{"id":4351,"date":"2023-08-05T15:12:34","date_gmt":"2023-08-05T15:12:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/?p=4351"},"modified":"2023-08-06T05:30:26","modified_gmt":"2023-08-06T05:30:26","slug":"pakistans-gems-mines-and-markets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/pakistans-gems-mines-and-markets","title":{"rendered":"Pakistan\u2019s Gems, Mines and Markets"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4351\" class=\"elementor elementor-4351\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0ec0117 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0ec0117\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dfdb2d7\" data-id=\"dfdb2d7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d6e248c elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"d6e248c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 02-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ebabca3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ebabca3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 02-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Pakistan\u2019s Gems, Mines and Markets<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01ef01d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"01ef01d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 02-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><i>An Overview by Jeffery Bergman, SGC SSEF<\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d7e65ac elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d7e65ac\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-69a86b7\" data-id=\"69a86b7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2793487 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2793487\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 02-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"607\" src=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/18A-1024x777.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4366\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/18A-1024x777.png 1024w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/18A-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/18A-768x583.png 768w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/18A-600x455.png 600w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/18A.png 1494w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">The magnificent 'King of Kashmir' aquamarine cluster in situ on meta-granite with quartz and feldspar, in the Shigar Valley, widely considered to be one of the finest mineral specimens ever discovered. (Photo: Fine Minerals International)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c59cf82 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c59cf82\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d39728a\" data-id=\"d39728a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-94071ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"94071ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"602\" src=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/01-1024x771.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4373\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/01-1024x771.png 1024w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/01-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/01-768x578.png 768w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/01-1536x1156.png 1536w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/01-2048x1542.png 2048w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/01-600x452.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96afdb2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"96afdb2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size );\">Considered to be among the finest mineral specimens ever discovered, it is \u201ca huge cluster of nearly 30 pristine aquamarine crystals aesthetically arranged and intermixed with beautiful quartz crystals, all on matrix of white albite and microcline\u201d (Ref. 10).<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-09112f1\" data-id=\"09112f1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c06219 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4c06219\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Graciously hosted by Bangkok-based gem and mineral dealer Mohammad Ayub of Pretty Little Gem and Shah Khalid, CEO of Khalid Minerals in Peshawar, we set out from our arrival airport in Islamabad on a gem and mineral adventure of a lifetime. Our visits included the Namak Mandi market in Peshawar, pink topaz hunting at Katlang in the Mardan District, the emerald mines and market in Swat, the Skardu mines and the Rundu Gems Market-the largest mineral specimen and rough gemstone market in the city of Skardu-and Goyungo in the Shigar Valley, where the spectacular King of Kashmir aquamarine specimen was unearthed.<\/p><p>kunzite, hiddenite, sapphire, spinel, sphene, zircon and a host of other gems and minerals. Also of note are the stunning and exceptionally rare collector gems such as vivid orange triplite as well as v\u00e4yrynenite, the envy of many a padparadscha sapphire.<\/p><p>In 2019, news stunned the gem and mineral world with the discovery of the magnificent King of Kashmir aquamarine specimen found in the Biangsapi Gon mine at Nyet Bruk, Goyungo, next to the Braldu River in the Shigar valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, in Pakistan\u2019s Kashmir region.