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Where Did Emeralds Originate?
Home » Jewelry » Emeralds » Where Did Emeralds Originate?The oldest known findings of the emerald were made near the Red Sea in Egypt. These gemstone mines were exploited by Egyptian pharaohs between 3000 and 1500 B. C. and later referred to as Cleopatra’s Mines. They had been exhausted by the time they were rediscovered in the early 19th century.
Emeralds from Zimbabwe are among the oldest gemstones anywhere in the world. They were growing 2600 million years ago and some specimens from Pakistan are only 9 million years old.
The name emerald comes from the Greek smaragdos and literally means green gemstone. The Incas and Aztecs of South America, where the best emeralds are still found today, regarded the emerald as a hold gemstone. Because the holy scriptures of the Indians, the Vedas, states the precious green gems promise good luck and enhances the well being, the Indian maharajas and maharanis treasure chests contained wonderful emeralds.
Because emeralds have been held in high esteem since ancient times, some of the most famous emeralds can be seen in museums and collections. The New York Museum of Natural History has an exhibit in which a cup made of pure emerald that belonged to the Emperor Jehangir is shown next to the Patricia, one of the largest Colombian emerald crystals. This crystal weighs 632 carats.
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