The Valley Of Gems

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Sri lanka's gem industry has a very long & colourful history. Sri Lanka was known as Rathna- Dweepa which means Gem island.

Sri Lanka, geologically speaking is an extreme old country. Ninety percent of the rocks of the island are of Precambrian age, 560 million to 2,400 million years ago. The gems form in sedimentary residual gem deposits, eluvial deposits, metamorphic deposits, skarn & calcium - rich rocks. Nearly all the gem formations in Sri Lanka are located in the central high - grade metamorphic terrain of the Highland Complex. The gem deposits are classified as sedimentary, metamorphic & magmatic.


Rathnapura contains the most gem deposits & derived its name from the gem industry. Rathnapura means "city of gems".

A gemstone is the naturally occuring crystalline form of a mineral which is desirable for its beauty, valuable in its rarity, & durable enough to be enjoy for generations. There are more than 30 popular gem varieties & many more rare collector gemstones. Some varieties also come in a range of colours.



Highlights Of Gems

Sapphire


Ceylon  Sapphires


Ruby


Alexandrite


Star Stones


Chrysoberyl


Cat's Eye


Quartz


Amethyst


Citrine


Aquamarine


Garnet


Tourmaline


Spinel


Topaz


Moonstone



Zircon


Peridot



References :
https://lanka.com/about/interests/gems/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gems_of_Sri_Lanka










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