The wide-range of gemstones including sapphires from Kashmir, emeralds from Swat, rubies from the northern areas and pink topazes from Katlang, Mardan, and good quality zircon, different varieties of quartz, aquamarine, tourmaline, sphene, spinel, zoisite apatite, epidote, morganite, garnet,
scapolite, clino zoisite, xenotime, bastnaesite, peridot, nephrite, serpentine, red agate, diopside, pargasite, amethyst, scheelite, pollucite, chrome diopside and kunzite are found in mountainous belt from South Waziristan to Chitral, makes the country significant in the mineral world.
The wide-range of gemstones including sapphires from Kashmir, emeralds from Swat, rubies from the northern areas and pink topazes from Katlang, Mardan, and good quality zircon, different varieties of quartz, aquamarine, tourmaline, sphene, spinel, zoisite apatite, epidote, morganite, garnet,
scapolite, clino zoisite, xenotime, bastnaesite, peridot, nephrite, serpentine, agate, diopside, pargasite, amethyst, scheelite, pollucite, chrome diopside and kunzite are found in mountainous belt from South Waziristan to Chitral, makes the country significant in the mineral world.
Here, the rarely represented whitish
scapolite containing marialite component, locally also dravite, may be indicative of evaporite components in metasedimentary protolith and/or hydrothermal activity (Kadounova, 1987; Kfibek, 1988; Kfibek et al.
In several cases green apatite and
scapolite occur with the graphite.
We were also shown (by Werner Radl) some deep pink, etched corundum crystals with muscovite and
scapolite, from a new find at Mawingu, Tanzania.
The intrusive calc-silicate rocks contain mineral assemblages ranging from titanite +
scapolite + diopside + K-feldspar + calcite [+ or -] quartz to calcite +
scapolite + forsterite + titanite + spinel [+ or -] Ca-rich amphibole.
Last year, scientists reported spectral evidence of a mineral called
scapolite, which might have formed on Mars from the heat-processing of carbonate rock by volcanic activity (SN: 11/12/88, p.
Milisenda (German Gemmological Association, IdarOberstein) and co-authors examined some gemstones with photochromism: hackmanite, tugtupite and
scapolite.
Somewhere near Karur, Tamil Nadu State, southern India, at least three impressive specimens of
scapolite have recently come to light.
A combination of well-characterized minerals and synthetic materials were used to calibrate for EPMA, including SMS
scapolite (S and Cl), Corning W glass (6) (Co), SMS gahnite (Zn), SMS cassiterite (Sn), SMS strontianite and Corning X glass (Sr).
Called
scapolite, it is somewhat rare on Earth, where it usually forms by heat-processing of carbonate rocks, often at points of contact with volcanic rocks.
Diamond-bearing eclogite xenoliths * Cat's-eye calcite from Pakistan * Large chatoyant Brazilian emerald * Nonbeadcultured pearls from Strombus gigas * Purple
scapolite * Synthetic star sapphire with diffusion-induced colour and star * Partially filled blue chalcedony * Presumably oiled ruby * Inclusions in synthetic star sapphire * Diamond slices * Large Namibian demantoid * Nephrite from British Columbia * Baroque cultured pearls * Ruby from Namya, Myanmar * Rock Creek sapphire update * Unusual tourmaline necklace * Conference reports.