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ad578c9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ad578c9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cae2738\" data-id=\"cae2738\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-65dfe6c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"65dfe6c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-9f02919\" data-id=\"9f02919\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-da84c7b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"da84c7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>The Gems<\/strong><\/p><p>Pakistan, formerly a part of western India before partition in 1947, has a rich history as a source of many fine gemstones and exceptional mineral specimens: vivid green emeralds of Swat; pink and purplish topazes of Ghundu, Katlang; aquamarine, topaz and tourmaline of Gundu in the Shigar valley; rubies and sapphires of Hunza, Shigar and Azad, Kashmir; kunzite, peridot, sphene, spinel, and tourmaline, along with rare collector gems such as triplite and vayrynenite of the Skardu area; and many more. Pakistan has something to offer every gemstone and mineral lover.Gems of one sort or another are mined in every province, but the far north is the most prolific region as a source for a wide variety of GIA A Chart, B Chart, and several off-chart yet popular ultra-rare collector gems. The extensive list of gems mined in Pakistan includes anatase, apatite, aquamarine, azurite, bastnaesite, brookite, chlinozoisite, diopside, emerald, epidote, fluorite, garnet, lapis lazuli, malachite, morganite, nephrite, obsidian, pargasite, peridot, pollucite, quartz, ruby, rutile, sapphire, scapolite, scheelite, sphene, spinel, spodumene, topaz, tourmaline, triplite, vayrynenite, zircon, zoisite and several other uber-obscure rare minerals occasionally faceted for the collector market.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-25193ca\" data-id=\"25193ca\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a003b3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1a003b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"605\" src=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/09-1024x775.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4380\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/09-1024x775.png 1024w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/09-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/09-768x581.png 768w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/09-1536x1162.png 1536w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/09-600x454.png 600w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/09.png 1538w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Mohammad Ayub (front) and topaz dealer Mr. Gohar with an exceptional pink topaz crystal from Katlang, Mardan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. (Photo: Jeffery Bergman)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1cbed7b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1cbed7b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-263aae3\" data-id=\"263aae3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-02fbbf4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"02fbbf4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>The Mines<\/strong><\/p><p>The major gemstone and mineral specimen mines of Pakistan are found in five regions of the far north, home to K2, the second tallest mountain in the world. They include NWFP-North West Frontier Province bordering Afghanistan (Gilgit and Skardu bordering China), AJK (Asad &amp; Jammu Kashmir), and the Jammu and Kashmir disputed territory bordering China and India.<\/p><p>The Katlang mine, renowned for its sweet baby pink and purplish pink topaz is in Mardan district between Peshawar and Swat in NWFT. The Nangimali, Batakundi and Basil ruby and sapphire mines are in Azad &amp; Jammu Kashmir.<\/p><p>Throughout Skardu, Shigar, Hunza and Gilgit in the Gilgit\u2013Baltistan region in Pakistan\u2019s side of Kashmir, hundreds of small mines produce quartz, topaz, aquamarine, ruby, tourmaline, peridot,<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-825911f\" data-id=\"825911f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3929c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e3929c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"605\" src=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/21-1024x775.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4390\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/21-1024x775.png 1024w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/21-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/21-768x581.png 768w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/21-600x454.png 600w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/21.png 1470w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">An exceptional 7.48-ct triplite from Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Baltistan, acquired by ICA member Uli Mayer of August Mayer, Idar Oberstein, Germany. (Photo: Arjuna Irsutti, \u00a9Jeffery Bergman)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fefdf7f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fefdf7f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-30ce2fc\" data-id=\"30ce2fc\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d70c92 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1d70c92\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"609\" src=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20-1024x780.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4394\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20-1024x780.png 1024w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20-300x229.png 300w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20-768x585.png 768w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20-600x457.png 600w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20.png 1488w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Outstanding 18.78-carat V\u00e4yrynenite crystal from Mark Smith, Thai\nLanka Trading, Bangkok, and 0.53-carat faceted V\u00e4yrynenite from\nthe Skardu area, Kashmir, Pakistan. (Photo: Arjuna Irsutti, \u00a9Jeffery\nBergman)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-59b8741\" data-id=\"59b8741\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-20d469d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"20d469d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"604\" src=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/22-1024x773.