HUNZA GEMS IN PICTURES

HUNZA GEMS IN PICTURES

Hunza Ruby

Hunza Ruby:
Deposits in Hunza occur in the rugged and almost unreachable territories of the mountainous regions in the Northern areas making mining of this stone is extraordinary difficult. The most extensive ruby deposits in Pakistan are located in the Hunza valley of the Gilgit Agency. The Hunza Ruby is of a transparent deep red variety. The Gem has a gradation of colors ranging from light to deep red. It is seldom without inclusions; almost all rubies contain tiny crystals for foreign matter. Some have a glittering silver web of very fine futile needless which cabochon cut display a six pointed star. The stone being brittle is generally step-cut, whilst the 'star-rubies' are cut end cabochon. After Burma, Hunza is the only other region in the world that has produced "Blood Red ruby"

PERIDOT

PERIDOT

It is an attractive green color gemstone and was known as Topaz in ancient times. It is mostly yellowish green, takes a good polish, suitable specimens has faceted into brilliant stones of high quality.

LAPIS LAZULI

LAPIS LAZULI

It is found in the tribal areas of North West Pakistan and adjacent Afghanistan. It is for a brilliant blue colour with golden specks caused by inclusions of iron pyrites. The structure of this opaque stone is extremely complex made upon from a number of different minerals the most important of which are calcite and lazurite.

AQUAMARINE

AQUAMARINE:
AQUAMARINE is found in Shigar valley of Baltistan, Kaghan , Chetral and in the Neelam Valley in Azad Kashmir. The AQUAMARINE is transparent and ranges from sky-blue to sea-green in color. Like the emerald, the Aquamarine belongs to the beryl group and has hexagonal crystalline structure, but is always step cut.

EMERALD

EMERALD:

The best Emeralds in the World are being mined in valley of Swat. According to Dr. Edward Gubelin, the Celebrated Gemologist, these Emeralds "have become well known for their brilliant, medium to deep green colour as well as for their unique transparency, comparable to the fines specimens from Muzo, Colombia. Emerald is the most beautiful of the colored stones & hard and geologically rare. They represent a major member of the classic group of Gemstones with Diamond, Ruby & Blue Sapphire. Emerald from Pakistan is fortunately able to combine freedom from the most unsightly inclusion with reasonable range of size & quite magnificent color.

FLOURITE

FLOURITE:
It is found in Chitral, Dir, Hunza, and Balochistan with the largest deposits occurring in the Northern part of the Koh-e-Mardan range of Kalat. It occurs in discontinuous veins in nearly all types of rocks as clearable, granular and all types of rocks as clearable, granular and fibrous masse. The most common colours are green, yellow and blue, but it is also found in various shades of red of and brown. Ranging from transparent to nearly opaque, it can be facet or cabochon cut.

GARNET:

GARNET:
Collective title for a certain family of minerals. They have the same basic structure but all are not of gem quality. The pyrope which is blood red, almandine which is purple and grossularite which is green occur in Dir, Swat, Quetta and Kalat divisions. Garnets are one of the commonest gemstones widely use in jewellery. They can be facet-cut and cabochon.

TOURMALINE

TOURMALINE
It occurs in Chitral, Gilgit, Swat, Dir and Azad Jammu Kashmir. It is found in thin pencil like crystals and comes in a wide variety of colors controlled by the different metallic content. Golden yellow, Golden Brown, very bright line green and pink tourmalines offer a wide variety to the jewelers’ repertoire. It is usually transparent and can be facet cut.