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Каждый камень откуда-то родом. Часто из одной-единственной долины. Туда я и еду за ними.

66 stones · 331 terroirs

Why this map

A Ceylon sapphire and an Australian sapphire don’t look the same once they’re set.
Elias descending into a gem pit, Sri Lanka
Elias descending into a gem pit, Sri LankaPhoto Joalys · Sri Lanka

I’ve been sourcing stones for years, for clients looking for their own and for Joalys. I buy them as close to the mine as I can, mostly in Sri Lanka.

Along the way I noticed something. Almost nobody knows where their stone comes from. People talk about carats, colour, price. Rarely the country, almost never the valley.

So I gathered everything I’ve learned about origins here, as simply as I could, for our clients. Pick a stone, step into the places it comes from, and take your time with this world.

EliasJoalys, gemstone sourcer
Alluvial river mining, Sri Lanka
Alluvial river mining, Sri LankaPhoto Joalys · Sri Lanka
Negotiating at the gem market, Sri Lanka
Negotiating at the gem market, Sri LankaPhoto Joalys · Sri Lanka
Bespoke sourcing

We’ll find your stone.

Tell me the stone, and the origin if it matters to you. I buy at the source, one or two steps from the mine, not ten. I’ll reply personally. No commitment.

Every stone, and where it comes fromBrowse all 66 stones

The full index: each coloured gemstone and the terroirs that define it, from the reference origin to the secondary sources.

Agate

  • Rio Grande do Sul · Brazil · Reference. World's leading producer; multicoloured banded agates and massive geodes exported globally.
  • Artigas · Uruguay · Major source. Known for amethyst agates and intense purple banding, often heat-treated.
  • Khambhat (Cambay), Gujarat · India · Secondary origin. Historic center of agate cutting and export for millennia; ribbon and carnelian varieties.
  • Central Plateau / Tulear · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Major source of landscape and dendritic agates, prized by collectors.
  • Montana (Montana agate) / Oregon · United States · Secondary origin. Montana agate (translucent, with black dendritic inclusions) is a local specialty, set in jewelry alongside sapphires from the same region.

Alexandrite

  • Ural Mountains · Russia · Reference. The absolute benchmark: bluish-green in daylight, purplish-red in incandescent light. Mines nearly exhausted today, specimens found in antique jewelry.
  • Minas Gerais (Hematita) · Brazil · Major source. Major discovery in the early 1980s; high potential but irregular production; can yield fine-quality alexandrites with strong colour change.
  • Ratnapura (alluvial deposits) · Sri Lanka · Secondary origin. Major source; stones often larger than Russian material but greens tend yellowish and reds brownish rather than purplish; chromatic quality below the Urals.
  • Sandawana · Zimbabwe · Secondary origin. Established African source, counted among other origins; stones generally small but with a clean colour change.
  • Andhra Pradesh (Araku Valley) · India · Secondary origin. Active contemporary source; variable production, some stones show a good colour change but often too dark in tone.
  • Lake Manyara · Tanzania · Secondary origin. Emerging African source; limited production, contributes to the overall East African alexandrite supply.

Amazonite

  • Crystal Peak, Pike's Peak (Colorado) · United States (Colorado) · Reference. Historic reference source; large crystals often intergrown with smoky quartz, prized collector specimens.
  • Minas Gerais · Brazil · Major source. Major commercial source; steady production of ornamental-grade cabochons and beads.
  • Ilmen Mountains, Urals · Russia · Major source. Historic Ural deposits; Russian amazonite known since the 19th century, intense blue-green hue.
  • Itasy region / Antananarivo · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Notable African producer; good blue-green colour material destined mainly for beads and cabochons.
  • Rajasthan · India · Secondary origin. Secondary source; Indian amazonite is largely processed locally into beads and carved objects.

Amber

  • Kaliningrad region (Baltic coast) · Russia · Reference. Primary world source: yellow/golden amber extracted by open-pit mining and high-pressure water jets; villages northeast of Moscow form a secondary inland source.
  • Baltic Sea coast (Gdansk, Lithuanian coast) · Poland / Germany / Lithuania · Major source. Historic Baltic zone: amber gathered on beaches or mined; European preference for milky/cloudy amber, clarified with oil; nicknamed 'Gold of the North.'
  • Northern region (Santiago de los Caballeros / La Cumbre) · Dominican Republic · Secondary origin. Second largest volume worldwide; extracted by traditional hand-digging; renowned for extremely rare fluorescent blue amber of superior value.
  • Chiapas · Mexico · Secondary origin. Notable source of tropical amber, often very rich in plant and insect inclusions; yellow-orange to red hues.
  • Hukawng Valley (Kachin) · Burma · Secondary origin. Burmese amber (burmite) is among the oldest known (~99 Ma); exceptional paleontological inclusions, highly prized by scientific collectors.

Amethyst

  • Lusaka region / Copperbelt · Zambia · Reference. World reference for top quality: intense purple, maximum saturation, small sizes but unmatched colour; the trade uses 'Zambian' to mean top colour.
  • Maraba (Para) & Rio Grande do Sul · Brazil · Major source. Largest producer by commercial volume; large crystals but often paler colour; Maraba locality = uniform clarity and large facetable stones.
  • Artigas (border with Rio Grande do Sul) · Uruguay · Secondary origin. Geological extension of the Brazilian basin; can produce darker material rivaling African quality; colour zoning is common.
  • Catamarca Province / Patagonia · Argentina · Secondary origin. Material often similar to Brazilian but can reach darker tones; emerging source.
  • Central zone / Karibib · Namibia · Secondary origin. Secondary African source; contributes to the fine-colour African supply alongside Zambia.
  • Four Peaks Mine, Arizona · United States · Secondary origin. Historic mine reopened in 1998; produces fine to commercial quality amethysts, from rough to custom-cut, a notable American example.

Ametrine

  • Anahi Mine, Santa Cruz (Brazilian border) · Bolivia · Reference. World's sole source of natural ametrine; also produces natural amethyst and citrine; distinctive purple/orange colour zoning.
  • Minas Gerais (treated quartz) · Brazil · Major source. Source of raw material (zoned amethyst) for heat- or irradiation-treated ametrine; not naturally bicolour.
  • Urals (synthetic hydrothermal quartz) · Russia · Secondary origin. Hydrothermal synthetic quartz production; synthetic ametrine shows characteristic spicule inclusions (visible seed plates).

Andalusite

  • Minas Gerais · Brazil · Reference. Primary world source: the finest colours, including intense dark green and rare pink-red.
  • Andalusia · Spain · Major source. The eponymous region where the stone was first discovered and described.
  • Ratnapura (alluvial deposits) · Sri Lanka · Secondary origin. Secondary source, regular production from alluvial sand deposits.
  • South Australia · Australia · Secondary origin. Source of chiastolite (opaque cross variety); facetable andalusite is secondary.

