Best gemstone Mines around the world 1

Educational

Gemstone Mines around the World

Like gemstones themselves, gem mines have their own allure and fascinating history. Many of the world’s most famed gem mines were at the crossroads of antiquity and even helped bring about the rise and fall of empires and civilizations. Let us take a fascinating journey in learning about some of these captivating mines—tiny spots on Earth where the miracles of geology and mankind meet.

The Sapphire Mine of Kashmir, India

Imagine spending the night all alone 14,000 feet up within the midst of awe-inspiring mountains only to discover one of the rarest and most breathtaking gems the world has ever known. Well, that is exactly what happened in 1881 to a group of Afghan salt merchants who were on their way to Delhi, India to sell salt from Afghanistan. The traders stopped for the night under a hill in the remote Zanskar mountain range—alone and far away from even the tiniest signs of civilization. The traders were awakened at night by an earthquake which caused a small landslip nearby. On investigating in the morning the traders were startled to see striking blue glowing crystals on the hill wall from where the rock covering fell. The crystals were imbedded in a soft clay-like mother rock and were therefore easy for the Afghans to pick out with their bare hands and knives.

(rough and faceted sapphires)

Some of the crystals were the size of potatoes and the Afghans picked out as many as they could carry. On reaching Delhi the Afghans sold the mysterious blue rocks in the salt market for almost nothing. Before long, the crystals made their way to an Indian gem merchant who was stunned to learn that they were sapphires the quality of which the world had never seen. He promptly informed the Maharaja of Kashmir who, after much effort with the help of the locals, was able to locate the landslip from where the sapphires were first discovered. Mining began in earnest before the British rulers of India took over and with it a scientific study and working of the mining area. But mining work was to last for only five years because no further material could be found.

(The corundum belt)

Although the mines have been officially closed since then by the Indian government, reports are heard of the occasional crystal being found by smugglers working secretly in the middle of the night. There are also rumors that fine sapphires just a tad below the quality of top Indian Kashmir sapphire are sporadically found on the Pakistan-side of Kashmir. This should not be a surprise because both countries share the famed “Corundum Belt” which runs from Afghanistan through northern Pakistan and India, and onwards to Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Nasim Ahmad Accredited Gemologist