#gemystique
Swat emeralds are renowned for their rich vivid hues and their beautifully interesting microworld of inclusions. One particularly interesting type of inclusion that can be observed in emeralds from the Swat area of Pakistan are clusters of numerous colorless mineral crystals
As heavily populated as these clusters might get, they can still be easily missed by someone who hasn’t observed them before. The sheer magnitude of these clusters is often masked by their deceptively colorless nature and their minute sizes. Often, an unfamiliar eye will immediately notice a few colorless and relatively large mineral crystals present upfront and totally miss the densely populated backdrop. A detailed and careful inspection however will often reveal an abundance of similar colorless inclusions lurking in the background. (Closely examine the less noticeable background behind the more apparent crystals in the photomicrographs)
There are several possible candidates when it comes to the identity of these mineral inclusions. The well-known usual colorless suspects from this region are dolomite, quartz, fluorite, calcite and even muscovite. Presence of negative crystals and two-phase inclusions can also be observed. Three-phase inclusions in Swat emeralds have also been documented although they are not as common as two-phase inclusions
Sheikh Fahad Abbas – GIA GG, AJP
Founder & Owner – Gemystique®
