search
  • Sign In
    Sign Up
  • English speaking customer support only

    1-800-464-1640

  • Change Language
  • USD
By Gavin Clarke Reviewed By Andreas Zabczyk Nov 13, 2008 Updated Feb 06, 2020

Gemstones from Afghanistan

Afghanistan is most famous as the source of the world's finest lapis lazuli. Lapis comes from the Badakhshan province of Northern Afghanistan, where it has been mined continuously for over 6,000 years. In addition to lapis lazuli, Afghanistan has important reserves of other gem varieties. Some of these Afghani gems are already on the international market; others are expected to make a major impact in the future.

Gemstones from Afghanistan - Location Map

Afghanistan is believed to have significant deposits of emerald, ruby, kunzite, tourmaline and aquamarine; as well as deposits of spinel, garnet, amethyst, morganite and turquoise. We have already seen good examples of the Afghani kunzite, morganite and turquoise here in Thailand.

Kunzite from Afghanistan Afghanistan Kunzite

The main gemstone mining region in Afghanistan is in the northeast, and is bordered by Tajikistan, China and Pakistan. The region is dominated by the towering Hindu Kush mountain range. These mountains form the western end of the Himalayas, which stretch eastward across Northern Pakistan and India. The terrain of the Hindu Kush is one of most rugged in the world, with mountains reaching up to 6,000 m (19,500 ft) separated by narrow, steep river valleys. The road network is very limited and many areas of this part of Afghanistan are inaccessible except by foot. The climate is also challenging, ranging from extremely cold winters to hot, dry summers.

Afghan Lapis Lazuli Afghan Lapis Lazuli

While the mining of lapis lazuli goes back many centuries, the mining of emerald, ruby, tourmaline and kunzite started only in the early 1970s. Mining and selling is carried out mainly by independent miners, usually local tribesmen. As a result of the unsettled political situation - Afghanistan has been in an almost constant state of war since the monarchy was overthrown in 1973 - the gem mining areas around Kabul and Jalalabad are virtually inaccessible to foreign gem buyers. The rough material is thus smuggled across the border to Pakistan and sold in the Peshawar area.

Turquoise from Afghanistan Turquoise from Afghanistan

Emerald, some of very high quality, has been found in the Panjsher Valley, which is located approximately 110 km northeast of Kabul. The deposits were discovered at altitudes of 3,000 to 4,000 meters in steep slopes that are accessible only by foot.

Tourmaline, kunzite and aquamarine deposits are found in Nuristan; a sparsely populated region northeast of Kabul. The tourmaline is found in a wide range of colors, including pink, green, blue and multicolored. The intense blues and green are especially valued. The kunzite crystals are among the best found in the world. The color ranges from purple to pink and other colors of spodumene have also been found, including blue, green and yellow.

STAY IN TOUCH
*You're signing up to receive GemSelect promotional email.
Partners and Trust Payment options

Switch to Mobile Version

Privacy Notice © 2005-2023 GemSelect.com all rights reserved.

Reproduction (text or graphics) without the express written consent of GemSelect.com (SETT Company Ltd.) is strictly prohibited.

