Emerald is a member of the beryl family; it is composed primarily of the abundant elements silicon (Si), aluminium (Al), and oxygen (O). The fourth main component, beryllium (Be) is rare in Earth’s upper crust. Thus, beryl is not a common mineral.
For emerald, the most appreciated member of the beryl group, the conditions of formation are quite peculiar. The elements that give emerald its bright green colour (chromium, Cr and vanadium, V) are concentrated in rocks of the upper mantle, not in the Earth’s upper crust. Therefore it needs unusual geologic and geo-chemical conditions to bring all these elements together. Normally, this happens through the actions of plate tectonics.
Once the necessary elements have been brought together, emeralds can crystallize in diverse geologic environments that, in general, are quite perturbed. While other beryls (like aquamarine) develop in relatively calm environments which allow for continuous crystal growth without strong perturbations, emeralds are formed in geologic environments characterized by abrupt changes and mechanical stress. This is the reason why emerald crystals are generally small (compared to the other members of the beryl family) and contain considerable internal defects such as fissures or foreign solid inclusions. Emerald crystals have a low mechanical resistance and do not withstand the stress of river transport. Therefore, emerald is rarely found in secondary deposits, all emerald deposits of economic interest are restricted to primary rocks.
The emerald deposits belong to different genetic types. They can be classified into two main groups: (1) Emerald crystallization associated with pegmatite and (2) Emerald crystallization not associated with pegmatites. Pegmatites are involved in the formation of the emeralds/beryls of Central Nigeria. These pegmatites have no schist seams; the emeralds are found in granite- and pegmatite vugs. In the Ural Mountains (as well as in some African and Brazilian deposits), pegmatites (and Greisens) with schist seams are present; emeralds are found in pegmatites and phlogopite schists (especially in contact zones).
The second genetic group of emerald deposits is related to metamorphic schists (e.g. Habachtal, Austria; Swat Valley, Pakistan; Santa Terezinha de Goias, Brazil; Panjshir Valley, Afghanistan) or black shales with veins and breccias (Colombia).
Emerald deposits are known from five continents, with South America having been by far the most important emerald producer for many years. Emeralds formed during almost every geologic epoch. The most intense emerald formation occurred during continental collisions, which gave rise to large mountain complexes, extended fault zones, regional metamorphic overprints and eventually to further uplift and erosion. All of these events favour the formation of emerald deposits. Emerald can, therefore, take its place among the oldest gemstones in the Earth»s crust: the oldest emerald deposits are those of Transvaal in the Archean of South Africa (almost 3 billion years); the youngest of the Earth’s emerald deposits are found in Pakistan: Swat Valley (23 million years) and Khaltaro (9 million years).
In our lecture, the situation (infrastructure, mining aspects; production, etc.) in the most important emerald deposits all over the world will be shown in detail (e.g.): South America (Colombia, Brazil), Asia (Ural Mountains, Pakistan, Afghanistan), Africa (Egypt, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Madagascar).
The specific mineralogical-gemmological properties of emeralds will be discussed: (1) Inclusion features; (2) Chemical fingerprinting; (3) Absorption spectra; and (4) Optical data. Objectives, criteria and limitations of the origin determination of emeralds, which are based on these properties, are addressed.
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