Gemstones In Gilgit-Baltistan
Gemstones in Gilgit Baltistan
Gilgit Baltistan has blessed with the variety of gemstones .Most of the part of the Gilgit baltistan is mountainious name and world second highest mountain K2 is also in Sakardu Pakistan.
Gilgit-Baltistan is unique and famous worldwide, not only for its diverse culture but also for its unique geography. It is covered with the world’s three famous mountain ranges: the Karakorum, the Hindu Kush, and the Himalayas. Geography Gilgit-Baltistan is rich in minerals due to its geographic features. Many locations are marked as rich in gold. Many materials i.e., metallic, nonmetallic, precious, and semiprecious gemstones, are discovered and of immense economic grade.
Following are the gemstones found in abundance in different regions of Gilgit-Baltistan:
- topaz
- emerald color tourmaline
- Feroza stone
- aquamarine
- sphene
- quartz
- rutile
- alluvial
- rutile quartz
- pollucite
- zoisite epidote
- morganite
- apatite
- garnets
- pargasite
- amethyst
- diopside
- spinal
- amethyst
- zircon and ruby
These gamstones are found in district Diamer, Ghizer Dkardu,Hunza and Nagir.In skardu division ,shiger,atak,tormiq,kashmal,bashu and saltoro are the famous areas for gemstones.In ghizer district ,yasin valley and gupis valley is said to have more potential in gemstones.Hunza ,Nagar and Diamer region always attracts merchants from past many decades in this field.
Gemstones corporation of Pakistan was once established ,to develop this sector but unfortunately not been managed.But ,many other companies and organisation are working in this sector i.e Pakistan gems and jewellery development company(PGJDC) .
They are some how trying to develop this sector through conducting exhibitions and shows.Once, karachi was the biggest market for gemstones ,but ,now it has been like shifted to khyber pakhtunkhwa(peshawar).Pakistan gems and jewellery development company (PGJDC) has been established in major cities of Pakistan i.e Gilgit, Karachi, Peshawar,Lahore,Quetta and Muzafarabad.
The major purpose of (PGJDC) is to promote gemstones trade in the country.other than PGJDC their are also private labs available in Pakistan for gemstones identification.Khyber pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas(FATA) are rich in economic grade gems.Areas of Swat ,Dir,Kohistan,Mohmand Agency,bajur agency,khyber agency and north and south waziristan are the major sources of gemstones.Some detail analysis of area wise gemstones in gilgit-baltistan are as follow:
- Hunza,Nagir and Shiger-Topaz,aquamarine,pollucite,rutile,spinel,pargasite and ruby
- Diamer district (Chilas)-Aquamarine,rutile quartz,zircon and alluvial disposide.
- Ganchai area , skardu(Khappulo and near siachin area)-rutile quartz,aquamarine,ruby and amesthyst .
- Shengus nala,atak nala(skardu)-sphene,morganite,tourmaline,apatite and aquamrine.