Apatite

  • Ilakaka / southern pegmatites · Madagascar · Reference. Major world source, especially neon blue and green apatites compared to Paraiba.
  • Minas Gerais · Brazil · Major source. Major pegmatite source; the region is also prolific for aquamarine and tourmaline.
  • Durango / Hidalgo · Mexico · Secondary origin. Major source, known for prismatic yellow and green crystals.
  • Mogok Stone Tract · Burma · Secondary origin. Major source; Southeast Asia's iconic coloured stone region.
  • Zambezia Province / Nampula · Mozambique · Secondary origin. Secondary source, African pegmatites with strong potential for blue apatites.

Aquamarine

  • Minas Gerais (Teofilo Otoni) · Brazil · Reference. The world reference source since 1811; large sizes, deep saturated blue, massive production of clean stones across all sizes.
  • Gilgit-Baltistan pegmatites · Pakistan · Major source. Large crystals (up to 30 cm), light blue-green to vivid blue, sometimes ink blue; a significant source outside Brazil.
  • Yunnan / Xinjiang · China · Secondary origin. World's largest producer by volume of small commercial sizes; very pale, clean stones used in mass-market jewelry.
  • Jos Plateau · Nigeria · Secondary origin. Known for intense colour in small sizes (< 5 ct); stones under 5 ct can outperform value-per-carat of larger stones of the same colour.
  • Antsirabe area / Ilakaka · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Notable African source, counted among producers of intense colour in small sizes.
  • Zambezia Province · Mozambique · Secondary origin. Growing African source, cited for intense colour in small sizes.

Benitoite

  • San Benito County, Diablo Mountain Range, California · United States · Reference. The only known gem source of benitoite in the world; California State Gem since 1985. Crystals generally < 1 ct, rarely > 2 ct.

Blue Sapphire

  • Kashmir · India (Kashmir) · Reference. The absolute market benchmark: intense velvety blue without greenish overtones, production nearly exhausted; the name alone justifies a record price.
  • Mogok · Burma · Major source. Major historic source alongside Kashmir; unheated Mogok stones command record auction prices.
  • Ratnapura · Sri Lanka · Major source. Primary source of fine large sapphires (> 100 ct); light to royal blue tones, often unheated and highly sought after in top-end jewelry.
  • Ilakaka · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Major emerging source since the 1990s; good to fine quality, now responsible for a significant share of global supply.
  • Chanthaburi / Kanchanaburi · Thailand · Secondary origin. Major commercial source and the world's leading cutting and treatment center; dark blue, iron-rich sapphires, often heat-treated.
  • Queensland / New South Wales · Australia · Secondary origin. The most abundant source by carat weight in history; dark inky blue with a characteristic greenish tint, commercial quality, poor market image despite the volume.

Blue Topaz

  • Minas Gerais (Ouro Preto region) · Brazil · Reference. The dominant world source of irradiable colourless topaz; the Capao mine is one of the largest producers; events in Brazil directly influence global supply and pricing.
  • Ratnapura · Sri Lanka · Major source. Second significant source of treatable colourless topaz; quality crystals suitable for irradiation to produce blue shades.
  • Jos Plateau · Nigeria · Secondary origin. Minor source of irradiable colourless topaz; cited among secondary African producers.
  • Karibib / Erongo · Namibia · Secondary origin. Colourless topaz (locally marketed as 'silver topaz') from pegmatites; crystals faceted averaging 5–6 ct, treated to produce blue.
  • Flinders Ranges, South Australia · Australia · Secondary origin. Minor source of irradiable colourless topaz among secondary world producers.
  • Mogok · Myanmar (Burma) · Secondary origin. Minor source of treatable colourless topaz; the Mogok region, famous for corundum, also produces topazes suitable for blue irradiation.

Chrome Diopside

  • Eastern Siberia (Yakutia) · Russia · Reference. The only known commercial source in the world: a region snowbound 6 months out of 12, with production constrained by the climate.
  • Outokumpu (North Karelia) · Finland · Major source. Historic Finnish deposits; marginal artisanal production, gem quality is rare.
  • Gilgit-Baltistan · Pakistan · Secondary origin. Secondary occurrences reported in metamorphic zones; very limited volumes.

Chrome Tourmaline

  • Tanga region / Umba Valley · Tanzania · Reference. Primary world source; produces highly saturated chrome tourmalines, intense emerald colour, exceptional sizes up to 6 ct and above.
  • Voi region / Taita Hills · Kenya · Major source. Historic African co-source with Tanzania; stones with a blue-green hue, well suited to calibrated cuts.
  • Mogok / Mandalay region · Burma · Secondary origin. Niche Asian source; fine material but limited production, less common than African sources.
  • Minas Gerais · Brazil · Secondary origin. Prolific green tourmaline mines overall; some pockets have yielded near-equivalent emerald green to African chrome tourmaline.
  • Kunar / Nuristan · Afghanistan · Secondary origin. Secondary Asian source of fine green and blue tourmaline; chrome tourmaline market contribution documented by the trade.

Chrysoberyl Cat's-Eye

  • Ratnapura (gem gravels) · Sri Lanka · Reference. World reference: the finest cat's-eyes, golden to honey coloured with a sharp milk-and-honey effect, found in alluvial gravels.
  • Minas Gerais (northeast) · Brazil · Major source. Major source; often artisanal mining; large-size stones.
  • Mogok Stone Tract · Burma · Major source. Mogok district, famous for its coloured stones; fine-quality chrysoberyl cat's-eye alongside rubies and sapphires.
  • Zimbabwe · Zimbabwe · Secondary origin. Secondary source; production of chatoyant chrysoberyl.
  • Madagascar · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Secondary source; contributes to global supply alongside other East African sources.
  • East Africa (generic) · East Africa · Secondary origin. Including several East African countries; variable quality.

Chrysoprase

  • Queensland · Australia · Reference. Discovered in 1965, Queensland chrysoprase is the world benchmark: from apple green to a rich green close to jadeite.
  • Goias State · Brazil · Major source. Major source, but colour is often olive green, less vivid than Queensland.
  • Tanzania · Tanzania · Secondary origin. Tanzanian chrysoprase in a yellowish light green, paler than the Australian benchmarks.
  • India · India · Secondary origin. Secondary source.
  • Silesia (historic region) · Czech Republic / Slovakia · Secondary origin. Historic European source of chrysoprase, mined since the Middle Ages.

