Provenite

Shigar Valley

AreaDraft data

35.4256° N, 75.7331° E · Region only

Albite, Aquamarine, Beryl and Microcline from Skardu District, Pakistan, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

AlbiteAquamarineBerylMicrocline

On the same specimen

Same specimen Quartz with Beryl

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show beryl with quartz together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Albite at Shigar Valley

Pale blue gem aquamarine on white crystallized albite from the Shigar Valley.
Pale blue gem aquamarine on white crystallized albite from the Shigar Valley.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Etched aquamarine crystal on albite matrix, Shigar Valley.
Etched aquamarine crystal on albite matrix, Shigar Valley.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Large transparent aquamarine crystal on the edge of albite matrix, Shigar Valley.
Large transparent aquamarine crystal on the edge of albite matrix, Shigar Valley.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Two aquamarine crystals splaying from a curved cluster of sharp albite crystals, Shigar Valley.
Two aquamarine crystals splaying from a curved cluster of sharp albite crystals, Shigar Valley.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Green fluorite beside tourmaline on albite, Shigar Valley.
Green fluorite beside tourmaline on albite, Shigar Valley.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
NaAlSi₃O₈
Morphology
Sharp white albite crystals and curving clusters as matrix to aquamarine
Typical size
Specimens about 3 to 14 cm
Color / luster
Stark white
Associated minerals
Beryl (aquamarine)fluoriteelbaiteherderiteschorl
Availability
Unknown

Sources: SRC-545

About Albite →

Aquamarine at Shigar Valley

Chunky compound gem aquamarine crystal with several terminations from the Shigar Valley, Pakistan.
Chunky compound gem aquamarine crystal with several terminations from the Shigar Valley, Pakistan.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Matrix specimen with an aquamarine crystal 8.5 cm long and many smaller ones from the Shigar Valley, Pakistan.
Matrix specimen with an aquamarine crystal 8.5 cm long and many smaller ones from the Shigar Valley, Pakistan.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Doubly terminated gemmy aquamarine floater crystal 4.8 cm long from the Shigar Valley, Pakistan.
Doubly terminated gemmy aquamarine floater crystal 4.8 cm long from the Shigar Valley, Pakistan.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Aquamarine crystal group about 4.7 cm from the Shigar Valley, Pakistan.
Aquamarine crystal group about 4.7 cm from the Shigar Valley, Pakistan.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Two crossed gemmy aquamarine crystals, the larger 7 cm long, from the Shigar Valley, Pakistan.
Two crossed gemmy aquamarine crystals, the larger 7 cm long, from the Shigar Valley, Pakistan.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈
Morphology
Gemmy prismatic crystals, single, compound or crossed, on matrix or as doubly terminated floaters
Typical size
Crystals about 2-8.5 cm
Color / luster
Light blue, transparent, glassy luster
Availability
Unknown

Sources: SRC-737 SRC-266

About Aquamarine →

Beryl at Shigar Valley

Doubly terminated, transparent lavender-tinted beryl crystal with quartz and feldspar from the Shigar Valley, Pakistan.
Doubly terminated, transparent lavender-tinted beryl crystal with quartz and feldspar from the Shigar Valley, Pakistan.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Another view of a lavender-tinted beryl crystal with quartz and feldspar from the Shigar Valley, Pakistan.
Another view of a lavender-tinted beryl crystal with quartz and feldspar from the Shigar Valley, Pakistan.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈
Morphology
Doubly terminated hexagonal prisms
Typical size
Crystals about 3 cm on the pictured specimen
Color / luster
Mostly light blue to blue-green (aquamarine); rarely lavender-tinted; transparent, vitreous
Associated minerals
Quartzalbitemuscovitespessartine
Availability
Unknown

Sources: SRC-686 SRC-687

About Beryl →

Microcline at Shigar Valley

Long white microcline crystal with a glassy overgrowth rim on matrix, Hashupa, Shigar Valley.
Long white microcline crystal with a glassy overgrowth rim on matrix, Hashupa, Shigar Valley.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Large lustrous microcline crystal about 13 cm long, Hashupa, Shigar Valley.
Large lustrous microcline crystal about 13 cm long, Hashupa, Shigar Valley.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Huge complete twinned microcline crystal with a white core and thin glassy rim, Hashupa.
Huge complete twinned microcline crystal with a white core and thin glassy rim, Hashupa.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Pearly, complete cabinet-size microcline crystal from Hachupa, Shigar Valley.
Pearly, complete cabinet-size microcline crystal from Hachupa, Shigar Valley.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Lustrous, partly transparent microcline crystal from the Shigar Valley.
Lustrous, partly transparent microcline crystal from the Shigar Valley.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
KAlSi₃O₈
Morphology
Large blocky to prismatic single crystals and clusters, often twinned (Carlsbad and other laws) and in parallel growth
Typical size
Crystals commonly 3 to 13 cm
Color / luster
White to off-white, pearly core with a thin glassy, lustrous overgrowth rim
Surface features
Thin glassy overgrowth on some faces
Twins
Carlsbad twins and other twin forms; untwinned crystals also found
Availability
Unknown
History
Most photographed crystals are labelled Hashupa (Hachupa, Hashupi), a pegmatite site in the Shigar Valley

Sources: SRC-571

About Microcline →

Geology of the locality

Region
Skardu District
Country
Pakistan

Collector labels give only the valley (or a hamlet in it). The coordinate is the reference point of the Shigar Valley article on Wikipedia, near Shigar town; the valley runs about 170 km from Skardu to Askole, so the point is regional only.

Sources: SRC-530

Sources

  1. SRC-530 · Website
    Shigar ValleyWikipedia contributors · Wikipedia
  2. SRC-545 · Website
    File:Albite-Beryl-tmu63a.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons
  3. SRC-737 · Website
    File:Beryl-119808.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons
  4. 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
  5. SRC-686 · Website
    File:Beryl-Quartz-Feldspar-Group-197465.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons
  6. SRC-687 · Article
    Quarterly Crystal: Garnets in AquamarineKoivula, J.I. · 2020 · Gems & Gemology, vol. 56, no. 4 (GIA)
  7. SRC-571 · Website
    File:Microcline-fel11a.jpgRobert 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.