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4395\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/22-1024x773.png 1024w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/22-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/22-768x580.png 768w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/22-600x453.png 600w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/22.png 1484w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Mine managers looking over the one year old Shamozai emerald mine\nowned by Mr. Gohar Alam in the Swat District, Malakand Division,\nKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. (Photo: Jeffery Bergman)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d28fb4b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d28fb4b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5400f84\" data-id=\"5400f84\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06aa765 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"06aa765\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"607\" src=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/17-1024x777.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4396\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/17-1024x777.png 1024w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/17-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/17-768x583.png 768w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/17-1536x1166.png 1536w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/17-600x455.png 600w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/17.png 1544w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Suspension bridge over the Bradlu river, Shigar valley, Goyungo,\nwhere the spectacular 'King of Kashmir' aquamarine specimen was\nunearthed. (Photo: Jeffery Bergman)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-40e6871\" data-id=\"40e6871\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b30f0f5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b30f0f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/23-1024x778.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4397\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/23-1024x778.png 1024w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/23-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/23-768x583.png 768w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/23-1536x1167.png 1536w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/23-600x456.png 600w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/23.png 1590w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Miner removing a load of freshly jack-hammered host rock from the\nShamozai mine, Swat. (Photo: Jeffery Bergman)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b59c8db elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b59c8db\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-795821d\" data-id=\"795821d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b8cde50 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b8cde50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Now on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences (Ref.11), this 440-pound extraordinary creation of nature was extracted by a team of experts sent by world-renowned mineral collector and dealer Daniel Trinchillo of Fine Minerals International, and has been re-named the Ann Hamman Aquamarine.<\/p><p>The most famous mines in Pakistan are undoubtedly the Mingora emerald deposits in the Swat District of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. For more than 2,500 years, emeralds have been mined from the Swat valley, with examples found among the ruins of an ancient Roman settlement in France (Ref. 16). Besides Mingora, the Swat emerald deposit has four other major mining areas; Charbagh, Gujar Killi, Makhad, and Shamozai, where we were fortunate to have been given access to one of the newly productive tunnels.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0e4cd58\" data-id=\"0e4cd58\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e4e6f8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9e4e6f8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/24-1024x778.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4405\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/24-1024x778.png 1024w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/24-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/24-768x584.png 768w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/24-1536x1167.png 1536w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/24-600x456.png 600w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/24.png 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Miner examining an emerald crystal just discovered in the\nShamozai mine, Swat. (Photo: Muhammad Ayub)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-294975c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"294975c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-983421e\" data-id=\"983421e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13fdd11 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"13fdd11\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>The Markets <\/strong><\/p><p>Prior to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the coastal port city of Karachi on the Arabian Sea was once the biggest market for faceted and rough gemstones in Pakistan. The war shifted the market to Peshawar which became the new hub of the cut and rough gemstones and mineral specimens trade. Afghanistan\u2019s long and porous border with Pakistan facilitates gems and traders coming to Peshawar, where locals estimate that perhaps half of the dealers are Afghani.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c02c385 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c02c385\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a04b42a\" data-id=\"a04b42a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67ea631 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"67ea631\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"604\" src=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/05-1024x773.