Journal

Colombia: The Origin That Defines Emerald Green

When people picturea fine emerald,they pictureColombia.The reference,for centuries.A Different Emerald Formation StoryNot igneous.Not the usual metamorphic path.A hydrothermal process,tied to sedim...

Panjshir: Afghanistan's High-Altitude Emerald Deposit

A name knownfor mountains. For resistance.Also home toone of the world's most importantemerald deposits.A Deposit at Extreme Altitude3,000 to 4,000 meters.Hindu Kush.Difficult paths.Heavy snow.Shor...

Mozambique: The New Force in Fine Ruby

2009.Montepuez.Few predictedhow fast this would riseto rival Myanmar.Within a decade,it did.A Modern Discovery on Ancient GroundThe Mozambique Belt —the same belt as Madagascar. Kenya. Tanzania.Amp...

Madagascar: Three Decades That Reshaped the Gem Trade

Remarkably recent,next to Sri Lanka. Myanmar.Yet in three decades,one of the world's most importantgem-producing nations.A Late but Explosive Start1990s.1998, Ilakaka.Sapphire, discovered.One of th...

Sri Lanka: The Island That Never Stopped Mining Gems

Once called Ceylon.One of the longestcontinuous mining traditionsin the world.An Island Built From Gondwana's BonesThe Mozambique Belt,once, ran through here.Deep metamorphic history,concentrated i...

Mogok: Myanmar's Thousand-Year Valley of Rubies

Central Myanmar.The mountains.For over a thousand years,the Valley of Rubies.Not marketing.Geology.A Deposit Built on MarbleAncient limestone.Heat. Pressure.Mountain-building, over time.Marble —nat...

Kashmir: The Sapphire Legend That Ran Out

No origincarries more weightthan Kashmir.Less a place to visit.More a legendstill being priced.A Discovery Born From a LandslideZanskar range.Above 4,000 meters.1880s.A landslide, exposing rock.A s...