Citrine

  • Anahi Mine (Santa Cruz) · Bolivia · Reference. Reference source for natural untreated citrine; the same deposit also produces ametrine (bicolour amethyst/citrine).
  • Maraba / Rio Grande do Sul · Brazil · Major source. Primary world source of heat-treated citrine from amethyst; Maraba amethysts fired over wood yield yellow to reddish-orange shades.
  • Zamora (Castile and Leon) · Spain · Secondary origin. Notable source of natural citrine.
  • Antananarivo region · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Major source of commercial to extra-fine natural citrine.
  • Artigas · Uruguay · Secondary origin. Produces deep-coloured citrines and amethysts, often in geodes; good saturation natural citrine.
  • Guerrero State · Mexico · Secondary origin. Source of natural citrine.

Colour-Change Garnet

  • Umba Valley · Tanzania · Reference. Alluvial deposits producing the most striking examples: blue-green in daylight / purple-red in incandescent light.
  • North-central alluvial deposits · Madagascar · Major source. Major source of pyrope-spessartine colour-change garnets, sometimes showing orange-pink or pink-violet shifts.
  • Gem-bearing deposits in the Ratnapura zone · Sri Lanka · Secondary origin. Historic examples found here but less spectacular than African sources; cited among the first known occurrences.

Coral

  • Gulf of Naples area (western Mediterranean) · Italy / Mediterranean · Reference. The absolute historic benchmark: red Corallium rubrum coral, unmatched quality, Neapolitan craftsmen have worked this material for centuries; pollution has drastically reduced stocks.
  • East China Sea / Japanese waters · Japan · Major source. Main Asian source feeding Neapolitan craftsmen; quality below the historic Mediterranean material.
  • Malaysian waters (South China Sea) · Malaysia · Secondary origin. Secondary Asian source, calcareous coral, lower quality than Mediterranean; cited alongside Japan and Philippines.
  • Philippine Archipelago (Philippine Sea) · Philippines · Secondary origin. Third major Asian source; same quality range as Japanese and Malaysian material; exploitation declining due to overharvesting and pollution.
  • Deep waters around Oahu, Hawaii · United States (Hawaii) · Secondary origin. Source of deep-water pink coral (down to 1,300 m) and very rare golden coral; black coral protected as an endangered species; export prohibited.
  • Queensland / Tasmania · Australia · Secondary origin. Formerly an important source of black coral (Queensland) and golden coral (Tasmania); export of all native coral prohibited since 1994.

Danburite

  • Charcas, San Luis Potosi · Mexico · Reference. Primary commercial source worldwide; colourless to pale yellow crystals of high clarity.
  • Mogok · Myanmar (Burma) · Major source. Historic deposit associated with the Mogok region, renowned for exceptional coloured stones.
  • Obira Mine, Oita Prefecture, Kyushu · Japan · Major source. Notable Japanese deposit; round brilliant-cut stones from the Obira mine.
  • Sakaraha region, southwest · Madagascar · Major source. Golden danburite of high clarity; remarkable specimens prized for their warm colour.
  • Danbury, Connecticut (type locality); Russell, New York · United States · Secondary origin. Type locality (discovered 1839 by C.U. Shepherd); original deposit now buried beneath the city.
  • Siberia · Russia · Secondary origin. Secondary source mentioned in trade literature; locality details poorly documented.
  • Bolivia · Bolivia · Secondary origin. Secondary deposit cited in trade literature; limited production.

Demantoid Garnet

  • Ural Mountains (Bobrovka) · Russia · Reference. The absolute historic benchmark; intense, vivid green stones with iconic horsetail inclusions, associated with the Tsars and Faberge.
  • Usakos (central Namibia) · Namibia · Major source. Discovered in the 1990s; yellow-green stones that can exceed 3 carats, without horsetails, but of comparable quality to Russian gems according to the market.
  • Kerman Province · Iran · Secondary origin. Vivid green stones, reaching up to 4 carats, with specimen photos from Kerman Province.
  • Val Malenco (Lombard Alps) · Italy · Secondary origin. Classic European deposit; limited production, stones primarily of collector interest.
  • Toliara region · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Secondary African source cited in the broader garnet context; irregular production, variable quality.
  • Durango State · Mexico · Secondary origin. Listed among demantoid sources alongside Greece and Mexico; anecdotal production.

Emerald

  • Muzo, Chivor, Coscuez · Colombia · Reference. The world standard: vivid, deeply saturated green. Muzo = pure green, Chivor = bluish-green, Coscuez = green fire. ~60% of global production.
  • Copperbelt / Kafubu · Zambia · Major source. African emeralds: fewer fractures than other sources, ~5% top quality, rich colour, ideal for the high end.
  • Sandawana · Zimbabwe · Major source. Some Zimbabwean emeralds are remarkably clean and fracture-free, making cutting and setting straightforward.
  • Bahia, Minas Gerais · Brazil · Secondary origin. Often commercial quality; colour bluer than Colombia due to higher iron content.
  • Swat Valley (Pakistan) / Panjshir (Afghanistan) · Pakistan / Afghanistan · Secondary origin. Secondary sources counted among the 40% non-Colombian supply; difficult access, irregular production.
  • Antananarivo region · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Emerging source counted among secondary producers contributing to the 40% of global non-Colombian supply.

Grandidierite

  • Tranomaro / Cap Andrahomana, Anosy Region · Madagascar · Reference. Primary world source: first primary deposit discovered in 2016 at Tranomaro, producing transparent gem-quality grandidierite. Original discovery 1902 at the Andrahomana cliffs.
  • Kolonne region · Sri Lanka · Major source. The only other known source of gem-quality grandidierite, minor production; no other deposit outside Madagascar has produced notable material.

Hessonite Garnet

  • Ratnapura (Ceylon stone / "cinnamon stone") · Sri Lanka · Reference. The emblematic historic source: the tie to the island is so strong that hessonite is nicknamed 'cinnamon stone' in homage to Sri Lanka, a major cinnamon producer.
  • Karnataka / Tamil Nadu (alluvial deposits) · India · Major source. Major source; steady production of standard orange-cinnamon calibrated sizes.
  • Guerrero State (metamorphic deposits) · Mexico · Secondary origin. Notable quality source: Mexico supplies a steady stream of bright orange hessonite of good quality.
  • Merelani River Valley / Tsavo (associated with tsavorite) · Tanzania · Secondary origin. Found in association with tsavorite in the same deposits; African source.
  • Minas Gerais (pegmatite deposits) · Brazil · Secondary origin. Secondary production included in the overall global supply.

