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List of emeralds by size

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This is a list of emeralds by size.

Emeralds

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Emerald is a gemstone and a variety of the mineral beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) colored green by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium. [1] Beryl has a hardness of 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale.[1] Most emeralds are highly included,[2] so their toughness (resistance to breakage) is classified as generally poor. Emerald is a cyclosilicate.

Emeralds in antiquity were mined in Egypt at locations on Mount Smaragdus since 1500 BCE, and India, and Austria since at least the 14th century CE.[3] The Egyptian mines were exploited on an industrial scale by the Roman and Byzantine Empires, and later by Islamic conquerors. Mining ceased with the discovery of the Colombian deposits; only ruins remain.[4]

Colombia is historically an important producer of emeralds, constituting 50–95% of the world production, with the number depending on the year, source and grade.[5][6][7][8] Emerald production in Colombia has increased drastically in the last decade, increasing by 78% from 2000 to 2010.[9] The three main emerald mining areas in Colombia are Muzo, Coscuez, and Chivor.[10] Rare "trapiche" emeralds are found in Colombia, distinguished by ray-like spokes of dark impurities.

Zambia is the world's second biggest producer, with Kagem mine being the world's largest emerald mine[11] responsible for 25–30% of the world's production of gem-quality stones.[12] In 2019 Kagem emerald mine produced 42.4 million carats of emeralds.[13] The Zambian emerald sector is an important contributor of tax revenue to the Government.

Zambian emeralds were formed over 500 million years ago, they are geologically much older than emeralds from other origins. As a result, they differ in their formation, composition and key features. Zambian emeralds get their intense green colour from the presence of chromium, iron and beryllium, and they are often lacking in vanadium, resulting in a bluish-green, lively and often eye-clean emerald.

Notable emeralds

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Emerald Origin Date Uncut size Cut size Location Ref
Chipembele emerald Zambia 2021 7,525 carats (1,505.0 g) Israel Diamond Exchange, Eshed – Gemstar [14][15][16]
Inkalamu emerald Zambia 2018 5,655 carats (1,131.0 g) Private Collector [17]
Insofu emerald Zambia 2010 6,255 carats (1,251.0 g) Jewellery brand [18]
Bahia Emerald Brazil 2001 180,000 carats (36,000 g)[a] Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department [19][20]
Carolina Emperor United States 2009 310 carats (62 g) 64.8 carats (12.96 g) North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh [21][22]
Chalk Emerald Colombia 38.40 carats (7.680 g) 37.82 carats (7.564 g) National Museum of Natural History, Washington
Duke of Devonshire Emerald Colombia >1831 1,383.93 carats (276.786 g) Natural History Museum, London
Emerald of Saint Louis Austria[b] 51.60 carats (10.320 g) National Museum of Natural History, Paris
Gachalá Emerald Colombia 1967 858 carats (171.6 g) National Museum of Natural History, Washington [23]
Mogul Mughal Emerald Colombia 1107 A.H.[c] 217.80 carats (43.560 g) Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar
Patricia Emerald Colombia 1920 632 carats (126.4 g)[d] American Museum of Natural History, New York [24]
Mim Emerald Colombia 2014 1,390 carats (278 g)[e] Mim Museum, Beirut [25]

See also

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Bibliography

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Notes

  1. ^ crystals in host rock
  2. ^ probably Habachtal
  3. ^ (1695–1696 AD)
  4. ^ dihexagonal (12 sided)
  5. ^ dihexagonal (12 sided)
  1. ^ a b Hurlbut & Kammerling 1991, p. 203.
  2. ^ "Emerald Quality Factors". GIA.edu. Gemological Institute of America. Archived from the original on November 2, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  3. ^ Giuliani G, Chaussidon M, Schubnel HJ, Piat DH, Rollion-Bard C, France-Lanord C, Giard D, de Narvaez D, Rondeau B (2000). "Oxygen Isotopes and Emerald Trade Routes Since Antiquity" (PDF). Science. 287 (5453): 631–3. Bibcode:2000Sci...287..631G. doi:10.1126/science.287.5453.631. PMID 10649992. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Romans organized the mines as a multinational business..." Finlay, Victoria. Jewels: A Secret History (Kindle Location 3098). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
  5. ^ Badawy, Manuela (June 13, 2012). "Emeralds seek the 'De Beers' treatment". Reuters. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  6. ^ Dydyński, Krzysztof (2003). Colombia. Lonely Planet. p. 21. ISBN 0-86442-674-7.
  7. ^ Branquet, Y. Laumenier, B. Cheilletz, A. & Giuliani, G. (1999). "Emeralds in the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia. Two tectonic settings for one mineralization". Geology. 27 (7): 597–600. Bibcode:1999Geo....27..597B. doi:10.1130/0091-7613(1999)027<0597:EITECO>2.3.CO;2.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Carrillo, V. (2001). Compilación y análisis de la información geológica referente a la explotación esmeraldífera en Colombia. Informe de contrato 124. INGEOMINAS
  9. ^ Wacaster, Susan (March 2012). "2010 Minerals Yearbook: Colombia [ADVANCE RELEASE]" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  10. ^ Emerald Mining Areas in Colombia Archived September 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, with location map of these three districts.
  11. ^ Zambia, Mining For (2019-10-02). "Five reasons Zambia's emeralds are in the global spotlight -". Mining For Zambia. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  12. ^ "A land called kagem". 28 March 2024.
  13. ^ Martin, Will (2021-08-02). "Monthly Operational Market Update – 30 June 2021 | Gemfields Group". Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  14. ^ "Gemfields discovers one of the world's largest emeralds weighing 1.5 kg". Business Today. 13 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  15. ^ Slater, Donna. "Gemfields unearths largest gem to date at Kagem, names it Chipembele". Mining Weekly. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  16. ^ "Gemfields makes another startling discovery – a 7,525 ct rhino emerald named Chipembele". DiamondWorld.net. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  17. ^ DeMarco, Anthony. "A 5,655-Carat Emerald Discovered In Zambia". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  18. ^ "Gemfields discovers exceptional 6,225 carat 'insofu' emerald at Kagem Mine, Zambia". Proactiveinvestors UK. 2010-02-22. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  19. ^ Allen 2010.
  20. ^ Weil 2017.
  21. ^ Gast 2010.
  22. ^ Stancill 2012.
  23. ^ Smithsonian Institution 2019.
  24. ^ American Museum of Natural History 2019.
  25. ^ Boulliard 2016.


References

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