MY SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka's gem industry is a sparkling testament to the country's rich natural resources and centuries-old tradition of craftsmanship. Renowned for its exquisite Ceylon sapphires, the island nation boasts a diverse array of gemstones, including rubies, cat's-eye, and moonstones. From the bustling markets of Ratnapura to the skilled hands of gem cutters in Colombo, Sri Lanka's gems are revered for their quality, color, and cultural significance. With ethical mining practices and a legacy of expertise, Sri Lanka remains a gemstone paradise, inviting exploration and admiration from around the world.
While there are 200 types of mineral found across the world, Sri Lanka is home to nearly 75 varieties of coloured and colourless gemstones belonging to ten main species.
The corundum family of gemstones is renowned for its exceptional value and popularity, with ruby and sapphire being among the most sought-after varieties. Corundums are known for their compact, dense structure and lack of cleavage, making them the second hardest natural mineral after diamond. These characteristics contribute to the high desirability of both ruby and sapphire in the world of jewelry. Ruby, the red form of corundum, stands out among the other colors of corundum, which are collectively referred to as sapphires. Within the corundum species, gems can exhibit asterism and chatoyancy due to oriented mineral inclusions, and in some instances, a color change when viewed under different lighting conditions.
Considered the most valuable gemstone variety within the Corundum mineral species, Ruby's distinct red hue is a result of chromium presence. The color range of Rubies worldwide varies from orange-red to purplish red, with color being the primary factor influencing a ruby's worth: Exceptional gems exhibit a pure, vivid red to slightly purplish red .
The majority of Sri Lankan Rubies are pinkish red with a hint of purple, attributed to the presence of iron alongside chromium oxide, a characteristic unique to their Sri Lankan origin. Ruby deposits in Sri Lanka are not confined to specific locations and are often found in the same mines as other Corundum gemstones, with higher-quality stones typically discovered in the Embilipitiya – Udawalawe region.
Sapphires, although commonly associated with the color blue, actually come in a wide range of colors including violet, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and various intermediate shades known as fancy sapphires. Sri Lanka is renowned for being the primary source of the finest Ceylon Sapphires, which are exported globally. These include Ceylon Blue Sapphire, Padparadscha, star sapphires, and a variety of fancy sapphires that cater to the global gem markets. Apart from their aesthetic value, sapphires also have practical applications. They are utilized in the production of infrared optical components, durable windows, wristwatch crystals, and movement bearings. Additionally, sapphires are used in the manufacturing of extremely thin electronic wafers, which serve as insulating substrates for specialized solid-state electronics like integrated circuits and GaN-based blue LEDs.
The Beryl family of gemstones include some of the most popular and expensive gemstones in the world including Emeralds and Aquamarines. While Red Beryls are some of the rarest and most expensive gemstones in the world, chemically pure beryl is colourless and the presence of trace elements causes green, blue, pink, red and yellow colours.
The most important gemstone of the Beryl family is Green Emerald, coloured by the presence of chromium or vanadium while the blue colour in Aquamarine is caused by the presence of Iron.
Aquamarine crystals are typically found in green-blue to blue color variations, with the blue tone attributed to the presence of iron within the crystal. These crystals are known for their relatively large and well-formed structure, with the depth of sea blue color being most pronounced in larger specimens. Smaller stones tend to have a lighter color. Unlike many other colored gemstones, the value of aquamarine is primarily determined by its tone rather than its hue and saturation. Stones with a darker tone are particularly prized and command high prices. Aquamarine is often discovered completely flawless in various locations in Sri Lanka, including Rathnapura, Rakwana, Morawaka, Hatton, Nawalapitiya, Galle, Matara, Tissamaharama, and Lunugamwehera.
The term 'Cat's Eye' is commonly used to refer to various types of minerals, but the most coveted Cat's Eye gemstones are those that belong to the Chrysoberyl family. However, not all Chrysoberyls exhibit this distinctive chatoyancy effect. While it is quite common to find transparent to translucent Chrysoberyls without the chatoyancy effect in Sri Lanka, the chatoyant chrysoberyls are cut into cabochons to showcase their stunning eyes and are highly sought after in both local and global markets. The Chrysoberyl species of gemstones consist of two types, namely Cymophane and Alexandrite.