Hiddenite (Green Spodumene)

  • Hiddenite, Alexander County (NC) · United States (North Carolina) · Reference. Historic type locality where A.E. Hidden discovered the stone in 1879; genuine chrome hiddenite is extremely rare.
  • Minas Gerais · Brazil · Major source. World's leading producer of gem-quality spodumene; commercial green hiddenite often originates from Minas Gerais.
  • Ampanihy / Southwest · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Notable spodumene source, including green varieties appreciated on the collector market.
  • Nuristan / Kunar · Afghanistan · Secondary origin. Afghan pegmatites producing kunzite and green spodumene; gem quality recognized by collectors.

Imperial Topaz

  • Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais (Capao mine) · Brazil · Reference. Dominant world source: intense orange to orange-red with reddish pleochroism; only 1–2% of extracted rough reaches imperial quality.
  • Ural Mountains · Russia · Major source. Historic origin of the term 'imperial': pink topaz reserved for the Russian Tsar's family in the 19th century.
  • Ratnapura · Sri Lanka · Secondary origin. Significant source of treatable colourless topaz; colourless topaz is important for the market but not classed as imperial.
  • Mogok · Myanmar (Burma) · Secondary origin. Minor source of colourless topaz.
  • Gilgit-Baltistan (Shigar region) · Pakistan · Secondary origin. Market-recognized source of gem-quality topazes.
  • Fianarantsoa Province · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Minor source of colourless topaz; marginal imperial topaz production, quality mainly treatable.

Indicolite Tourmaline

  • Minas Gerais (Cruzeiro, Virgem da Lapa, Jonas, Golconda mines) · Brazil · Reference. World's largest producer of gem tourmalines of all colours combined; Minas Gerais concentrates the richest pegmatites, including indicolite.
  • Kunar / Nuristan (pegmatites) · Afghanistan · Major source. Major Asian source of gem-quality blue and green tourmalines from northeast Afghan pegmatite belts.
  • Zambezia Province / Alto Ligonha · Mozambique · Major source. Important African producer of indicolite and blue-green tourmalines, notably cut at Idar-Oberstein.
  • North-central states (pegmatite belt) · Nigeria · Secondary origin. African source of gem tourmalines including blue varieties.
  • Antananarivo region / Antsirabe · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Versatile African producer; blue-green tourmalines from Madagascar often transit through Idar-Oberstein.
  • San Diego County, California (Himalaya mine, Pala, Stewart Lithia) · United States · Secondary origin. Historic source; San Diego County California mines sporadically produce small quantities of indicolite.
  • Gilgit-Baltistan (pegmatites) · Pakistan · Secondary origin. Among Asian gem tourmaline deposits alongside Afghanistan and Russia.

Iolite

  • Alluvial deposits (Ratnapura) · Sri Lanka · Reference. Major historic source; stones mined from alluvial deposits, recognized purple to blue-violet quality.
  • Orissa / Karnataka · India · Major source. Regular production of well-coloured crystals, characteristic blue-violet; established source.
  • Ilakaka region · Madagascar · Major source. Significant deposit discovered in 1994; reinvigorated the global iolite supply.
  • Central Tanzania · Tanzania · Secondary origin. African source; iolite in alluvial deposits, market driven by proximity to tanzanite.
  • Minas Gerais · Brazil · Secondary origin. American source; variable quality, supplementary market contribution.
  • Scandinavia (historic deposits) · Norway / Finland · Secondary origin. Historic sources linked to Viking navigators (who used iolite as a polarizing filter); current production low.

Jade (Jadeite)

  • Hpakan / Tawmaw · Burma · Reference. Primary world source of top-quality jadeite; intense imperial green, semi-translucent; the jade tract mining district between the Uru and Hwe rivers.
  • Motagua Valley · Guatemala · Major source. Historic Maya/Aztec source; produces a slightly darker, greyer green than Burmese material, and a highly prized black jadeite (Maya Black) discovered in 1975.
  • Siberia (Irkutsk / Sayan) · Russia · Secondary origin. Secondary source; commercial quality, present on the Asian market.
  • Itoigawa (Niigata Prefecture) · Japan · Secondary origin. Japan's only jadeite source, UNESCO-recognized; gem quality, green and lavender hues, highly valued on the local market.
  • California (Clear Creek / Coast Ranges) · United States · Secondary origin. Deposits with limited gem quality, interest primarily mineralogical.

Jade (Nephrite)

  • South Island (historic Maori deposits) · New Zealand · Reference. Major nephrite source; the Maori used it for tools, weapons, and ceremonial ornaments. Local name: 'greenstone.'
  • Xinjiang (Hotan/Khotan) and cutting centers · China · Reference. Major nephrite producer; over 3,000 years of nephrite carving and art tradition.
  • British Columbia, Polar Mine (northern BC) · Canada · Major source. Produces high-quality green nephrite; 'Polar jade' (1995) is described as the brightest, greenest, most translucent nephrite discovered to date.
  • Siberia (Baikal / Sayan) · Russia · Major source. Secondary nephrite source mentioned among world producers.
  • Hualien Mountain (East Coast) · Taiwan · Secondary origin. Nephrite source listed among secondary world producers.
  • Alaska & California (Wyoming) · United States · Secondary origin. Secondary nephrite source cited in the context of world producers.

Kunzite (Pink Spodumene)

  • Nuristan / Kunar · Afghanistan · Reference. The world reference source for large kunzites with intense pinkish-violet colours.
  • Minas Gerais · Brazil · Major source. Significant production of pale to intense pink kunzite, often in large crystals.
  • Gilgit-Baltistan / Skardu · Pakistan · Major source. Major trade source producing some of the most saturated kunzites on the market.
  • Antsirabe / Ilakaka · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Productive source of pastel kunzite, accompanying other gem pegmatites.
  • San Diego County, California · United States · Secondary origin. Historic origin: first kunzite identified in 1902 by George Kunz in this county.

Kyanite

  • Minas Gerais · Brazil · Reference. Major source of gem kyanite; blue to green facetable crystals extracted from metamorphic deposits in Minas Gerais.
  • Rajasthan / Karnataka · India · Major source. Blue kyanite deposits in metamorphic schist context; regular production of cabochons and beads.
  • Machakos / Nairobi region · Kenya · Secondary origin. African source of blue kyanite, often zoned blue-green, mined for the collector market.
  • Mogok region · Myanmar · Secondary origin. Kyanite associated with Mogok's corundum deposits; anecdotal production but quality crystals.
  • Gilgit-Baltistan · Pakistan · Secondary origin. Blue kyanite crystals from the Himalayan metamorphic belts of northern Pakistan.
  • Alps (Ticino / Valais) · Switzerland · Secondary origin. Classic Alpine kyanite deposits in blueschists; mainly prized by mineral collectors.
  • North Carolina / Georgia · United States · Secondary origin. Kyanite in Appalachian metamorphic context; historic production, mostly industrial but some gem pieces.
  • Urals · Russia · Secondary origin. Kyanite crystals from Ural metamorphic schists; marginal production for the gem market.

