988) Gold and Silver of the Atocha and Santa Margarita. New York: Christie’s, 14–15 June, (258 pp.); RWHL.
• Christie’s (1995) The Crown of the Andes. New York: Christie’s, 20 November, 72 pp.; RWHL.
• Christie’s (1997) Important Indian Jewellery. London: Christie's, 8 October, (143 pp.); RWHL.
• Christie’s (1997) Indian Jewellery. London: Christie's, 7 October, (35 pp.); RWHL.Christie’s (2001) Arts of India. London: Christie’s, 27 September, 210 pp.; RWHL*.
• Christie’s (2019) Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence. New York: Christie’s, 19 June, Sale 17464, 2 Vols.; 571, 69 pp.; RWHL*.
• Phillips (1994) A Singular Private Collection of Mughal and Later Indian Jewellery and Other Properties. Geneva: Phillips, 17 May, (51 pp.); RWHL.

Geology of Emerald Deposits

• Groat, L., Giuliani, G., Marshall, D.D. and Turner, B. (2008) Emerald deposits and occurrences: A review. Ore Geology Reviews, Vol. 34, pp. 87–112; RWHL*.
• Ottaway, T., Wicks, F., Bryndzia, L. and Spooner, E. (1994) Formation of the Muzo hydrothermal emerald deposit in Colombia. Nature, Vol. 369, No. 6481, 16 June, pp. 552–554; RWHL.

Inclusion Studies

• Moroz, I.I. and Eliezri, I.Z. (1999) Mineral inclusions in emeralds from different sources. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 26, No. 6, pp. 357–363; RWHL.
• Saeseaw, S., Pardieu, V. and Sangsawong, S. (2014) Three-phase inclusions in emerald and their impact on origin determination. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 50, No. 2, Summer, pp. 114–132; RWHL*.
• Saeseaw, S., Renfro, N.D., Palke, A.C., Sun, Z. and McClure, S.F. (2019) Geographic origin determination of emerald. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 55, No. 4, pp. 614–646; RWHL*.
• Schwarz, D. (1987) Esmeraldas – Inclusões em gemas. [Emeralds — Inclusions in gems]. [in Portuguese], Ouro Preto, MG: Imprensa Universitária UFOP, 450 + XI pp.; RWHL*.
• Schwarz, D. (1998) De l’importance des inclusions solides et fluides dans la caractérisation des émeraudes naturelles et synthétiques. [The importance of solid and fluid inclusions in the characterization of natural and synthetic emeralds]. In L’emeraude/The Emerald, [in French and English] Edited by Giard, D., Paris: Association Française de Gemmologie, 71–80; RWHL*.
• Schwarz, D. (2015) The geographic origin of emeralds. InColor, December, pp. 98–105; RWHL.
• Yu, K.N., Tang, S.M. and Tay, T.S. (2000) Nuclear microscopic studies of inclusions in natural and synthetic emeralds. X-Ray Spectrometry, Vol. 29, pp. 178–186; RWHL.

