Where are Emeralds Found?
Brazil and Columbia are responsible for most of the world’s emeralds. Second to South America is Africa with mines in Zambia, Nigeria, Madagascar and Zimbabwe. Each area produces its own distinct color and clarity of stone. For example, the Colombian emerald is known because of its moderately dark blue tinted stones. This color is probably the most desired of the emeralds. If you find a Columbian emerald pendant, take good care of it. From 3000 to 1500 B.C., emeralds were mined in Egypt near the Red Sea. They were a favorite of the beautiful Cleopatra as well the other pharaohs. She loved to be draped in emeralds and well, the Queen had good taste. Instead of an emerald cuff like she might wear, go for a simple emerald tennis bracelet . Her mines are the oldest but the Egyptian royals depleted the supply long, long ago. Emperors, empresses, sultans and maharajas all revered the emerald. It was believed in Indian culture that emeralds brought good luck and good health. So wear an emeral
– Emeralds grew in metamorphic rocks before humans came and are now found in small pockets in pegmatite dikes and mica schist. Emeralds are often mined in Colombia, Zambia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Russia, Brazil, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Nigeria, India, Rhodesia, Tanzania, Australia, and the US (Connecticut, Maine, North Carolina). How are they obtained? – Emeralds are mined using relatively old techniques, no new ones have been created for 2,000 years. Gems are collected off the ground, sifted out of rivers, dug out of tunnels, and removed from the soil with various other mining methods. Melting Point/Boiling Point: It is difficult/impossible to find the melting point of emerald because when subjected to sudden temperature changes, emeralds tend to shatter. They also break and chip easily because of their brittleness. Even though they are brittle, emeralds are relatively hard gems of 7.5-8 mohs. Other Interesting Information: Emeralds usually contain flaws called inclusions. These
Emeralds are usually found deep within the earth’s crust, but can also be found above surface in igneous rock(hardened magma containing mineral deposits). The most common source of emeralds are pegmatites. Pegmatites are a type pf igneous found deep in the earth. Pegmatites are granitic-course and grainy. What we know as emeralds are actually a form of the mineral Beryl. Beryl comes in many different colors including emerald, tourmaline, red beryl and others. Substitution of Chromium, Iron, etc in the chemical structure give each stone its "characteristic" Color. All forms of beryl require the presence of Aluminum to form.
The most common place of formation for emeralds is within the hot fluids moving through the veins of the pegmatites called hydrothermal veins. The hydrothermal veins are a hot hodge podge of "stuff" necessary for the formation of gems, containing among other things hot water, minerals, bits of rocks. As the fluid passes through the pegmatite minerals adher to existing rocks and bits of rock, minerla and other material is released from the rock (as a result of the extreme high temperature of the fluid mix) and are added to the hydrothermal fluid. Over long periods of time,hundreds of years, the deposits accumulate, undergo chemical reactions and change. Eventually, gems we know as emeralds, aquamarine, tourmalines and beryl are formed in the pegmatities or igneous rock!
The principal Emerald deposits are currently mined in Colombia, Brazil, and Zambia. Emeralds are mined throughout the world (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, Australia, United States) but these are the three major sources. Colombia arguably produces the finest Emeralds. As a general rule, Brazilian Emeralds tend to be darker in tone and more heavily included. The inclusions present in Brazilian Emeralds may be dark inclusions, where the light colored inclusions typically present in Colombian Emeralds (known as jardin) are considered to be less of a factor in adversely impacting the value. Zambian Emeralds tend to have more of a bluish cast than either Colombian or Brazilian Emeralds, and tend towards a slight grayish cast, which is not present in either Colombian or Brazilian Emeralds. The Zambian and Brazilian Emeralds may also be colored due to the presence of vanadium, whereas Colombian Emeralds usually achieve their coloration from the presence of chromium. Chivor and Muzo are the tw
1.Colombia – is at the top of the world’s supplier of emeralds…they have an especially fine, shining emerald green unimpaired by any kind of bluish tint….now and then the Colombian emerald mines throw up rarities such as Trapiche emeralds with their six rays emanating from the centre which resemble the spokes of a millwheel. 2. Zimbabwe – mostly smaller, but very fine, in a vivacious, intense green 3. Pakistan 4. Africa 5. Brazil – supplies rare emerald cat’s eyes and extremely rare emeralds with a six-spoked star 6. Zambia – beautiful, deep emerald green and with good transparency, with a fine slightly bluish undertone 7. Madagascar 8. India 9. Afghanistan 10.