Labradorite

  • Labrador (peninsula) · Canada · Reference. Historic origin of the stone: discovered around 1770 by a missionary. Reference source for blue-green labradorescence.
  • Central and southern Madagascar · Madagascar · Major source. Primary source of 'rainbow moonstone' (labradorite with multicolour adularescence on a light background). Mined for decorative spheres and cabochons.
  • Ylamaa (South Karelia) · Finland · Secondary origin. Exclusive source of 'spectrolite,' the most precious variety with intense spectral yellow-orange-red reflections on a dark background.

Lapis Lazuli

  • Kokcha Valley, Badakhshan · Afghanistan · Reference. Historic world source since 700 BC; produces the finest quality lapis, intense royal blue, thanks to maximum lazurite content.
  • Atacama (Ovalle / Coquimbo) · Chile · Major source. Second world source; stone often greener and less saturated, abundant, widely seen in the everyday trade.
  • Lake Baikal, Siberia · Russia · Secondary origin. Historic source (eastern Siberia); solid quality, slightly lighter blue hue with frequent calcite spotting.
  • Sar-e-Sang (border zone) · Pakistan · Secondary origin. Minor source geographically close to Afghanistan; variable quality, modest production.
  • Huila / Cunene · Angola · Secondary origin. Minor African source; low production, commercially insignificant in the prestige market.

Larimar

  • Barahona Province, Los Chupaderos mine · Dominican Republic · Reference. The only known source in the world; volcanic deposit in the coastal mountains of the southwest, mined since the 1970s.

Malaya Garnet

  • Umba River Valley · Tanzania · Reference. The historic primary source: discovered in the 1960s while mining rhodolite in the Umba Valley. In Europe, malaya is called 'umbalite' after this region.
  • Alluvial deposits (Umba border region) · Kenya · Major source. Confirmed secondary source, geologically linked to the Tanzanian Umba deposits; similar stones found across the border.
  • Alluvial deposits · Sri Lanka · Secondary origin. Similar stones to malaya have been found here, though this deposit remains secondary compared to Umba.

Moonstone

  • Matara District / Meetiyagoda · Sri Lanka · Reference. World reference: colourless to semi-transparent stones with vivid, intense blue adularescence; the market 'blue sheen' standard.
  • Mogok Valley · Burma · Major source. Classic historic source; stones often white or light grey with strong adularescence, fine quality.
  • Rajasthan / Karnataka · India · Secondary origin. High-volume source: stones predominantly yellow, green, or brown with white adularescence; more accessible quality than Sri Lanka.
  • Tanga region / Arusha · Tanzania · Secondary origin. Emerging trade source: moonstones with bluish adularescence, often categorized with East African orthoclase feldspars.
  • Ilakaka region · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Recognized trade source since the 2000s; varied stones, often translucent, heterogeneous quality but significant volume.

Morganite

  • Minas Gerais · Brazil · Reference. World's leading producer; stones often peach/orange-pink, heat-treated to achieve the pure pink prized by the market.
  • Anjanabonoina · Madagascar · Major source. Historic discovery origin in 1911; deposits now exhausted, but responsible for establishing the stone's reputation.
  • Nuristan / Laghman · Afghanistan · Secondary origin. Confirmed; productive Afghan pegmatites for pink beryls of fine transparency.
  • Pala, California · United States · Secondary origin. Confirmed; historic California deposits, limited production, stone named in honor of banker J.P. Morgan (Tiffany's client).

Opal

  • Lightning Ridge, New South Wales · Australia · Reference. World reference source for black opal: dark background that intensifies the play of colour, highest qualities and strongest prices.
  • Coober Pedy, South Australia · Australia · Major source. World's largest producer of white opal; approximately 90% of global opal supply comes from Australia.
  • Queensland (boulder opal) · Australia · Major source. The only known source of boulder opal: opal on ironstone matrix, more durable, prized by high-end retailers.
  • Queretaro and Magdalena (Sonora) · Mexico · Secondary origin. Primary source of fire opal; red-orange to vivid red colour, often faceted, actively mined since 1870.
  • Addis Ababa region (Welo) · Ethiopia · Secondary origin. Small precious opals within a rock matrix; varied qualities with a distinctive play of colour, emerging source.
  • Northwest Brazil · Brazil · Secondary origin. Fire opal source discovered in 2000; body colour similar to Mexico but without play of colour; pieces can reach 9 kg.

Padparadscha Sapphire

  • Ratnapura · Sri Lanka · Reference. The absolute historic and reference origin; some dealers consider Sri Lanka the ONLY legitimate source of padparadscha; the purest lotus pinkish-orange colour.
  • Tunduru / Umba Valley · Tanzania · Major source. Recognized East African source; stones sometimes called 'African padparadscha', tendency toward more orange/brown than Ceylon material, with ongoing debate about the designation.
  • Ilakaka · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Major fancy corundum source; Malagasy padparadschas are rarer than blue sapphires but do exist with acceptable colours by colour criteria.
  • Luc Yen · Vietnam · Secondary origin. Emerging source of pinkish-orange padparadscha-quality sapphires, recognized by the international gem market since the 2000s.

Painite

  • Mogok Valley, Ohngaing (skarn deposit between the Mogok Marble and the Kabaing Granite; main localities: Wet Loo and Thurein Taung) · Myanmar · Reference. Near-exclusive world source of painite; alluvial and primary stones in the Mogok Valley zone, ~200 km north of Mandalay.
  • Namya (Namyazeik), northern Myanmar; ruby mine distinct from the original Ohngaing locality · Myanmar · Major source. Second officially known locality; a ruby mine in which painite was found independently of Mogok.
  • Madagascar · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Very rare documented occurrences; no commercial deposit; anecdotal source compared to Myanmar.

Paraiba Tourmaline

  • Paraiba State, Mina da Batalha · Brazil · Reference. The original and absolute reference source; the most intense neon blues and electric greens, copper-coloured in pegmatite; discovered in 1989 by Heitor Barbosa.
  • Rio Grande do Norte · Brazil · Major source. Adjacent zone to Paraiba State; same pegmatite type, complementary production to the historic origin.
  • Zambezia Province / Alto Ligonha · Mozambique · Secondary origin. Paraiba-like colours slightly less intense than Brazil; major new commercial source that has expanded global supply.
  • Oyo State / Ibadan · Nigeria · Secondary origin. Established African source of copper-bearing tourmaline; variable quality, colours less saturated than Brazil.

