Gemstones found in Sri Lanka

There are many gemstones found in Sri Lanka, including precious and semi-precious stones. Most of these stones are found in various major cities such as Ratnapura, Kuruwita, Pelmadulla, Akuressa, Matara, Deniyaya, Polonnaruwa, Eheliyagoda, Horana, and Elahara. Recently, large deposits of gems have been discovered in Hasalaka Welgahawadiya, which belongs to the Minipe divisional secretariat of Kandy district.

The following are the main types of gemstones found in Sri Lanka (Ceylon).

Blue Sapphire – National Gemstone

Ruby star, ruby

White sapphire, Pink sapphire, Orange sapphire, Yellow sapphire

Star Sapphire, Alexandrite, Padmaraga Sapphire

Cat’s Eye Chrysoberyl, Alexandrite Cat’s Eye, Chrysoberyl

Amethyst, aquamarine, beryl, pyrope garnet, topaz, hessonite garnet, rhodolite garnet

Citrine, Almandine Garnet, Spessartite Garnet, Zircon, Spinel

Moonstone and tourmaline

Of all the gemstones mentioned above, sapphires and rubies, which are also known as corundum, are the most expensive minerals found in the country. Ceylon sapphires are considered the best quality sapphires in the world. However, rubies are not very common in Sri Lanka as sapphires. Several months ago an alexandrite mineral was discovered at a local mine and was auctioned and sold for $ 34 million.

90% of the country’s land mass is said to be composed of gem-containing Precambrian rocks, with the exception of the Jaffna Peninsula, which is made of Miocene rocks. Roughly mined gems are sometimes found as crystals of small or very large proportions. Exported only as a finished cut and polished stones either faceted or cabochon ready to wear.

Of all the gemstones found in the country today, there are few stones cut only as cabochons, such as star rubies, star sapphires, moonstones, and all cat’s eye stones. All other varieties will be faceted into local lapidaries.

There are also some types of rare gemstones found in Sri Lanka.

Axinite, Ekanite, Fluorite, Phenacite, Taffeite

Cassiterite, Apidote, Idocrase, Rutile

Danburite, Euclase, Kyanite, Safrin

Dumortierite, Fibrolite, Monacite, Sphene

Sinhalite, Kornerupin, Andalusite, Apatite, Scapolite, Cordierite, Diopside, Anstatite

Today, the country’s gemstone and jewelry industry is booming, and current export earnings are about $ 400 million per year. By 2016, the Sri Lankan government wants revenue to rise to $ 1 billion. This is why Sri Lanka is currently also importing different types of raw minerals from other countries such as Tanzania, Madagascar, Thailand and Myanmar to produce more jewelry. Most of these imported gemstones are not naturally found in Sri Lanka, such as lapis lazuli. The Sri Lankan government allows importers to import these natural minerals duty free.