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About the Sources and History of Emeralds 3/29/10 1:08 PM About the Sources and History of Emeralds 3/29/10 1:08 PM About the Sources and History of Emeralds Untreated Emeralds AGTA Certified, Top Quality Colombian & Brazilian Emeralds www.AstrologicalGem.com Loose Emeralds Wholesaler Save up to 75% on Quality Stones. Delivery + Free Overnight Shipping! www.gemsny.com GIA Education GIA Credentials Valued Throughout the Gem & Jewelry World. www.GIA.edu/Education about the history and source of emeralds and their commercial value after discovery as treasure by Spaniards and details about the name of the emerald The ancient source of the emerald was Ethiopia, but the locality is unknown. From upper Egypt, near the coast of the Red Sea and south of Kosseir, came the first emeralds of historic commerce. There is a supposition that the emerald beryl was first introduced commercially into Europe just prior to the seventeenth century from South America. Emeralds had been found before this, however, in the wrappings of Egyptian mummies and in the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Ancient Egyptian emerald mines on the west coast of the Red Sea were rediscovered about 1820 by a French explorer, Cailliaud, on an expedition organised by Mehemet Ali Pasha; the implements found there date back to the time of Sesostris (1650 B.C.). Ancient inscriptions tell that Greek miners were employed there in the reign of Alexander the Great; emeralds presented to Cleopatra, and bearing an engraved portrait of the beautiful Egyptian queen, are assumed to have been taken from these mines. Cailliaud, under permission of Mehemet Ali, reopened the mines, employing Albanian miners, but, it is supposed because only stones of a poor quality were found, the work was soon and suddenly given up. The Spanish conquistadores found magnificent emeralds in the treasure of both Peru and Mexico, but none are now found in those countries. An immense quantity of emeralds, many of them magnificent, and a large proportion of which are probably still in existence in Europe, was sent to Spain from Peru. The only place in the new world that the Spanish found emeralds by prospecting for them in the earth, was in Colombia or New Granada; perhaps the gems of the Aztec sovereigns and the Incas came from there. http://www.jjkent.com/articles/source-history-emeralds.htm Page 1 of 2 About the Sources and History of Emeralds 3/29/10 1:08 PM The Spaniards first learned of the existence of the Colombian emeralds on March 3, 1537, through a gift of emeralds by the Indians, who, at the same time, pointed out the locality from which they were taken; this spot, Somondoco, is now being mined by an English corporation, although only second-class stones have been found there by these modern emerald miners. Muzo, where the present supply of the world's finest emeralds is mined, is about one hundred miles distant in the eastern Cordilleras of the Andes on the east side of the Rio Magdalena in its northward course. The only other locality of importance where emerald beryls are now found is about fifty miles east of Ekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains, Siberia, where Uralian chrysoberyl, or alexandrite, is found. The grass-green beryl is also found in an almost inaccessible locality in the Salzburg Alps. Fine emeralds have been found in the United States, the most notable locality at Stony Point in Alexander County, North Carolina, but the supply at this place seems to be exhausted. The name "emerald" applied indiscriminately to green transparent, translucent, and even opaque stones, complicates, to the inexpert, everything about the emerald question; for instance, it was long assumed that emeralds came from Brazil and green stones were called "Brazilian emeralds." There is no authentic proof that a true emerald was ever found in Brazil, and it is supposed that green tourmalines found there account for the "Brazilian emerald" myth. In ancient times the name emerald was applied to green jasper, chrysocolla, malachite, and other green minerals. There is still a custom of calling stones other than beryl "emerald," with an explanatory prefix. Thus, Oriental emerald is green corundum; "lithia emerald" is hiddenite, a green mineral of the pyroxene group occurring associated with the emerald beryl in North Carolina. "Emerald-copper" is dioptase, the beautiful green silicate of copper. Among the green minerals sometimes sold under the name of emerald are: the green corundum, demantoids, or green garnets, hiddenite, diopside, alexandrite, green tourmaline, and sometimes chrysolite and dioptase. These minerals are all of higher specific gravity than beryl and all can be distinguished from beryl emeralds by tests possible to the scientific gem expert. Copyright 2004 by JJKent, Inc You are here: JJKent Home >> Precious Stones Guide Vol 4 >> About the Sources and History of Emeralds <<About Emeralds of Green Beryl and Their About the History and Properties of Properties Pearls>> DISCLAIMER: PLEASE READ - By printing, downloading, or using you agree to our full terms. Review the full terms at the following URL: http://www.pagewise.com/disclaimer.html. Below is a summary of some of the terms. If you do not agree to the full terms, do not use the information. We are only publishers of this material, not authors. Information may have errors or be outdated. Some information is from historical sources or represents opinions of the author. It is for research purposes only. The information is "AS IS", "WITH ALL FAULTS". User assumes all risk of use, damage, or injury. You agree that we have no liability for any damages. We are not liable for any consequential, incidental, indirect, or special damages. You indemnify us for claims caused by you. FAQs: Would you like to link to this page? Reprint this article on your website? Reprint this article on paper? Want to reference this article in a paper, report, or presentation? Is there an error in this page? Do you have a follow-up question about this topic? Want to read our Privacy Policy? Read our legal/medical disclaimer? http://www.jjkent.com/articles/source-history-emeralds.htm Page 2 of 2.
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