Pearl

  • Persian Gulf · Bahrain / United Arab Emirates · Reference. World reference source of natural fine pearls until the 20th century; decline began in 1908 with the petroleum industry.
  • Ceylon (coastal waters) · Sri Lanka · Major source. Among the main historic sources of natural pearls since antiquity, alongside the Persian Gulf.
  • Inland rivers and lakes · China · Secondary origin. Historic production of freshwater natural pearls for centuries, documented since imperial China.
  • Caribbean Sea coasts (Venezuelan waters) · Venezuela · Secondary origin. Discovered by Christopher Columbus on his 3rd voyage (1498); intensively exploited for ~100 years before overharvesting.
  • Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Panama · Panama · Secondary origin. Source mentioned during Columbus's voyages (1502); overharvesting and European imitations reduced supply.
  • European rivers (France, Scotland, Germany) · Europe (multiple) · Secondary origin. Natural freshwater pearls from European rivers cited as historic sources since antiquity.

Peridot

  • Pyaung Gaung · Burma · Reference. World reference source for large, fine-colour peridots: intense, saturated green with little yellow or brown component.
  • Suppat, Kohistan Valley (Himalayas) · Pakistan · Major source. Mine at 4,500 m altitude producing exceptionally clean crystals, some cut into stones of 50 ct or more.
  • San Carlos, Arizona (Apache reservation) · United States · Secondary origin. World's leading supplier of commercial calibrated peridot; crystals in basaltic nodules limiting size (generally < 4 ct).
  • Hebei Province / Jilin · China · Secondary origin. Source of commercial calibrated material, comparable to Arizona in size and quality range.
  • Luc Yen Province · Vietnam · Secondary origin. Commercial material often showing a pronounced yellowish or brownish component, less saturated than Burmese.
  • Zabargad Island (Red Sea) · Egypt · Secondary origin. The oldest known historic source (the pharaohs' stone), now exhausted; a symbolic and market reference.

Pink Sapphire

  • Mogok · Burma · Reference. The chromium that colours Mogok rubies is the same colouring agent in pink sapphire: stones there reach exceptional vivid saturation, to the point that the ruby/pink sapphire boundary is frequently debated.
  • Ratnapura · Sri Lanka · Major source. Historic source of fancy sapphires including orange padparadschas and pinks; Ceylon sapphires are renowned for being lighter and more luminous than Burmese or Thai material.
  • Sumjam / Padar Valley · Kashmir (India) · Major source. Active for less than 50 years but legendary; produces mainly blue sapphire: Kashmir pink sapphires are extremely rare and command record prices at auction.
  • Luc Yen · Vietnam · Secondary origin. Rising corundum source, producing all shades of pink, violet, and red; chromium is also the primary colouring agent here, as in Mogok.
  • Ilakaka · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Currently the world's leading source of good-quality sapphire overall; also produces pink and fancy sapphires in significant volumes, with mining operations often artisanal.
  • Tunduru / Umba Valley · Tanzania · Secondary origin. East Africa cited as a source of fancy colour sapphires; produces pinks and oranges of good saturation, growing presence on the international market.

Red Beryl (Bixbite)

  • Wah Wah Mountains, Utah · United States · Reference. The only known source in the world; deposit in rhyolite fractures, closed in the early 2000s; average yield of 0.5 to 0.8 ct of facetable rough per ton of rock.

Rhodochrosite

  • Sweet Home Mine, Alma · United States (Colorado) · Reference. World reference source for gem-quality transparent rhodochrosite, vivid ruby-red isolated crystals.
  • Andean mines (Huaron, Uchucchacua) · Peru · Major source. Major source of gem-quality transparent rhodochrosite, alongside Colorado.
  • Capillitas Mine, Catamarca · Argentina · Major source. Emblematic source of banded pink/cream stalactites (the so-called 'Rosa del Inca' rhodochrosite), highly prized as ornamental material.
  • North West Province (Hotazel) · South Africa · Secondary origin. Third source of gem-quality transparent rhodochrosite.

Rhodolite Garnet

  • Umba River / Kangala Mine · Tanzania · Reference. Primary source since the 1960s; alluvial purple-red pebbles often inclusion-free, up to 25 carats.
  • Zimbabwe (metamorphic rock deposits) · Zimbabwe · Major source. Major southern African source; rhodolites of a sustained purple-red hue.
  • Ratnapura (gem stone district) · Sri Lanka · Major source. Classic South Asian source; stones in red to pink-purple tones, alluvial.
  • Orissa State (Odisha) · India · Secondary origin. Significant secondary source; production of commercial rhodolites in calibrated cuts.
  • Ilakaka / Anavoha · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Notable emerging source; gem alluvials, stones of fine purple-red saturation.
  • North Carolina (Cowee Valley) · United States · Secondary origin. Historic origin: first known discovery worldwide, alluvial deposits worked 1880–1900, now exhausted.

Rose Quartz

  • Minas Gerais · Brazil · Reference. Primary world source; massive stone with milky translucence in medium to intense pink, sometimes with a star effect (star rose quartz).
  • Antananarivo region / Anjoma · Madagascar · Major source. Confirmed; produces massive rose quartz of good translucence, appreciated for cabochon cutting.
  • Rajasthan / Orissa · India · Major source. Confirmed; material often used for beads and cabochons, pale to medium pink colour.
  • Ratnapura District · Sri Lanka · Secondary origin. Confirmed; decent quality material, light pink colour; the gem island recognized for its mineralogical diversity.
  • Central Namibia (Karibib) · Namibia / South Africa · Secondary origin. Established market source; vivid pink rose quartz, occasionally facetable in rare near-transparent material.
  • Zambezia Province · Mozambique · Secondary origin. Emerging market source; growing production of massive rose quartz in medium to deep pink.

Rubellite Tourmaline

  • Minas Gerais: Cruzeiro, Ouro Fino, Jonas mines · Brazil · Reference. World's largest producer of rubellite tourmaline across all colours; the Cruzeiro mine alone yielded over 10,000 carats of clean cut stones from a single crystal.
  • Goudoumaria / northern Nigerian deposits · Nigeria · Major source. Prolific source since the 1990s; flooded the market with fine-quality rubellites to the point of driving prices down.
  • Northern pegmatites (Niassa, Nampula) · Mozambique · Major source. Major African source of fine-quality pink tourmaline and rubellite, cited among the leading continental sources.
  • Antsirabe / Sahatany Valley · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Source of fine red and pink rubellite; prolific production around the 2000s, low-temperature heat treatment used to remove brownish tints.
  • Kunar / Nuristan · Afghanistan · Secondary origin. Afghan pegmatite deposits renowned for fine-quality red and pink tourmaline among fine red tourmaline sources.
  • San Diego County, California: Himalaya mine, Pala mine · United States · Secondary origin. Importance now historic; between 1898 and 1914 the Himalaya mine produced ~100 tonnes of pink tourmalines mostly exported to imperial China.

