Provenite

Darra-i-Pech pegmatite field

AreaUnknownDraft data

34.9544° N, 70.8169° E · ± 10 km

Albite, Beryl, Morganite and Rose quartz from Nangarhar, Afghanistan, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

AlbiteBerylMorganiteRose quartz

Albite at Darra-i-Pech pegmatite field

Blue indicolite tourmaline with stibiotantalite and albite from the Darra-i-Pech pegmatite field.
Blue indicolite tourmaline with stibiotantalite and albite from the Darra-i-Pech pegmatite field.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Lepidolite and tourmaline on a plate of crystallized albite, Darra-i-Pech.
Lepidolite and tourmaline on a plate of crystallized albite, Darra-i-Pech.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Cabinet specimen of lepidolite with tourmaline on albite, Darra-i-Pech.
Cabinet specimen of lepidolite with tourmaline on albite, Darra-i-Pech.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Lepidolite and tourmaline on albite matrix, Darra-i-Pech.
Lepidolite and tourmaline on albite matrix, Darra-i-Pech.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Stout tourmaline crystal framed by white cleavelandite and albite, Darra-i-Pech.
Stout tourmaline crystal framed by white cleavelandite and albite, Darra-i-Pech.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
NaAlSi₃O₈
Morphology
Crystallized albite and cleavelandite forming matrix plates
Typical size
Specimens about 4 to 16 cm
Color / luster
White, sparkling
Associated minerals
Lepidoliteelbaitestibiotantalite
Availability
Unknown

Sources: SRC-540

About Albite →

Beryl at Darra-i-Pech pegmatite field

Pink beryl crystal on a quartz-coated matrix from the Darra-i-Pech pegmatite field, Afghanistan.
Pink beryl crystal on a quartz-coated matrix from the Darra-i-Pech pegmatite field, Afghanistan.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈
Morphology
Hexagonal pink crystals, some clustered with tourmaline
Typical size
Pictured examples about 3-4 cm
Color / luster
Pink, transparent
Associated minerals
Tourmalinequartzlepidolite or muscovite (matrix, uncertain)
Trace elements
Mn2+ is given as the cause of pink beryl colour

Sources: SRC-280 SRC-281 SRC-267

About Beryl →

Morganite at Darra-i-Pech pegmatite field

Sharp hexagonal pink morganite crystal of 4 cm on crystallized mica-quartz matrix, Darra-i-Pech.
Sharp hexagonal pink morganite crystal of 4 cm on crystallized mica-quartz matrix, Darra-i-Pech.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Pink morganite crystal of 5 cm on white cleavelandite, Darra-i-Pech pegmatite field.
Pink morganite crystal of 5 cm on white cleavelandite, Darra-i-Pech pegmatite field.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Two large intergrown gemmy morganite crystals on bladed albite, Darra-i-Pech.
Two large intergrown gemmy morganite crystals on bladed albite, Darra-i-Pech.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Tabular hexagonal pale pink morganite crystal with pyramid faces, Darra-i-Pech.
Tabular hexagonal pale pink morganite crystal with pyramid faces, Darra-i-Pech.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Two pale pink tabular morganite crystals on blocky cleavelandite, Darra-i-Pech.
Two pale pink tabular morganite crystals on blocky cleavelandite, Darra-i-Pech.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
Be3Al2Si6O18
Morphology
Sharp tabular hexagonal crystals with pyramid modifications, on cleavelandite; also etched floaters
Typical size
Crystals about 3-5 cm, intergrown pairs to 10 cm
Color / luster
Pale baby pink to rich pink, transparent to translucent, vitreous
Associated minerals
Albite (cleavelandite)quartzmica
Surface features
Some crystals etched with frosted faces

Sources: SRC-841 SRC-843

About Morganite →

Rose quartz at Darra-i-Pech pegmatite field

Rose quartz with smoky quartz from the Dara-i-Pech pegmatite field, Afghanistan, 5.0 cm.
Rose quartz with smoky quartz from the Dara-i-Pech pegmatite field, Afghanistan, 5.0 cm.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
SiO₂
Associated minerals
Smoky quartz
History
A dealer reports seeing such specimens around 2006 and noted their strong resemblance to classic Brazilian rose quartz.

Sources: SRC-470

About Rose quartz →

Geology of the locality

Setting
Pegmatite field (also written Pech, Peech, Darra-e-Pech); pink beryl crystals with black tourmaline on a quartz-coated micaceous matrix are shown on the photo pages.
Region
Nangarhar
Country
Afghanistan

Locality wording taken from the file pages of the photos. No second source for beryl here was opened. Coordinates left empty because no source opened for this task gave them. Coordinates: Centre point given by Wikipedia for Dara-i-Pech District. Mindat places individual pegmatites of the field at 34 56 36 N 70 43 24 E (Awlaghal) and 34.98889, 70.91167 (Manogay), all inside this district. Note: Wikipedia and Mindat put the district in Kunar Province, not Nangarhar as in the workbook. Coordinates: Centre point given by Wikipedia for Dara-i-Pech District. Mindat places individual pegmatites of the field at 34 56 36 N 70 43 24 E (Awlaghal) and 34.98889, 70.91167 (Manogay), all inside this district. Note: Wikipedia and Mindat put the district in Kunar Province, not Nangarhar as in the workbook. Coordinates: Centre point given by Wikipedia for Dara-i-Pech District. Mindat places individual pegmatites of the field at 34 56 36 N 70 43 24 E (Awlaghal) and 34.98889, 70.91167 (Manogay), all inside this district. Note: Wikipedia and Mindat put the district in Kunar Province, not Nangarhar as in the workbook.

Sources: SRC-280 SRC-281 SRC-310

Sources

  1. SRC-280 · Website
    File:Beryl-morg01b.jpg - Wikimedia Commons (read via mirror)Wikimedia Commons (file page; photo by Robert M. Lavinsky) · 2010 · Wikimedia Commons
  2. SRC-281 · Website
    File:Beryl-tt58c.jpg - Wikimedia Commons (read via mirror)Wikimedia Commons (file page; photo by Robert M. Lavinsky) · 2010 · Wikimedia Commons
  3. SRC-310 · Website
    Dara-I-Pech District - Wikipedia
  4. SRC-540 · Website
    File:Albite-Lepidolite-lep26a.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons
  5. SRC-267 · Website
    BerylWikipedia contributors · 2026 · Wikipedia
  6. SRC-841 · Website
    Morganite Value, Price, and Jewelry InformationArem, J.E.; Clark, D.; Smigel, B. · 2025 · International Gem Society
  7. SRC-843 · Website
    File:Beryl-160581.jpg (Wikimedia Commons)Robert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons
  8. SRC-470 · Website
    Wikimedia Commons file page Quartz-266432.jpgLavinsky, R.M. · Wikimedia Commons

Draft data from the Provenite workbook. Check entries against the cited sources before relying on them. Photos are open-licence images from Wikimedia Commons; the author and licence are given with each photo.