Pakistan is a country blessed
with the gifts of natural resources and the various Gemstones excavated in our
country are considered as best all over the world Bearing different shades and
properties these revered gems are the precious pride of Pakistan
APATITE
Apatite is named from the Greek
word apate, which means "deceit", since Apatite has a similar
appearance to so many minerals. The Apatite group is a group of similar
isomorphous hexagonal phosphate minerals. Apatite (CaF) is by far the most
common form of Apatite
Apatite comes in Colorless,
white, yellow, brown, gray, red, pink, purple, blue, green Some specimens are
multicolored Strike of Apatite is white. Its hardness is 5 on Moh scale of
hardness. Its crystal system is hexagonal. Its transparency is transparent or
translucent. Its specific gravity is 3.1-3.2. The luster of apatite is vitreous
The gemmy violet and reddishforms
are very much valued by collectors and command high prices
In Pakistan pink and red crystals
are found in the Hunza Vallery. Gilgit, and at Skardu at Shengus. Dassu, and
the Shigar Valley
AQUAMARINE
Aquamanne is the most
greenish-blue to blue variety of Beryl. It forms in beautiful crystals that can
be quite large and totally transparent Unlike Emerald which usually is flawed
or heavily included, Aquamarine can be found in stunning flawless crystals,
creating some of the most beautiful mineral masterpieces
Duller or greenish colored stones
can be heated to very high temperatures in which they can attain a beautiful
sky-blue color in fact much of the Aquamannes used as gemstones are actually
heat treated. The Chemical formula for aquamarine is Beryllium aluminum
silicate Be3A12SI06
Aquamanne crystal system is Hexagonal
and its Strike is colourless. It has hardness 7.5-8 and its specific gravity
28-29 Aquamarme comes in Greenish-blue, light blue, sky blue, deep sky-blue
colour. Its lustors is vitreous.
Aquamarine is the most popular
light-blue gemstone, and is extensively used in jewelry, Rings, earings, and
bracelets are made from Aquamarine, and it is especially important as a pendant
stone, with fairly large pendants being faceted from Aquamane Lama transparent
stones may be cut into cabochons. Quality Aquamarine crystals are also highly
valued by collectors in their natural form
Pakistan undoubtedly produces the
most outstanding crystals of Aquamarine, and some of these crystals can be huge
gemmy pas There are several important deposits in the northern mountains,
particular noteworthy are the Shigar Valley Skantu Dent, B and Nagar, Hunza
Valley, Gilgit District.
TOURMALINE
Tourmaline is not a single
minerals, but a group of several closely related minerals. The three most
well-known members are Elbaite, Schorl, and Dravite. Other lesser known members
include Uvite, Liddicoatite and Buergerite.
Tourmaline is extremely popular
among collectors and is a well-known gemstone. It is the most multicolored
mineral type known, occurring in virtually every color of the spectrum.
Individual stones are often multicolored and are unsurpassed in their beauty.
Tourmaline is extremely varied in
colour. Colours include black, brown, green, red pink, blue and grey white,
colour less yellow, orange and purple colours are less common, Crystals are
frequently multicolored containing two or more distinct colors. Some specimens
are pleochroic.
It has hardness of 7-7.5 and its,
specific gravity is 2.9-3.3. It has a veterious lustor.
Excellent Tourmaline comes from
the mountains of Northern Pakistan at Stak Nala, Skardu, Gilgit District.
EPIDOT
Epidot is one of the most
outstanding display mineral. The finest and most desirable form of this mineral
is in delicate elongated crystals that are extremely lustrous and often
interconnected. This form is highly treasured by collectors and creates one of
the finest mineral showpieces. The color of Epidot is almost invariably green,
in all different shades and tones, with a pistachio color habit being very
typical.
The Colour of Epidot is light to
dark-green, olive-green, yellowish-green, brownish-green, brown, black.
Transparent forms can be strongly pleochroic with a greenish color on one angle
and brownish color on the other angle.
It has a monoclinic crystal
system. Its hardness is 6-7 and specific gravity is 3.3-3.6 and strike is
white. Its transparency is Transparent to nearly opaque.
Some of the most outstanding
Epidot crystals come from Pakistan, in the Tormiq valley, Skardu District, and
in Alchuria and Hachupa in the Shigar Valley. Lustrous crystals from a limited
find in Kuh-e Khorram Mountain.
VESVAUNITE
Vesvaunite is named after Mt.
Vesuvius in Italy, the famous volcano where it was originally described. The
term Idocrase is an older synonym not commonly used anymore; it is more readily
seen in old collection labels and classical reference guides.