Ruby

  • Mogok · Burma · Reference. The absolute world standard: intense red to vivid pinkish-red, very strong fluorescence, characteristic rutile silk; certified unheated stones command record prices.
  • Mong Hsu · Burma · Major source. World's leading supplier of commercial rubies since 1991; consistent quality, heat treatment nearly universal to correct blue zones.
  • Montepuez · Mozambique · Major source. Has become the most important source in the world since 2006; massive production, variable quality but the best stones rival Myanmar.
  • Luc Yen · Vietnam · Secondary origin. Rubies in marble host rock, very similar to Mogok; colours ranging from pink sapphire to fine red, characteristic blue patches before heat treatment.
  • Ratnapura · Sri Lanka · Secondary origin. Steady production of rubies and pink sapphires; hues often lighter, but regular supply appreciated by the international market.
  • Mangari (Tsavo-West) · Kenya · Secondary origin. Marble origin, high chrome/low iron, intense fluorescence; the best specimens approach Mogok character, but only ~5% facetable yield.

Scapolite

  • Loliondo region / Umba Valley · Tanzania · Reference. Primary world source of gem purple and yellow scapolite, notably in the alluvials of the Umba Valley.
  • Mogok · Myanmar (Burma) · Major source. Mogok produces high-quality pink and purple scapolite, often recovered alongside ruby and spinel.
  • Ihosy / Itasy · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Madagascar supplies notable quantities of yellow to colourless scapolite from southern coloured stone deposits.
  • Minas Gerais · Brazil · Secondary origin. Secondary production of colourless to pale yellow scapolite from pegmatite deposits in Minas Gerais.

Smoky Quartz

  • Minas Gerais · Brazil · Reference. Primary world source; produces the finest cherry brown-red colours with orange-red pleochroism.
  • Swiss Alps (rock crystals) · Switzerland · Major source. Renowned historic Alpine source; crystals often large and of exceptional clarity.
  • Colorado / Pike's Peak · United States · Secondary origin. North American source; large collectible crystals.
  • Cairngorm Mountains · Scotland (United Kingdom) · Secondary origin. Now-exhausted historic source; gave its name to cairngorm, the traditional Highland stone worn in Celtic jewelry.

Spessartite Garnet

  • North-central pegmatite deposits · Nigeria · Reference. The flagship source of the 1990s: highly saturated yellow-orange, calibrated sizes distributed worldwide through Idar-Oberstein.
  • Hollandine Mine, Kunene River Valley · Namibia · Major source. The first major African source of the 1990s; large-volume production, consistent quality.
  • Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Norte · Brazil · Major source. Pegmatite deposits supplying rough capable of producing spectacular cut spessartites up to 40 carats.
  • Lundazi zone · Zambia · Major source. Among the most recent and significant sources; stones of 2 to 11 carats.
  • Central and northern pegmatite deposits · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Major 1990s source that helped democratize spessartite on the international market.
  • Ratnapura (gem stone region) · Sri Lanka · Secondary origin. Long-established source, still active; documented example of 5.22 ct.

Sphene (Titanite)

  • Madagascar (alluvial deposits, co-extracted with quartz) · Madagascar · Reference. New discoveries in the late 1990s that reignited global interest in sphene; mining camp photo available.
  • Austria (Alps) · Austria · Major source. Classic historic source among recognized origins.
  • Brazil · Brazil · Major source. Source among sphene-producing countries.
  • Myanmar (Burma) · Myanmar · Major source. Source among sphene-producing countries.
  • Sri Lanka · Sri Lanka · Major source. Source among sphene-producing countries.
  • Canada · Canada · Secondary origin. Secondary source.
  • France (crystalline massifs) · France · Secondary origin. Secondary source.
  • Mexico · Mexico · Secondary origin. Secondary source.
  • Russia (Urals) · Russia · Secondary origin. Secondary source.
  • United States · United States · Secondary origin. Secondary source.
  • Switzerland (Alps) · Switzerland · Secondary origin. Secondary source.

Spinel

  • Mogok · Myanmar · Reference. Historic world reference source; red and pink spinels in marble, often alongside ruby; the finest vivid pinks come from Burma.
  • Ratnapura (alluvials) · Sri Lanka · Reference. Major historic source cited since antiquity; spinels extracted from alluvial deposits in association with corundum.
  • Pamir Mountains · Tajikistan · Major source. Source of exceptional large crystals, historically the most famous for imperial spinels; produced a 532 ct rough including one cut stone of 123.14 ct vivid pink.
  • Luc Yen Valley · Vietnam · Major source. Spinel and corundum coexist in marble and neighboring alluvial deposits; active local trading market.
  • Hunza Valley · Pakistan · Major source. Red spinels and garnets extracted from metamorphic formations; corundum and spinel in direct association.
  • Afghanistan (historic sources) · Afghanistan · Major source. Mentioned as a historic source alongside Sri Lanka and Tajikistan.
  • Morogoro region · Tanzania · Secondary origin. Red spinel in association with ruby; significant African potential for future supply.
  • Ilakaka · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Primarily known for blue and fancy corundum, but also produces spinel in various hues.

Sugilite

  • Wessels Mine, Kalahari Manganese Field, Northern Cape · South Africa · Reference. World's only commercial source of gem sugilite; discovered in 1979 at ~980 m depth; intense red-violet to blue-violet gem colours.
  • Iwagi Islet, Ehime Prefecture · Japan · Major source. Type locality: first discovered in 1944 by Ken-ichi Sugi; non-gem specimens, of historic and mineralogical interest.
  • Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec · Canada · Secondary origin. Translucent collector-quality specimens, vivid violet; no commercial gem production.
  • Liguria and Tuscany · Italy · Secondary origin. Minor occurrences reported; no known commercial production.
  • New South Wales · Australia · Secondary origin. Confirmed presence but no significant gem production.

Sunstone

  • Ponderosa, Dust Devil, Sunstone Butte mines (south-central Oregon desert) · United States (Oregon) · Reference. World reference source: stones with copper inclusions, untreated, ranging colourless-red-green-bicolour, with an all-American marketing angle.
  • Rajasthan / historic reddish-brown aventurine feldspar sources · India · Major source. Historically the most familiar variety: reddish-brown aventurine feldspar with golden glitter, hematite inclusions.
  • Tvedestrand, classic oligoclase sunstone · Norway · Secondary origin. Historic source of oligoclase sunstone with golden schiller, the founding trade reference for the name 'sunstone.'

