X-Ray Diffraction Studies of Gemstones from Shigar Valley, Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan Region, Northern Areas of Pakistan

Abstract

Variety of world class gemstones are found in the Shigar Valley of Gilgit Baltistan. Granitic pegmatites are mainly hosting these gemstones, however, some of the gemstones are also found in the metamorphic rocks. These gemstones have been identified as garnet (almandine-spessartine), beryl, tourmaline (foitite-schorl), fluorite, apatite, topaz, epidote (zoisite and clinozoisite) and axinite through X-Ray Diffraction technique.