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Zambia is the world's second biggest producer, with its Kafubu River area deposits (Kagem Mines) about 45 km (28 mi) southwest of Kitwe responsible for 20% of the world's production of gem-quality stones in 2004. [28] In the first half of 2011, the Kagem Mines produced 3.74 tons of emeralds. [29]
2 Gemstones. 3 Metals. 4 See also. 5 References. Toggle the table of contents. Lists of countries by mineral production. 4 languages.
Lapis lazuli (UK: / ˌ l æ p ɪ s ˈ l æ z (j) ʊ l i, ˈ l æ ʒ ʊ-,-ˌ l i /; US: / ˈ l æ z (j) ə l i, ˈ l æ ʒ ə-,-ˌ l i /), or lapis for short, is a deep-blue metamorphic rock used as a semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense color.
Samarian Spinel, the world's largest spinel; Menshikov Ruby, the world's second largest spinel set on top of the Great Imperial Crown of Russia; Timur Ruby, believed to be a ruby until 1851, hence its name; Black Prince's Ruby, the famous spinel mounted on the Imperial State Crown of the United Kingdom
There are a limited number of commercially available diamond mines currently operating in the world, with the 50 largest mines accounting for approximately 90% of global supply. [1] Diamonds are also mined alluvially over disperse areas, where diamonds have been eroded out of the ground, deposited, and concentrated by water or weather action.
Amethyst was used as a gemstone by the ancient Egyptians and was largely employed in antiquity for intaglio engraved gems. [22] The ancient Greeks believed amethyst gems could prevent intoxication, [23] while medieval European soldiers wore amethyst amulets as protection in battle in the belief that amethysts heal people and keep them cool-headed.
Charoite (/ tʃ æ r oʊ. aɪ t / CHAR-ow-ait) is a rare silicate mineral with the chemical composition K(Ca,Na) 2 Si 4 O 10 (OH,F)•H 2 O, first described in 1978.It is named after the Chara River, despite its being 70 kilometres (43 mi) away from the discovery place.
Benitoite is a rare mineral found in very few locations including San Benito County, California, Japan and Arkansas. In the San Benito occurrence, it is found in natrolite veins within glaucophane schist within a serpentinite body. In Japan, the mineral occurs in a magnesio-riebeckite-quartz-phlogopite-albite dike cutting a serpentinite body. [5]