Gemstones from Mozambique

Ruby from Mozambique

The discovery of Rubies in Mozambique is probably the gemstone story of the 21st century. Since rubies were first found in the Northern region of this country in 2008, it has developed into an industry that now produces around 40% of the world's ruby supplies.

Although rubies from Burma (Myanmar) have the reputation as the best and most expensive in the world, there is no doubt that the ones from Mozambique can easily rival them in color, clarity and fluorescence.

The most productive area in Mozambique is in the mines of Montepuez. Rubies are sourced from both primary rock formations thought to be up to 800 million years old and from secondary alluvial sources created by ancient rivers that eroded the old rock and transported the rubies to the floodplains and deltas.

Tourmaline from Mozambique

Tourmaline is one of the most colorful of all gemstones with just about the entire rainbow represented. Mozambique contains just about the full range with orange, pink, red and purple particularly plentiful and earthy greens and browns are also popular as well as the spiritually protective black tourmalines.

Tourmaline is a durable gemstone with a rating of 7.5 on Mohs hardness scale and makes great jewelry items with the prices very varied according to color and size.

Mozambique has two very noteworthy varieties of tourmaline that need a closer look.

First the rubellite tourmalines, deep pink and bright purple colors which are much loved by jewelry makers for their versatility in cutting and carving and their ability to hold their color in all lighting conditions. Large clear rubellite gemstones from Mozambique can fetch very high prices and are much sought after.

Then we have Paraiba tourmalines, a copper bearing gemstone with bright neon blue coloring. First discovered in the Paraiba region of Brazil, this gemstone took the world by storm but was very quickly depleted.

Luckily a similar looking and almost chemically identical tourmaline was discovered in the early 2000s in Mozambique with a range of colors from green to blue-green to almost violet which were cleaner and bigger than the original Brazilian gemstones. Mozambique is now the world's foremost supplier of Paraiba tourmalines.

Aquamarine from Mozambique

Aquamarine is a type of beryl alongside emeralds and morganites amongst others. As its name suggests it has subtle blue and green colors that are reminiscent of ocean waters - aquamarine can be translated to water from the sea.

A durable stone rated at around 8 on Mohs hardness scale and available in large clear untreated gemstones it is an almost perfect gemstone for jewelry making.

The Nampula district in Mozambique is renowned for its aquamarine gemstones which can be found in a gorgeous bright pastel blue often described as 'Robin's egg' blue.

Morganite from Mozambique

Morganite was first discovered in Madagascar, the huge island off the coast of Mozambique back in 1910, and named after the US banker, JP Morgan.

It is yet another member of the beryl family of gemstones with others such as aquamarine and emerald. It has a hardness rating of about 8 on the Mohs scale, comes in sophisticated pale pink colors and is usually faceted to show off its clarity, color and brilliance.

Mozambique morganite is often heat treated to attain an attractive peach color and can be referred to as Zambesia Morganite after the area in which it is mined.