Specifications
Descripción
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 single dominant aquamarine crystal emerging cleanly from a white feldspar matrix. The crystal shows a soft blue color with moderate translucency and visible internal veils, along with subtle surface striations typical of beryl growth. Its partially terminated form suggests it developed in a constrained pocket, where surrounding minerals limited full crystal expression but still allowed for defined edges and faces.
Formed within granitic pegmatites, this aquamarine grew from late-stage, beryllium-rich fluids that infiltrated fractures and cavities during the final stages of magma cooling. The surrounding feldspar represents earlier crystallization, creating the structural framework into which the aquamarine later developed. The relatively isolated crystal and compact matrix indicate a smaller pocket environment rather than a large open cavity, giving the piece a more grounded, natural formation style.
Metaphysically, aquamarine is often associated with calm thinking, clear communication, and emotional balance. It is commonly used by those seeking a steady, composed mindset, especially in situations that require clarity and measured response.
Chemical Composition: Be3Al2Si6O18
Quantity: 1pc
With this product, you will get the actual stone in the photograph.