A variety of chrysoberyls exhibit chatoyancy due to light reflecting from inclusions of tiny parallel needles or hollow tubes, commonly referred to as cat's eye. Chrysoberyl can be found in various levels of transparency, ranging from transparent and clear to cloudy translucent and opaque. It is widely distributed in the main gem-producing regions of the country, particularly around Rakwana, Bulutota, Deniyaya, Morawaka, Elahera, Avissawella, Pelawatte, Horana, Matugama, Panadura, Rathnapura, Aluthgama, Ambalantota, Agalawaththa, Bulathsinghala, Kalapugama, and Mestiya. The color of Cymophane or Cat's Eye varies from semi-transparent golden-yellow to slightly greenish-yellow or brownish-yellow.
Alexandrite, also known as the 'Emerald by Day and a Ruby by Night', is a rare type of Chrysoberyl that is abundantly found in Sri Lanka. This gemstone is highly sought after in the global market due to its unique ability to shift colors from red to green when viewed under different light sources. It is a strongly pleochroic gem, meaning it displays different colors when viewed from different directions. The three pleochroic colors of Alexandrite are green, orange, and purple-red. Interestingly, the gem's color change is not a result of its pleochroism, but rather from the mineral's unusual light-absorbing properties. While most Alexandrites found in Sri Lanka can be faceted, there are occasional occurrences of color-changing Alexandrite cat's eye.
Abundant, appealing, cost-effective, and vibrant spinels are accessible in red, pink, and blue hues and may occasionally display asterism and chatoyancy. Spinels, a gemstone that is plentiful in Sri Lanka, were frequently misidentified as Corundums before the emergence of modern gemology in the 19th and 20th centuries, as they were primarily discovered in the same mine. Further examination of the mineral composition of these two gem categories resulted in their differentiation, with many gem enthusiasts discovering that their cherished rubies and sapphires are actually spinels. Nevertheless, natural spinel has always been a scarce and exquisite gem. Sri Lanka is the second largest provider of spinel to the worldwide gem and jewelry market, offering a variety of colors from ruby red, pink, orange, reddish-brown, purple, blue, bluish-green, mauve, greenish-black, black, to colorless. The presence of natural blue spinel colored by cobalt has been detected in Sri Lanka. Cobalt spinel has been discovered in areas such as Ratnapura, Okkampitiya, and Embilipitiya. In addition to the common spinel varieties, there are also types known as Ceylonite, Gahnite, and Ghanospinel.
Gemstones belonging to the Garnet family can be found in a wide range of colors, excluding blue. They come in various varieties such as almandine, andradite, grossular, pyrope, spessartine, and uvarovite. In Sri Lanka, all types of Garnets, except for andradite and uvarovite, can be found. Some of these Garnets in Sri Lanka exhibit asterism, chatoyancy, and even a color change when observed under different lighting conditions. Despite having the same crystal structure, garnets differ in their chemical composition. There are more than twenty garnet species, but only five of them hold significant commercial value as gemstones. Notably, the commercially valuable garnet types found in Sri Lanka are:
Tourmaline, available in a wide range of colors, possesses a highly intricate mineral composition, which accounts for its vibrant color variations. Among the Tourmaline species found in Sri Lanka, the gemstones exhibit shades ranging from yellowish-green to bright green.
Dravite and Uvite, which are mixtures of great significance, are among the prominent Tourmalines discovered in Sri Lanka. These species often display hues of brown, yellowish-brown, reddish-brown, or nearly black, owing to the presence of vanadium, chromium, or both as trace elements. When these impurities are present in the appropriate concentrations, they create lush green tones reminiscent of tsavorite garnet. Uvite is characterized by its high content of calcium, magnesium, and aluminum, while Dravite is abundant in sodium, magnesium, and aluminum.