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4414\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/05-1024x773.png 1024w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/05-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/05-768x580.png 768w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/05-600x453.png 600w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/05.png 1412w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Exceptional Panjshir, Afghanistan emerald and Jegdalek, Afghanistan\nrubies examined in the Namak Mandi gems and minerals market,\nPeshawar. (Photo: Jeffery Bergman)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-025846b\" data-id=\"025846b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c373e7a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c373e7a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"609\" src=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/02-1024x779.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4415\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/02-1024x779.png 1024w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/02-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/02-768x584.png 768w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/02-600x456.png 600w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/02.png 1470w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Modern gemstone office and lapidary workshop in Namak Mandi gem\nand mineral market, Peshawar. (Photo: Jeffery Bergman)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1009cb0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1009cb0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c10438b\" data-id=\"c10438b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a17df1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7a17df1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"605\" src=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/06-1024x775.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4417\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/06-1024x775.png 1024w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/06-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/06-768x582.png 768w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/06-600x454.png 600w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/06.png 1508w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Instagram\/Facebook brokers in the Namak Mandi gems and minerals\nmarket, Peshawar. (Photo: Jeffery Bergman)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bc29f60\" data-id=\"bc29f60\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fbd73eb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"fbd73eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"609\" src=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03-1024x780.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4418\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03-1024x780.png 1024w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03-768x585.png 768w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03-600x457.png 600w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03.png 1468w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Traditional gemstone office and lapidary workshop in Namak Mandi\ngem and mineral market, Peshawar. (Photo: Jeffery Bergman)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2fdef12 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2fdef12\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5301e73\" data-id=\"5301e73\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f47c436 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f47c436\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Historically a salt market, Peshawar\u2019s Namak Mandi has evolved into Pakistan\u2019s largest and most important cut and rough gemstone and mineral specimen market. By day, young entrepreneurs armed with photo and video-capable smart phones have disrupted the traditional gemstone supply chain by selling directly to mostly European and American end users on Facebook and Instagram. Morphing into a foodies\u2019 dreamland at night, the market serves up what many consider the best lamb karahi and barbecued tikka in Pakistan.<\/p><p>Hundreds of small shops line the alleys of Namak Mandi, some are rather modern with chairs and display cases, while others remain traditional where traders sit on carpets and view gems from papers and ziplock bags. Many are also small cutting workshops such as that of lapidary artisan Mr. Zakir Khan, widely considered the best gem cutter in Peshawar\u2019s Namak Mandi gem and mineral market.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-79a8ae3\" data-id=\"79a8ae3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c855481 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c855481\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"648\" src=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/07-1024x830.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4425\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/07-1024x830.png 1024w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/07-300x243.png 300w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/07-768x623.png 768w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/07-600x486.png 600w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/07.png 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Brokers photographing gems for sale on Instagram or Facebook to\nmostly European and American end users, in the Namak Mandi gems\nand minerals market, Peshawar. (Photo: Jeffery Bergman)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f1742a8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f1742a8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1b285fd\" data-id=\"1b285fd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc269ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"bc269ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;masonry&quot;,&quot;columns&quot;:3,&quot;overlay_description&quot;:&quot;caption&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor-pro - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-gallery__container{min-height:1px}.elementor-gallery-item{position:relative;overflow:hidden;display:block;text-decoration:none;border:solid