Provenite

Panjshir Valley emerald deposits

AreaUnknownDraft data

35.2670° N, 69.4670° E · Region only

Emerald from Panjshir, Afghanistan, with photos of specimens from this locality.

View on the map

Minerals found here

Emerald

Emerald at Panjshir Valley emerald deposits

Bright green emerald crystal of 4.3 cm in schist matrix from the Panjshir Valley.
Bright green emerald crystal of 4.3 cm in schist matrix from the Panjshir Valley.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Deep green emerald crystal of 1.25 cm on white marble matrix from the Panjshir Valley.
Deep green emerald crystal of 1.25 cm on white marble matrix from the Panjshir Valley.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Three bright green emerald crystals in matrix from the Panjshir Valley.
Three bright green emerald crystals in matrix from the Panjshir Valley.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Doubly terminated grass-green emerald crystal of 2.6 cm, backlit, from Panjshir.
Doubly terminated grass-green emerald crystal of 2.6 cm, backlit, from Panjshir.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Translucent, unterminated emerald crystal in matrix from the Panjshir pegmatite field.
Translucent, unterminated emerald crystal in matrix from the Panjshir pegmatite field.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
Be3Al2Si6O18
Morphology
Hexagonal prisms in schist or marble matrix and loose, sometimes doubly terminated crystals
Typical size
Crystals about 1-4 cm
Color / luster
Bright grass-green to deep green, transparent to translucent, vitreous
History
Gems from the region were mentioned by Pliny the Elder; by 1985 emeralds over 190 carats had been found, reported to rival fine Muzo crystals

Sources: SRC-266 SRC-826 SRC-827

About Emerald →

Geology of the locality

Region
Panjshir
Country
Afghanistan

Coordinates are the general position of the roughly 100 km long Panjshir Valley (English Wikipedia); the individual workings (Hessa-e-Say district, Khenj area) are not located. Includes specimens labelled Panjshir Pegmatite Field.

Sources: SRC-826

Sources

  1. SRC-826 · Website
    Panjshir ValleyWikipedia contributors · Wikipedia
  2. SRC-266 · Book
    Handbook of Mineralogy - BerylAnthony, J.W.; Bideaux, R.A.; Bladh, K.W.; Nichols, M.C. · 2001 · Mineralogical Society of America / Mineral Data Publishing
  3. SRC-827 · Website
    File:Beryl-114498.jpg (Wikimedia Commons)Robert M. Lavinsky · 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.