Specifications
Description
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 pale blue-green aquamarine crystal emerging from a dense matrix of feldspar, with prominent silvery-black muscovite mica layered beneath. The aquamarine shows a slightly translucent body with a soft, muted tone rather than the brighter blues, giving it a more natural, understated appearance. Surrounding it are clusters of white feldspar crystals forming a granular, almost sugary texture, contrasted by the darker, reflective sheets of mica that add depth and structure to the piece.
Formed within a granitic pegmatite, this association reflects a classic late-stage crystallization environment where volatile-rich fluids allowed large crystals to grow in close proximity. The muscovite indicates a potassium-rich system, while the aquamarine formed as beryllium concentrated in the final stages of melt evolution. The more embedded growth of the aquamarine suggests it developed within a tighter pocket, partially enclosed by feldspar and mica rather than fully exposed in an open cavity.
Metaphysically, aquamarine is associated with calm thinking, emotional clarity, and steady communication. The presence of muscovite is often linked to reflection and insight, making this combination appealing for those drawn to pieces that balance clarity with introspection and grounding.
Chemical Composition: Be3Al2Si6O18
Quantity: 1pc
With this product, you will get the actual stone in the photograph.