var(--image-border-width) var(--image-border-color);border-radius:var(--image-border-radius)}.elementor-gallery-item__content,.elementor-gallery-item__overlay{height:100%;width:100%;position:absolute;top:0;left:0}.elementor-gallery-item__overlay{mix-blend-mode:var(--overlay-mix-blend-mode);transition-duration:var(--overlay-transition-duration);transition-property:mix-blend-mode,transform,opacity,background-color}.elementor-gallery-item__image.e-gallery-image{transition-duration:var(--image-transition-duration);transition-property:filter,transform}.elementor-gallery-item__content{display:flex;flex-direction:column;justify-content:var(--content-justify-content,center);align-items:center;text-align:var(--content-text-align);padding:var(--content-padding)}.elementor-gallery-item__content>div{transition-duration:var(--content-transition-duration)}.elementor-gallery-item__content.elementor-gallery--sequenced-animation>div:nth-child(2){transition-delay:calc(var(--content-transition-delay) \/ 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.elementor-animated-item--enter-from-right,.e-gallery-item.elementor-animated-content .elementor-animated-item--enter-from-top,.e-gallery-item:focus .elementor-gallery__item-overlay-bg,.e-gallery-item:focus .elementor-gallery__item-overlay-content,.e-gallery-item:focus .elementor-gallery__item-overlay-content__description,.e-gallery-item:focus .elementor-gallery__item-overlay-content__title,.e-gallery-item:hover .elementor-gallery__item-overlay-bg,.e-gallery-item:hover .elementor-gallery__item-overlay-content,.e-gallery-item:hover .elementor-gallery__item-overlay-content__description,.e-gallery-item:hover .elementor-gallery__item-overlay-content__title{opacity:1}a.elementor-item.elementor-gallery-title{color:var(--galleries-title-color-normal)}a.elementor-item.elementor-gallery-title.elementor-item-active,a.elementor-item.elementor-gallery-title.highlighted,a.elementor-item.elementor-gallery-title:focus,a.elementor-item.elementor-gallery-title:hover{color:var(--galleries-title-color-hover)}a.elementor-item.elementor-gallery-title.elementor-item-active{color:var(--gallery-title-color-active)}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-gallery,.e-con>.elementor-widget-gallery{width:var(--container-widget-width);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/04.png\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"bc269ae\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"04\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NDQyOSwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2VpZ2h0aGRpbWVuc2lvbmdlbXMuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIzXC8wOFwvMDQucG5nIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiYmMyNjlhZSJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/04-227x300.png\" data-width=\"227\" data-height=\"300\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLapidary artisan Mr. Zakir Khan, widely considered the best gem cutter in the Namak Mandi gem and mineral market, Peshawar. (Photo: Jeffery Bergman)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/11.png\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"bc269ae\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"11\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NDQzMSwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2VpZ2h0aGRpbWVuc2lvbmdlbXMuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIzXC8wOFwvMTEucG5nIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiYmMyNjlhZSJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/11-300x228.png\" data-width=\"300\" data-height=\"228\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRundu Gems Market is the largest mineral specimen and gemstone rough market in Skardu. (Photo: Jeffery Bergman)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/14.png\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"bc269ae\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"14\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NDQzMiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2VpZ2h0aGRpbWVuc2lvbmdlbXMuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIzXC8wOFwvMTQucG5nIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiYmMyNjlhZSJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/14-227x300.png\" data-width=\"227\" data-height=\"300\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tElectricity supply in Skardu is intermittent, so when it goes off, out come the cell phones to light the room. Peshawar mineral dealer Shah Khalid. (Photo: Jeffery Bergman)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/12.png\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"bc269ae\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"12\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NDQzNSwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2VpZ2h0aGRpbWVuc2lvbmdlbXMuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIzXC8wOFwvMTIucG5nIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiYmMyNjlhZSJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/12-300x227.png\" data-width=\"300\" data-height=\"227\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMineral specimen dealer Mr. Shah Khalid of Peshawar (right) negotiating on a lot of aquamarine crystals owned by Mr. Nazir Hussain (left) of Skardu; some will be sold as specimens and some for cutting. (Photo: Jeffery Bergman)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/13.png\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"bc269ae\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"13\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NDQzNCwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2VpZ2h0aGRpbWVuc2lvbmdlbXMuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIzXC8wOFwvMTMucG5nIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiYmMyNjlhZSJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/13-300x228.png\" data-width=\"300\" data-height=\"228\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSkardu mineral dealers Mr. Asif Mir (left) and Mr. Shakir (right). Most gemstone rough and mineral specimen business is conducted sitting on the floor with snacks and tea. (Photo: Jeffery Bergman)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f2aa45 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"7f2aa45\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;masonry&quot;,&quot;columns&quot;:1,&quot;overlay_description&quot;:&quot;caption&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/16.png\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"7f2aa45\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"16\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NDQzNiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2VpZ2h0aGRpbWVuc2lvbmdlbXMuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIzXC8wOFwvMTYucG5nIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiN2YyYWE0NSJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/16-300x226.png\" data-width=\"300\" data-height=\"226\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStark desert-like Himalayan landscape of the Shigar River valley on the way to the mines. (Photo: Jeffery Bergman)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98fe9be elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"98fe9be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;masonry&quot;,&quot;columns&quot;:2,&quot;overlay_description&quot;:&quot;caption&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/18B.png\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"98fe9be\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"18B\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NDQzNywidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2VpZ2h0aGRpbWVuc2lvbmdlbXMuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIzXC8wOFwvMThCLnBuZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6Ijk4ZmU5YmUifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/18B-300x229.png\" data-width=\"300\" data-height=\"229\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYoung miner where the King of Kashmir was mined, Goyungo, Shigar valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Pakistan. (Photo: Muhammad Ishaq)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/08.png\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"98fe9be\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"08\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NDQzMCwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2VpZ2h0aGRpbWVuc2lvbmdlbXMuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIzXC8wOFwvMDgucG5nIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiOThmZTliZSJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/08-300x228.png\" data-width=\"300\" data-height=\"228\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAfghanistan spinels in a well equipped gemstone office (note the AK47 in the corner) in Namak Mandi market, Peshawar, with author Jeffery Bergman (center), Mr. Syed Farooq Badshah (left) and Mr. Abdul Jaleel. (Photo: Muhammad Ayub)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-14ab137 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"14ab137\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0c2cbe0\" data-id=\"0c2cbe0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c2a19c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c2a19c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Skardu\u2019s Rundu Gems Market is quiet and relatively comfortable compared to the typically noisy, dusty, and dirty downtown area. Most of the Skardu mineral specimen and rough business is conducted sitting cross-legged on a carpet, typically with local snacks and copious quantities if either milk tea or green tea. Some of the \u201cshops\u201d are nothing more than a prison cell-like concrete room with a metal door and a large padlock.<\/p><p>It was quite an eye-opener to step into these often dimly lit rooms and observe local dealers unwrap exquisite mineral specimens from their protective toilet paper and\/or newspaper wrappings, revealing treasures worth tens of thousands of dollars to over US$100,000. With Skardu\u2019s intermittent and highly unpredictable electrical supply, it was not uncommon to have cell phone flashlights turned on to continue inspecting and negotiating on mineral specimens and gemstone rough late at night.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6d85bcb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6d85bcb\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bdab2ec\" data-id=\"bdab2ec\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e7caf6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0e7caf6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"605\" src=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/10-1024x775.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4459\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/10-1024x775.png 1024w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/10-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/10-768x581.png 768w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/10-1536x1163.png 1536w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/10-600x454.png 600w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/10.png 1548w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">The town of Skardu, Gilgit\u2212Baltistan, a part of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. (Photo: Muhammad Ishaq<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6a4624a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6a4624a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-25f60af\" data-id=\"25f60af\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9edf211 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9edf211\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"767\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/15-767x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4461\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/15-767x1024.png 767w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/15-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/15-768x1025.png 768w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/15-600x801.png 600w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/15.png 974w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 100vw, 767px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Destination and distance sign on the way to the gemstone mines at Goyungo, Bradlu river Shigar valley, Gilgit-Baltistan in the Kashmir region of the far north of Pakistan. (Photo: Jeffery Bergman)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-84d2aa4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"84d2aa4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/19-1024x778.