Museums/Private Collections

• Al Thani Collection (2018) Treasures from the Al Thani Collection. [in Chinese and English], Beijing: Forbidden City Publishing House, 3 Vols., 319, 756 pp.; RWHL*.
• Beck, C.H. (1998, 2009) The Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna | The Imperial and Ecclesiastical Treasury. Musuems of the World, London: Scala Publishers, 96 pp.; RWHL.
• Bilirgen, E. and Murat, S. (2001) The Ottoman treasury. Arts of Asia, Vol. 31, No. 6, Nov.–Dec., pp. 54–129; RWHL.
• Haag, S., editor (2018) Masterpieces of the Imperial Secular Treasury Vienna. Vol. 2, Vienna: KHM-Museumsverband, 206 pp.; RWHL*.
• Jaffer, A., editor (2019) Beyond Extravagance: A Royal Collection of Gems and Jewels. 2nd edition, New York: Assouline, 2 Vols., 652 pp.; RWHL*.
• Markevitch, E., editor (1987) Indian Jewellery – Bijoux Indiens. Stäfa, Switzerland: Sotheby's, 123 pp.; RWHL.
• Meen, V.B. and Tushingham, A.D. (1968) The Crown Jewels of Iran. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 159 pp.; RWHL*.
• Nasdala, L., Lamers, T., Gilg, H.A., Chanmuang, C., Griesser, M., Kirchwegner, F., Erlacher, A. and Böhmler, M. (2023) The Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire, Part I: Photoluminescence and raman spectroscopic study of the gemstones. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 38, No. 5, pp. 448–473; RWHL*.
• Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (1981) Sweat of the Sun, Tears of the Moon. no city: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 9 loose plates in a folder; RWHL.
• Osselt, E.N., van, editor (2019) Asia Imagined: In the Baur and Cartier Collections. Milan: 5 Continents Editions, 336 pp.; RWHL*.
• Prior, K. and Adamson, J. (2000) Maharajas' Jewels. New York: Vendome Press, 205 pp.; RWHL*.
• Province de Namur, editor (2011) Vert Désir: Émeraude, Malachite, Jade et autres Minéraux Verts dans l’Art et l’Archéologie. Namur, Belgium: Namur, 212 pp.; RWHL*.
• Stronge, S., editor (2015) Bejewelled Treasures: The Al-Thani Collection. London: V & A Publishing, 128 pp.; RWHL*.
• Šumbera, A. (2008) The Bohemian Crown Jewels. Translated by Jurgens, Z., Prague: self-published, 114 pp.; not seen.

Together with luxury publisher Assouline, Amin Jaffer (ed.) produced one of the finest limited edition books on jewelry ever created. Limited to 600 copies, it came in an oversized velvet box (this is a big volume) designed to mimic a jewelry box. This special edition was only produced for the first edition; the second edition had no limited edition, but was expanded to two volumes. Beyond Extravagance details the al Thani collection of Mughal jewels. India's Mughals were the world's greatest emerald collectors and so this gem is well represented in this volume, along with stunning examples of spinels, diamonds, rubies and more.

General Literature Surveys

• Boschetto, B. (1986) European Gemmologists on Gemstones of the World. Edited by Boschetto, B., In Gemmologia Europa, Milan: CISGEM, Vol. 1, 174 pp.; RWHL*.
• CISGEM (2000) European Gemmologists on Emerald. Edited by Superchi, M., In Gemmologia Europa, Milan: CISGEM, Vol. 7, 221 pp.; RWHL*.

Novels

• Browne, G.A. (1979) Green Ice. New York: Delacorte Press, 413 pp.; RWHL.
• Cano, J.A. (1974) Las Esmeraldas Sagradas: El tesoro de Fura-Tena [novel]. [in Spanish], Armenia, Colombia: Editorial Quin-Gráficas, 290 pp.; not seen.
• Ferguson, R. (2009) The Gem Merchants. Antananarivo: Piermont Gem Publishers, 285 pp.; RWHL.
• Moore, R. and Jennings, H. (1974) The Treasure Hunter. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 261 pp.; RWHL.

Two off-prints on Colombia's Chivor emerald mines. Such papers are highly collectable and often harder to find than books, as many copies of magazines are destroyed.

