Afghanistan’s mountainous regions are rich in gemstones like emerald, ruby, lapis lazuli, garnet, spinal and tourmaline. These stones have been an important part of Afghanistan’s history for thousands of years.
Here’s a brief overview:
- Emerald: Valued for its vibrant green colour.
- Ruby: Known for its deep red hue.
- Lapis Lazuli: Famous for its deep blue colour; found in Badakhshan, these stones were traded as far back as 7000 BC.
- Garnet: Comes in various colours, most commonly red.
- Tourmaline: Available in a wide range of colours.
Afghanistan’s geological history is ancient, with rocks up to a billion years old. Tectonic plate movements 40 million years ago created the mountains and the conditions needed to form these gemstones.
The Silk Road passed through Northern Afghanistan, helping to trade its natural resources like tin, copper, gold, and gemstones worldwide.
Afghanistan’s long history of gemstone mining continues to offer great potential for the future, despite current challenges.