654

More Shapes
Popular Gemstones
  • Sapphire
  • Emerald
  • Ruby
  • Aquamarine
  • Zircon
  • Opal
  • Topaz
  • Tourmaline
  • Garnet
  • Amethyst
  • Citrine
  • Tanzanite
All Gemstones (145)
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T V Z
  • Actinolite Cat's Eye
  • Agate
  • Agate Geode
  • Almandine Garnet
  • Amazonite
  • Amethyst
  • Amethyst Geode Slice
  • Ametrine
  • Ammolite
  • Andalusite
  • Andesine Labradorite
  • Apatite
  • Aquamarine
  • Aventurine
  • Azotic Topaz
  • Azurite
  • Black Opal
  • Bloodstone
  • Boulder Opal
  • Carnelian
  • Cat's Eye Apatite
  • Cat's Eye Aquamarine
  • Cat's Eye Gemstones
  • Cat's Eye Moonstone
  • Cat's Eye Opal
  • Cat's Eye Scapolite
  • Chalcedony
  • Charoite
  • Chocolate Opal
  • Chrome Diopside
  • Chrysoberyl
  • Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye
  • Chrysocolla
  • Chrysoprase
  • Citrine
  • Color Change Gemstones
  • Color-Change Diaspore
  • Color-Change Fluorite
  • Color-Change Garnet
  • Coral
  • Demantoid Garnet
  • Dendritic Agate
  • Diamond
  • Druzy Amethyst
  • Druzy Azurite
  • Druzy Citrine
  • Druzy Variscite
  • Emerald
  • Enstatite
  • Fire Agate
  • Fire Opal
  • Fluorite
  • Fossil Coral
  • Garnet
  • Golden Beryl
  • Grandidierite
  • Grossularite Garnet
  • Hawk's Eye
  • Hematite
  • Hemimorphite
  • Hemimorphite Druzy
  • Hessonite Garnet
  • Howlite
  • Idocrase
  • Imperial Topaz
  • Iolite
  • Jade Gemstones
  • Jadeite
  • Jasper
  • Kornerupine
  • Kunzite
  • Kyanite
  • Labradorite
  • Lapis Lazuli
  • Larimar
  • Malachite
  • Malaya Garnet
  • Mali Garnet
  • Maw-Sit-Sit
  • Moonstone
  • Morganite
  • Mother Of Pearl
  • Mystic Quartz
  • Mystic Topaz
  • Nuummite
  • Obsidian
  • Onyx
  • Opal
  • Opal Doublet
  • Opal In Matrix
  • Pearl
  • Peridot
  • Pietersite
  • Prehnite
  • Pyrite
  • Pyrope Garnet
  • Quartz
  • Quartz Cat's Eye
  • Quartz With Hedenbergite
  • Quartz With Marcasite
  • Rainbow Moonstone
  • Rainbow Pyrite
  • Rhodochrosite
  • Rhodolite Garnet
  • Rhodonite
  • Rose Quartz
  • Rubellite Tourmaline
  • Ruby
  • Ruby In Fuchsite
  • Ruby-Zoisite
  • Rutile Quartz
  • Sapphire
  • Scapolite
  • Scolecite
  • Seraphinite
  • Serpentine
  • Sillimanite
  • Sillimanite Cat's Eye
  • Smithsonite
  • Smoky Quartz
  • Snowflake Obsidian
  • Sodalite
  • Spectrolite
  • Spessartite Garnet
  • Sphalerite
  • Sphene
  • Spinel
  • Star Diopside
  • Star Garnet
  • Star Gemstones
  • Star Moonstone
  • Star Rose Quartz
  • Star Ruby
  • Star Sapphire
  • Strawberry Quartz
  • Sunstone
  • Tanzanite
  • Tiger's Eye
  • Tiger's Eye Matrix
  • Topaz
  • Tourmaline
  • Tsavorite Garnet
  • Turquoise
  • Variscite
  • Zircon
Main Categories
  • New Arrivals
  • Gemstone Lots
  • Calibrated Gemstones
  • Gemstones By Piece
  • Top Grade Gems
  • Matching Pairs
  • Cabochon Gemstones
  • Drilled Gems, Briolettes and Beads
  • Birthstones
  • Gemstone Carvings
  • Fancy Gemstones
  • Star Gemstones
  • Unheated Sapphire
English speaking customer support only

Toll Free - USA & Canada only:
1-800-464-1640

International:
+66-39609697

Save Money
No shipping Fees for Additional Items!
$8.90 Worldwide Shipping

Update Translation
 
Current Value
New Value
GemSelect Gemstones
X Close Window
Colored Gemstones
X Close Window
Colored Gemstones
X Close Window
Colored Gemstones
Size and Weight

Gems are always measured in Millimeter (mm)

Dimensions are given as;
length x width x depth,
except for round stones which are;
diameter x depth

Select gems by size, not by weight!
Gem varieties vary in density, so carat weight is not a good indication of size

Note: 1ct = 0.2g

Size Comparison Chart