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4462\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/19-1024x778.png 1024w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/19-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/19-768x583.png 768w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/19-600x456.png 600w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/19.png 1480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Miners' hut in the Shigar valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Pakistan. (Photo: Jeffery Bergman)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d4f4e65 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d4f4e65\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size );\">I am extremely grateful to my hosts Mohammad Ayub of Pretty Little Gem, Bangkok and Shah Khalid, CEO of Khalid Minerals, Peshawar for their overwhelming kindness and hospitality. And an extra special thanks to Shah Khalid\u2019s 10 hours of skillful daytime and nighttime driving over rugged terrain, taking us from Skardu through the town of Shigar, and on to the source of the King of Kashmir, followed by a much appreciated long soak in a hot spring, and back to Skardu safely. Shukria!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f4eb013\" data-id=\"f4eb013\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e29cd26 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e29cd26\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"609\" src=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/26-1024x780.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4469\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/26-1024x780.png 1024w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/26-300x229.png 300w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/26-768x585.png 768w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/26-600x457.png 600w, https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/26.png 1512w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Daily rough auction in the Swat emerald market. (Photo: Jeffery Bergman)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e221c3a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e221c3a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Sheraz Center emerald market in Swat is relatively upscale and modern compared to Peshawar\u2019s Namak Mandi and Skardu\u2019s Rundu Gems Market, perhaps due to the high cost of fine emeralds which attracts upscale buyers from around the world. Much of the well saturated vivid green and flawless small size Swat emerald rough winds up being precision cut for the high-end luxury Swiss watch industry.<\/p><p>The daily Swat emerald market rough auction is an often noisy and boisterous affair. A well experienced auctioneer stands behind a table surrounded by perspective bidders examining the parcel on offer. He shouts out the current offer, rising and rising in price untilbbidding stalls, then with a flurry of hand gestures and a shout, he announces the lots sold and the final bid accepted.<\/p><p>While I did not encounter any women working in Peshawar\u2019s NamakMandi or Skardu\u2019s Rundu Gems Market or Skardu\u2019s Sheraz Center, it was refreshing to learn that Myne London\u2019s lapidary workshop in Pakistan employs 80% women cutting Swat emeralds for manufacturing in fine jewelry! Additionally, Myne London donates 10% of all profits to The Myne London Foundation dedicated to helping girls access education and sport (Ref. 15).<\/p><p>Conclusion<\/p><p>While we did examine hundreds of kilograms of cuttable aquamarine, topaz, and tourmaline rough, the vast majority was destined for the growing mineral specimen collectors market.<\/p><p>Pakistan\u2019s small domestic lapidary industry has many skilled cutters, so most of the fine rough unsuitable for mineral collector specimens gets snapped up by local traders before a foreigner like myself has an opportunity to purchase it.<\/p><p>Pakistan has a rich and diverse culture and history. Everywhere I went, I was warmly welcomed and often invited for tea or to share a meal together. On the entire journey, there was never a moment where I felt threatened or in any sort of danger.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cf16fdc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cf16fdc\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5259274\" data-id=\"5259274\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4325686 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4325686\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>References and Further Reading<\/strong><\/p><p>01. Pala International &#8211; Pakistan\u2019s Gemstones: An Overview. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.palagems.com\/pakistanoverview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/www.palagems.com\/pakistanoverview<\/a> (Accessed 16 December 2022)<\/p><p>02. Gubelin, E. (1982). Gemstones Of Pakistan: Emerald, Ruby, Spinel.Gems &amp; Gemology Fall 1982 pg. 123-139. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gia.edu\/doc\/Gemstones-of-Pakistan-Emerald-Ruby-and-Spinel.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.gia.edu\/doc\/Gemstones-of-Pakistan-Emerald-Ruby-and-Spinel.pdf<\/a> (Accessed 16 December 2022)<\/p><p>03. Ministry of Planning, Development &amp; Reform: Government of Pakistan (2019). Mineral Transformation Plan Vision 2025. