Specifications
Beschreibung
Locality: Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Description: This aquamarine comes from the Shigar Valley in Baltistan, in the high Karakoram of northern Pakistan. The valley lies about 32 km northeast of Skardu, and its gem-bearing pegmatite dikes are exposed at high altitude along the Shigar and Braldu rivers, much of it reachable only by jeep track. Gemmologists at GIA describe northern Pakistan as an increasingly important source of aquamarine, with the Shigar, Hunza and Braldu valleys among the main areas.
Geologists from the University of Peshawar mapped these pegmatites as part of the Karakoram Axial Batholith, intruded into the metamorphic rocks of the Karakoram Metamorphic Complex where the Karakoram plate meets the Kohistan-Ladakh island arc. The gems grow in pockets in the coarse-grained zones of the dikes. Black schorl tourmaline turns up almost everywhere in the valley, alongside topaz, green fluorite, garnet, morganite and quartz.
This specimen features a short, stout aquamarine crystal perched on a pale feldspar matrix, with a more compact, almost barrel-like form compared to typical elongated crystals. The aquamarine shows a soft sky-blue color with moderate translucency and visible internal texture, giving it a slightly frosted appearance. The surrounding feldspar forms chunky, layered crystals with scattered dark mineral inclusions, adding contrast and a more rugged, natural aesthetic.
Formed within a granitic pegmatite, this piece developed from slow-cooling, mineral-rich fluids that allowed both large feldspar masses and beryl crystals to grow together. The aquamarine’s shorter, thicker habit suggests limited open space during growth, causing it to develop in a more compressed form. The Shigar Valley is well known for producing aquamarine in association with feldspar and quartz, representing highly evolved pegmatitic systems enriched in beryllium and alkali elements.
Metaphysically, aquamarine is associated with calmness, clarity, and measured communication, often used as a stone for steady thinking and emotional balance. The feldspar matrix is thought to provide grounding energy, making this combination appealing for those looking to balance clarity with stability.
Chemical Composition: Be3Al2Si6O18
Quantity: 1pc
With this product, you will get the actual stone in the photograph.