Synthetic Emerald

• Boyer, J.-M.-J., Grossmann, H. and Neuburger, A. (1918) Die synthetischen edelsteine, ihre geschichte, herstellung und eigenschaften. [The synthetic gemstones, their history, manufacture and properties]. [in German], Berlin: M. Krayn, 72 pp.; RWHL.
• Brown, G. and Snow, J. (1984) Inclusions in Biron synthetic emeralds. Australian Gemmologist, Vol. 15, No. 5, pp. 167–170; RWHL.
• Flanigen, E.M., Breck, D.W., Mumbach, N.R. and Tailor, A.M. (1967) Characteristics of synthetic emeralds. American Mineralogist, Vol. 52, No. 5–6, May–June, pp. 744–772; RWHL.
• Flanigen, E.M., Breck, D.W., Mumbach, N.R. and Tailor, A.M. (1967) Characteristics of synthetic emeralds. American Mineralogist, Vol. 52, No. 5–6, May–June, pp. 744–772; RWHL*.
• Gübelin, E.J., Graziani, G. and Martini, M. (1987) The Lennix synthetic emerald. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 23, No. 3, Fall, pp. 140–147; RWHL.
• Kane, R.E. and Liddicoat, R.T. (1985) The Biron hydrothermal synthetic emerald. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 21, No. 3, Fall, pp. 156–170; RWHL*.
• Koivula, J.I. (1984) Russian hydrothermal synthetic emeralds. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 20, No. 4, Winter, p. 245; RWHL.
• Koivula, J.I. (1985) More on Russian hydrothermal synthetic emeralds. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 21, No. 1, Spring, pp. 59–60; RWHL.
• Lebedev, A.S. (1990) Beryl—a potential indicator of pressure of hydrothermal processes of mineral formation. Proceedings of the 15th General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association, Beijing 1990, Abstracts, Vol. 2, pp. 527–528; RWHL.
• Lebedev, A.S., Il'in, A.G. and Klyakhin, V.A. (1986) Hydrothermally-grown beryls of gem quality. In Morphology and phase equilibria of minerals. Proceedings of the 13th General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association, Varna 1982, Vol. 2, pp. 403–411; not seen.
• Nassau, K. (1976) Synthetic emerald: the confusing history and the current technologies. Journal of Crystal Growth, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 211–222; not seen.
• Nassau, K. (1980) Gems Made by Man. Radnor, PA: Chilton, 364 pp.; RWHL*.
• Nassau, K. and Nassau, J. (1980) The growth of synthetic and imitation gems. In Crystals: Growth, Properties and Applications, Edited by Freyhart, H.C., Berlin: Springer, Vol. 2, pp. 1–50; RWHL.
• Webster, R. (1964) The French synthetic emerald [Gilson]. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 9, No. 6, April, pp. 191–196; RWHL.

Treatments

• Hughes, R.W. (1998) Cloak and dagger: The politics of Opticon. GQ Eye, Vol. 1, No. 1, Fall, pp. 3, 6; RWHL.
• Hughes, R.W. (2000) Digital Devil: Check Your Gut Instincts at the Door. Gemkey Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 3, March-April, pp. 62–63, 104; RWHL.
• Johnson, M.L. (2007) Durability testing of filled emeralds. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 43, No. 2, Summer, pp. 120–137; RWHL*.
• Ringsrud, R. (1983) The oil treatment of emeralds in Bogotá, Colombia. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 19, No. 3, Fall, pp. 149–156; RWHL*.

About the author

Richard W. Hughes is one of the world’s foremost experts on ruby and sapphire. The author of many books and over 170 articles, his writings and photographs have appeared in a diverse range of publications, and he has received numerous industry awards. Co-winner of the 2004 Edward J. Gübelin Most Valuable Article Award from Gems & Gemology magazine, the following year he was awarded a Richard T. Liddicoat Journalism Award from the American Gem Society. In 2010, he received the Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology from the Accredited Gemologists Association. The Association Française de Gemmologie (AFG) in 2013 named Richard as one of the Fifty most important figures that have shaped the history of gems since antiquity. In 2016, Richard was awarded a visiting professorship at Shanghai's Tongji University. 2017 saw the publication of Richard and his wife and daughter's Ruby & Sapphire • A Gemologist's Guide, arguably the most complete book ever published on a single gem species and the culmination of four decades of work in gemology. In 2018, Richard was named Photographer of the Year by the Gem-A, recognizing his photo of a jade-trading market in China, while in 2020, he was elected to the board of directors of the Accredited Gemologists Association and was appointed to the editorial review board of Gems & Gemology and The Australian Gemmologist magazine. In 2022, Richard published Jade • A Gemologist's Guide, while 2024 brought Broken Bangle • The Blunder-Besmirched History of Jade Nomenclature. His jade trilogy was completed in 2025 with his translation of Heinrich Fischer's Nephrite and Jadeite.