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pc.gov.pk\/uploads\/report\/Cluster_Study_Gemstone_Mining_Gilgit_baltistan.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.pc.gov.pk\/uploads\/report\/Cluster_Study_Gemstone_Mining_Gilgit_baltistan.pdf<\/a> (Accessed 16 December 2022)<\/p><p>04. Wikipedia. Gemstones of Pakistan. <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gemstones_of_Pakistan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gemstones_of_Pakistan<\/a> (Accessed 16 December 2022)<\/p><p>05. Rehman, H. Et al. (2021). Namak Mandi: Pioneering A Gemstone Market In Pakistan. Gems &amp; Gemology Summer 2012 pg. 138-149.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gia.edu\/doc\/summer-2021-namak-mandi-poineeringgemstone-\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.gia.edu\/doc\/summer-2021-namak-mandi-poineeringgemstone-<\/a><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size );\">market.pdf (Accessed 16 December 2022)<\/span><\/p><p>06. Mindat. Mingora emerald deposit, Swat District, Khyber\u00a0<span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size );\">Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mindat.org\/loc-13756.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.mindat.org\/loc-13756.<\/a><\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size );\">html (Accessed 16 December 2022)<\/span><\/p><p>07. VisitSwatValley.com. (2022). Travel &amp; Tour Guide Swat Valley 2022. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitswatvalley.com\/swat-emerald\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.visitswatvalley.com\/swat-emerald\/<\/a> (Accessed 16<\/p><p>December 2022)<\/p><p>08. Mindat. Skardu Area, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mindat.org\/loc-156271.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.<\/a><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size );\"><a href=\"_wp_link_placeholder\">mindat.org\/loc-156271.html<\/a> (Accessed 16 December 2022)<\/span><\/p><p>09. Trinchillo, D. (2020). Collecting The King Of Kashmir Aquamarine. The Mineralogical Record, volume 51, November\u2013December, 2020 pg. 755-779. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mardanifineminerls.com\/wpcontent\/uploads\/2021\/01\/MR-51-6-Kashmir.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.mardanifineminerls.com\/wpcontent\/uploads\/2021\/01\/MR-51-6-Kashmir.pdf<\/a> (Accessed 16 December 2022)<\/p><p>10. HMNS (2022). HMNS reopens Lester &amp; Sue Smith Gem Vault with New Treasures After Renovation. <a href=\"https:\/\/hotinhoustonnow.com\/2022\/11\/hmns-reopens-lester-sue-smith-gem-vault-with-newtreasures-after-renovation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/hotinhoustonnow.com\/2022\/11\/hmns-reopens-lester-sue-smith-gem-vault-with-newtreasures-after-renovation\/<\/a> (Accessed 16 December 2022)<\/p><p>11. Malkani, M. (2020). Mineral Resources of Gilgit Baltistan andAzad Kashmir, Pakistan: An Update. Open Journal of Geology,10, 661-702. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scirp.org\/journal\/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=101126\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.scirp.org\/journal\/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=101126<\/a> (Accessed 16 December 2022)<\/p><p>12. Agheem, M. H. et al. (2013). Shigar valley gemstones, their chemical composition and origin, Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/277384588_Shigar_valley_gemstones_their_chemical_composition_and_origin_Skardu_Gilgit-Baltistan_Pakistan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/277384588_Shigar_valley_gemstones_their_chemical_composition_and_origin_Skardu_Gilgit-Baltistan_Pakistan<\/a> (Accessed 16 December 2022)<\/p><p>13. Guo, H. et al. (2020). Inclusion and Trace Element Characteristicsof Emeralds from Swat Valley, Pakistan. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gia.edu\/doc\/Fall-2020-trace-elementcharacteristics -emeralds.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wplink-url-error=\"true\">https:\/\/www.gia.edu\/doc\/Fall-2020-trace-elementcharacteristics -emeralds.pdf<\/a> (Accessed 16 December 2022)<\/p><p>14. Makki, M. (2017). Pakistan&#8217;s Swat Valley Emeralds &#8211; Consigned to Oblivion. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sustainablegemstones.org\/blog\/pakistansswat-valley-emeralds-consigned-to-oblivion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.sustainablegemstones.org\/blog\/pakistansswat-valley-emeralds-consigned-to-oblivion<\/a><\/p><p>15. Zaidman, E. (2022). Myne London: Sourcing Emeralds with a Mission. Gems &amp; Gemology Summer 2022, Vol. 58, No. 2 pg. 254, 255. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gia.edu\/gems-gemology\/summer-2022-gemnewsmyne-london\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.gia.edu\/gems-gemology\/summer-2022-gemnewsmyne-london<\/a><\/p><p>16. ABS (2016). Emeralds <a href=\"https:\/\/www.abscpec.com\/content\/Emerald.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.abscpec.com\/content\/Emerald.php<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pakistan\u2019s Gems, Mines and Markets An Overview by Jeffery Bergman, SGC SSEF The magnificent &#8216;King of Kashmir&#8217; aquamarine cluster in situ on meta-granite with quartz and feldspar, in the Shigar Valley, widely considered to be one of the finest mineral specimens ever discovered. (Photo: Fine Minerals International) Considered to be among the finest mineral specimens [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4366,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4351"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4351"}],"version-history":[{"count":110,"href":"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4351\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4494,"href":"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4351\/revisions\/4494"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4366"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eighthdimensiongems.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}