Taaffeite

  • Ratnapura, Elahera, Balangoda · Sri Lanka · Reference. Primary world source: gem-bearing alluvial gravels; pink and violet varieties dominant.
  • Mogok Valley · Myanmar · Major source. Mogok Valley: lavender and mauve varieties; co-located with ruby and spinel.
  • Southern Tanzania (alluvials) · Tanzania · Secondary origin. Emerging alluvial deposits; lower coverage than Sri Lanka.
  • Limestone sediments (precise location unpublished) · China · Secondary origin. Low-quality taaffeite in limestone sediments; poorly documented secondary source.

Tanzanite

  • Merelani Hills, Block D · Tanzania · Reference. World's only source of gem-quality tanzanite; Block D = artisanal production, fine intense blue-violet stones; the global reference standard.
  • Merelani Hills, Block C (TanzaniteOne) · Tanzania · Major source. Industrial TanzaniteOne operation; large calibrated stones, consistent quality, feeding the mass market.
  • Merelani Hills, Blocks A & B · Tanzania · Secondary origin. Historic initial extraction zones (1967); variable production, mixing small independent miners and semi-industrial operators.

Tiger's Eye

  • Northern Cape (Griquatown West) · South Africa · Reference. The world's historic reference source; massive deposits of crocidolite pseudomorphosed into golden quartz.
  • Rajasthan / Karnataka · India · Major source. Major producer for the mass market; cabochons and beads exported on a large scale.
  • Western Australia (Hamersley region) · Australia · Secondary origin. Pilbara deposits renowned for a particularly chatoyant golden tiger's eye.
  • Mandalay / Mogok area · Burma · Secondary origin. Secondary source.
  • Sabaragamuwa (Ratnapura region) · Sri Lanka · Secondary origin. Modest production; stone often accompanied by other local chatoyant quartzes.

Tsavorite Garnet

  • Tsavo National Park / Mwatate Valley · Kenya · Reference. The stone's birthplace: discovered in the 1960s, launched by Tiffany in 1974; large stones are rare and highly sought after, from both alluvial and primary veins.
  • Merelani region / Arusha · Tanzania · Major source. Second historic source in East Africa; steady production of calibrated rough for small sizes, characteristic vivid green colour.
  • Southern Madagascar / Ihosy area · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Rising source; feeds Asian cutting centers with sub-1 ct rough.
  • Pakistan · Pakistan · Secondary origin. Minor source; limited volumes, marginal role on the world market.

Turquoise

  • Nishapur, Khorasan · Iran (Persia) · Reference. The absolute historic reference: Persian turquoise, pure sky blue without matrix, remains the world colour standard.
  • Hubei Province · China · Major source. Currently the world's leading source of top-end sky-blue turquoise; dominates the contemporary market.
  • Globe (Arizona), Sleeping Beauty mine · United States · Major source. Largest turquoise mine in the United States; produces a uniform blue without matrix, highly prized in contemporary jewelry.
  • Lander County, Nevada: Lander Blue mine · United States · Major source. Dark blue turquoise with black spiderweb matrix: an extremely rare collector piece (mine closed after ~100 lbs of rough).
  • Sinai Peninsula · Egypt · Secondary origin. Ancient source mined from 5500 BC by the pharaohs; no longer commercially significant but of major heritage value.
  • Atacama (northern Chile) · Chile · Secondary origin. Contemporary source associated with copper deposits; variable quality, positioned in the mid-range segment.

Watermelon Tourmaline

  • Minas Gerais (Virgem da Lapa, Cruzeiro, Jonas mines) · Brazil · Reference. Primary world source; Minas Gerais produces more pegmatite tourmalines than anywhere else on Earth, including classic bicolour elbaites.
  • Maine + San Diego County, California (Himalaya Mine, Tourmaline King Mine) · United States · Major source. The first historically known watermelon tourmaline deposits; Himalaya Mine produced ~100 tonnes between 1898 and 1914, mostly exported to China.
  • Central and northern Nigeria · Nigeria · Secondary origin. Secondary African source of elbaite tourmalines including bicolour watermelon specimens, cited among important African mines.
  • Southern Madagascar · Madagascar · Secondary origin. Notable African source for pink and red tourmalines, including watermelon tourmalines; found in gem-rich pegmatites.
  • Nuristan / Kunar · Afghanistan · Secondary origin. Afghan pegmatites known for bicolour and two-tone tourmalines of exceptional quality.
  • Goma region (North Kivu) · Democratic Republic of Congo · Secondary origin. African deposit reported for gem-quality watermelon tourmalines; emerging commercial source.

Yellow Sapphire

  • Ratnapura (alluvial plains) · Sri Lanka · Reference. World reference source: 25% of Sri Lankan production is orange/yellow; yellow sapphires are often very light, requiring heat treatment to achieve a deeper golden yellow.
  • Mogok · Burma · Major source. Major historic source of fancy corundum; Mogok deposits produce sapphires of all colours, including yellow, from metamorphic rocks.
  • Ilakaka / Sakaraha · Madagascar · Major source. Major emerging source of fancy corundum since the 1990s; basaltic deposits produce yellow and blue sapphires in volume.
  • Umba Valley · Tanzania · Secondary origin. Geologically rich zone for fancy corundum including yellow sapphire; the Umba Valley pegmatite deposits are considered among the world's richest.
  • Kanchanaburi / Chanthaburi · Thailand · Secondary origin. Historic cutting and treatment center for fancy sapphires; yellow sapphires produced in basaltic contexts similar to local blue sapphires.
  • Queensland / New South Wales · Australia · Secondary origin. Australian basaltic deposits produce blue, green, and yellow sapphires together (same chromophores: iron/titanium); significant commercial contribution.

Zircon

  • Ratanakiri · Cambodia · Reference. World's primary source of treated blue zircon; the majority of rough moves to Thailand for cutting and distribution.
  • Ratnapura · Sri Lanka · Major source. Major historic source; zircons in alluvial deposits alongside sapphires; wide colour range.
  • Mogok · Burma · Major source. Source; zircons found in association with Mogok's sapphire and ruby deposits.
  • Hart's Range (Northern Territory) · Australia · Secondary origin. Produces natural zircons with distinctive violet or plum hues; Zircon Hill mining site.
  • Luc Yen / Quy Chau · Vietnam · Secondary origin. Confirmed; deposits associated with sapphires; red and reddish-brown zircons.
  • Tunduru · Tanzania · Secondary origin. Produces attractive yellow zircons.