#gachala

The Gachala emerald

Most large gem quality crystals end up being cut into faceted gems for jewellery, so it is rare for such a beauty as this to be rescued for the delectation of the public. One of the treasures of the Smithsonian was spared the usual fate for such wonders of nature, and donated to the museum by the jeweller Harry Winston (who also donated the Hope diamond). Originally mined in Colombia in 1967, it is named after the mining area whence it came. Unlike the more traditional mining areas such as Muzo or Chivor, Gachala was not exploited by the traditional peoples of the area before the conquest, but was only discovered in the mid 1950's. The crystal is reputed to be one of the finest on display in the world. The colour is a lovely deep summer grass green, and it weighs in at a whopping 172 grams (858 carats) for a size of 5x5cm. Emeralds from this area some 100km east of Bogota are often a lighter green, but they tend to contain smaller 'gardens' of inclusions within.

Loz

Image credit: Andrew Bossi

http://geogallery.si.edu/index.php/en/1059691/gachala-emerald http://www.internetstones.com/gachala-emerald-858-carat-vegas-de-san-juan-mine-colombia.html[_

Gachala Emerald

This stone is one of the most valuable emeralds in the world. It was found in 1967 at the Vega de San Juan mine in Gachala, Colombia, and it weighs in at 858 carats (170 grams).

Emeralds are the mineral beryl, a beryllium-aluminum-silicate mineral. The color of emeralds is due to substitution of elements vanadium and chromium in the mineral structure; d electrons in those elements interact strongly with visible light.

This stone was donated to the Smithsonian Institution by famed jeweler Harry Winston.

-JBB

Image credit: https://flic.kr/p/eU1DMU

“Gachala” 

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