The colour of vesvaunite is
Brown, green, yellow. Less commonly pink, purple, orange, maroon, red, and
blue. Multicolored shades of pink/purple and green are rare.
The crystal system of vesvaunite
is tetragonal. Its hardness on Moh scale is 6.5 and specific gravity is 3.3-3.5
while its strike is white
Vesvaunite is an important
collectors mineral and fine crystals can be very valuable. The massive, compact
variety Clifornite is occasionally used as an ornamental stone similar to Jade.
Lustrous dark crystals come from
Alchuri and Hachupa, in the Shigar Valley, Skardu, Pakistan.
TOPAZ
Topaz is a well-known minerals,
occurring in large and beautifully shaped and colored crystals. It naturally
occurs in many colors. but rarely in pink, purple and deep blue. Those colors
are formed from lighter-colored stones that undergo irradiation and heat
treatment.
Topaz crystals in a matrix are
rare and very much desired, since the perfect basal cleavage of Topaz causes it
to separate from its base and form loose crystals. Precautions must be taken
not to damage specimens, for pressure or improper faceting can cause a crystal
to cleave and break.
Topaz are found in different
colours which are colourless, white, yellow, orange, brown, pink, light purple,
gray, light blue, greenish blue, green and occasionally multicolored.
Its crystal system is
orthorhombic. The hardness of Topaz is 8 and specific gravity is 3.4-3.6 while
its strike is colourless. Topaz can be found in transparent to opaque and its
luster is vitreous. Topaz is often preceded by its color, for example Blue
Topaz, Pink Topaz. Yellow Topaz, White Topaz, and Sherry Topaz
Topaz is a very popular gemstone.
All colors are fashioned into gemstones, and the yellow-brown Imperial is
especially valuable. Crystals, especially those still in a matrix, are greatly
sought by mineral collectors
Large and outstanding thick
crystals come from Pakistan in the Gilgit and Skardu District, in Baltistan,
(especially the Shigar Valley. Shengus, and Dassu). Pink and purple Topaz with
exceptionally deep color comes from Katlung. Khyber, Pakistan.
GARNET
Garnet is not a single mineral,
but a group that contains closely related, isomorphous minerals that form a
series with each other. The Garnet members form intermediary minerals between
each member, and may even intergrow within a single crystal
The colour of garnets are Red,
brown, black, green, yellow, orange, pink, white, and colorless. (Garnets come
in all colors with the exception of bluish shades). Massive specimens from
certain localities can be multicolored white, pink, and/or light green.
The crystal structure of garnet
is isometric. Its hardness is 6.5-8 and specific gravity is 3.5-4.3 while its
strike is colorless. Its luster is Vitreous, adamantine, dull.
The Garnets are important
minerals, and are primarily known for their gemstone uses. The transparent
varieties are used in all forms of jewelry, with the most extensively used
color being dark red. Other Garnet forms such as the reddish-orange
Spessartine, yellow Grossular, and the green Tsavorite and Demantoid also make
fine gemstones.
The finest dark red Spessartine,
usually associated with contrasting white Albite, comes from Pakistan at
Shengus and the Shigar Valley, Skardu District; and in the Gilgit District.
SPHEN
The name "Sphene" comes
from the word Sphene meaning wedge shaped, as it normally occurs in wedge
shaped crystals. Several gemological characteristics make it beautiful and
desirable as a collector's stone or, with care, for jewelry use. Its dispersion
(fire) is one of the highest of all gem materials and is higher than diamond.
The body color, degree of inclusions, cutting orientation and cutting style may
enhance or obscure this feature. If well polished, the luster can approach or
equal that of diamond, but the gem is difficult to polish well. The high
birefringence usually makes some doubling of facet images visible within the
stone giving it a degree of internal fuzziness similar to that often seen in
zircon or peridot. A rare variety termed chrome sphene is colored by chromium
and is an intense green.
The rare collector's stone Sphene
is a brilliant transparent yellowish-green or green with a high luster and
pronounced fire. Sphene's magnificent fire, unique color shades, strong
pleochroism, adamantine (diamond-like) luster and double refraction make it
ideal for earrings and pendants that catch the light and show its sparkling
qualities. Occasionally pink, black or brown, most Sphene is predominantly
green or yellowish-green, with colorful flashes of a rainbow of hues.
Its crystal structure is
Monoclinic. Its hardness on moh scale is 5-5.5.
Its refractive index is
1.880-2.054. Sphene colours are Greenish yellow, yellow and brown. Sphene is
also found in Northern areas of Pakistan.
On Gems & Minerals of
Pakistan, Pakistan Post is issuing a Special Postage Stamp of Rs. 10/-
denomination of each design on December 11, 2014