Both forms are found within limestone formations that have undergone alteration due to heat and pressure. Gem dealers and merchants affectionately refer to these Tourmalines as Savanna Tourmaline. The majority of brown and yellowish-brown varieties are primarily located in the Uva, Ratnapura, and Tissamaharama regions of Sri Lanka. Additionally, impressive specimens can be found in Lunugala, Bibile, Passara, Nilgala region, Horana, Matugama, Pelawatte, Morawaka, Deniyaya, and Rakwana areas within the country.
Topazes, a versatile type of gemstones, come in various colors and also in colorless forms. They are often recognized by their color names, such as pink or blue topaz. However, there are certain topazes that are considered to be more valuable and rare, and they have been given commercial names. The red and pink topazes with high values are referred to as Imperial Topaz, whereas the ones with a rich yellow to a medium, peachy orange color are known as Precious Topaz or Sherry Topaz.
Zircon, a well-known alternative to diamonds globally, is clear when in its purest chemical state. Primarily discovered in Matara, Sri Lanka, clear zircons are sometimes referred to as Matara Zircon or Matara Diamonds. The colorless zircon from Sri Lanka is renowned for its exceptional sparkle and vibrant flashes of various colors, known as fire. In addition to being colorless, zircon can also be found in a variety of colors such as brown, red, blue, purple, and occasionally green. Despite being mistaken for cubic zirconia, zircon stands out due to its remarkable brilliance and dispersion.
Quartz is a large family of gemstones and occurs in many colours and varieties. In its purest form quartz is colourless but are available in a range of colours and forms including;
The highest quality amethyst, a purple variation of quartz, exhibits a vibrant reddish-purple to purple hue without any noticeable color zoning. Iron imparts the various shades of amethyst, ranging from delicate pastel roses to rich purples. Similar to other gemstones, the quality of amethyst varies depending on its origin. The most exceptional varieties of amethyst can be sourced from Siberia, Sri Lanka, Brazil, and the far East.
1. Rose Quartz, a soft pink variation of the mineral quartz, showcases a range of hues from pale to deep pink. This gem is commonly discovered in large formations without the usual smooth crystal surfaces. Rose Quartz is commonly located in pegmatites, as well as in hydrothermal veins, and its gentle pink hue is attributed to tiny inclusions of aligned silicate mineral fibers. Sri Lanka is renowned for providing high-quality rose quartz stones.
Agate, a semi-precious chalcedony, is a type of microcrystalline quartz that comes in various colors such as brown, white, red, grey, pink, black, and yellow. The different hues are a result of the presence of oxides of iron, manganese, titanium, chromium, nickel, and other elements, forming alternating bands within the stone. Unique patterns of color or moss-like inclusions can help differentiate agate from other chalcedony varieties, with Sri Lanka being renowned for its blue-tinted agate.
Citrine, a rare gemstone found in nature, is a transparent stone that ranges in color from pale yellow to brownish orange. It is one of the most sought-after yellow gemstones, with the finest specimens displaying vibrant hues of yellow to reddish-orange without any brown undertones. Citrine crystals can be found in various sizes in Russia and Madagascar, and are easily accessible in nature. Additionally, Sri Lanka exports irregularly shaped amethyst stones that have been heat-treated to transform them into Citrine.
Feldspar, a silicate mineral, constitutes more than half of the Earth's crust. It finds extensive applications in numerous industries, such as the production of diverse glass and ceramic items, as well as serving as fillers in paints, plastics, and rubber. Notably, the Feldspar mineral family encompasses renowned gemstones like Moonstone.
Moonstones, which are a valuable gemstone from the Feldspar group of minerals, are renowned for their enchanting radiance created by adularescence. The renowned Blue Moonstones originate from the Meetiyagoda mines in Sri Lanka. Traditionally, moonstones are fashioned into cabochons. Nevertheless, certain moonstones exhibit unique characteristics such as a cat's eye effect or a four-spoked star, in addition to the customary rippling play of light. These exceptional stones are not only cut into cabochons but are also crafted into artistic cameos or adorned with intricate engravings.
