Literature On Gem Stones

- Guy Clutterbuck and Richard Hughes for their support and friendship.
- ICA president Joe Menzie, ICA Vice president Jean Claude Michelou, ICA director Barbara Litapanlop, and of course Henry Ho, the AIGS Gemological Laboratory in Bangkok, Thailand and the Gubelin Gem Lab in Luzern, Switzerland for their constant financial support.

Recommended references about Davdar Emeralds:
Dudley Blauwet, Elizabeth P.Quinn, Sam Muhlmeister: Gems and Gemology, Spring 2005, p 57-58

References and links about other emerald deposits in China:
"Yunnan Gemstones" by Shize Wu: Not realy up to date regarding emeralds but interesting well documented link.
"Smaragde aus China" by U.Henn und C.C.Milisenda, Z.Dt.Gemmol.Ges. 46/2, 1997
"Formational conditions for the Dyakou emerald occurence, Southeastern Yunnan, China" by G.Xue, D.Marshall
"Regional Geologic mapping report for Malipo and Dulong sheet at 1:50,000" M.G.Feng (1998)

Interesting links, ressources and references about gemstones from China:
"The ICA 2006 World Colored Stone Mining Report" ICA InColor publication, Spring 2006 Issue
"World mining report" from Colored Stone Magazine, Nov Dec 2005
China sapphire.com: A Shandong Based sapphire miner website
"A Bull in China" by Chen Nan Yang: An interesting survey of Chinese gems and jewelry market.
"Larsons in China" Interesting presentation abstracts from Bill and Will Larson in 2006.
"Fieldtrip to Western Himalayan Ruby and Emerald Mines" On Gubelin Gem Lab website.
Hong Kong Institute of Gemology: Hong Kong based gemological institute.
Faculty of Materitals and Metallurgical Engineering, in Kunming Yunnan.
China Mining.org. Interesting website about mining in China
Friends of Jade: A great ressource about Jade
Jewelry Net Asia: Hong Kong based portal, home of Jewelry News Asia, a leading Asian trade magazine.
Things Asian: Experience Asia through the eyes of travelers. I love it...

"Sapphires from Changle in Shandong Province, China": by J.Guo, F.Wang, G.Yakoumelos, Gems and Gemology, Winter 1992 p255-260.
"Oxidation treatment of the sapphires from Shandong province, China": By W.Chuanfu, Y.Yaoshan, L.Guoxun, Journal of Gemmology , 1992, 23,3
"Chinese ruby and Sapphire-A brief history": By O.Galibert, R.Hughes, Journal of Gemmology 1995,24,7
"Colored stone update from China", Gems and Gemology, Summer 1989, p111-112
"Spinel from southern China", Gems and Gemology, Winter 2005, p357

Recommended Books about emeralds:
	"L'emeraude" by the "Association Francaise de Gemmologie" in association with the the CNRS and ORSTOM (In French) from infrared spectroscopy to geology, history, mining and treatment, it is probably the most complete work available in the market. Written as a series of papers by leading experts in the domain. Highly recommended.
	"Emeralds of the world" Extra Lapis No 2: The legendary green Beryl: With beautiful photos, it is a very complete work very up to date with much details about each known deposits and great chapters also about gemology, treatments and famous gems. A must for everybody willing to learn more about emeralds.
	"Emeralds and other beryls" by John Sinkankas. Written at the start of the 1980's it does not tell about emerald from China. This old book is nevertheless very interesting for people appreciating old style books. This book is a great complement to newer books on the subject. Difficult to find but still one of my favorites...
Recommended Books about rubies and sapphires:
	"Ruby and Sapphire" by Richard W.Hughes. Well no real need to present the current "bible" about rubies and sapphires. My favorite book on the subject and the book responsible for my desire to become a gemologist. An interesting chapter covers rubies and sapphires from China...

Introduction: Presentation of the AIGS, Gubelin Gem Lab, ICA 2006 fieldtrip to Central Asia: (visit here)

Part 1: Pakistan: The Central Asian capital of the gemstone trade. (visit here)

Part 2: Afghanistan: Land of beautiful gems and unique people. (visit here)

Part 3: Tajikistan: Gems from the Pamirs. (visit here)

Part 4: China (Xin Jiang): Emeralds from the silk road(current page)

You can also visit our 2005 fieldtrip reports:

Part 1: Introduction: Fieldtrips to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Burma (visit here)

Part 2: Report about Vietnam (April - May 2005) (visit here)

Part 3: Report about Sri Lanka (May 2005) (visit here)

Part 4: Report about Madagascar (June- July 2005) (visit here)

Part 5: Report about Kenya (July 2005) (visit here)

Part 6: Report about Tanzania (August 2005) (visit here) 

Globally, after this four month trip, we were surprised to meet more Sri Lankan gemstone buyers in Madagascar (especially in Ilakaka, Manombe and Sakaraha areas) and in Tanzania (especially Tunduru) than in Sri Lanka where the markets looks much less busy, except in Newitigala. But there again, the presence of the Thai buyers waiting in their cars was more visible than Sri Lankan dealers buying gems. However, geologically and gemologically, the sapphires and chrysoberyls from these three countries are very close so it is not that surprising. We could also see that the Sri Lankans have done some very important improvements regarding heat treatment and we witnessed mechanization in gemstone mining is slowly becoming a part of the Sri Lankan mining landscape.

Sri Lanka gemstone industry is changing for sure!

Part 4: Report about Madagascar (June- July 2005) (visit here)

Part 5: Report about Kenya (July 2005) (visit here)

Part 6: Report about Tanzania (August 2005)(visit here)

Visit also our 2006 fieldtrip reports

Introduction: Presentation of the AIGS, Gubelin Gem Lab, ICA 2006 fieldtrip to central Asia: (visit here)

Part 1: Pakistan: The Central Asian capital of the gemstone trade. (visit here)

Part 2: Afghanistan: Land of beautiful gems and unique people. (visit here)

Part 3: Tajikistan: Gems from the Pamirs. (visit here)

Part 4: China (Xin Jiang): Emeralds from the silk road. (visit here)