Afghanistan has been blessed with a great variety of precious and semi precious stones. Some of the earliest records of mining in the world are from Afghanistan, dating back to over 6,500 years ago. Even after years of brutal war, my country remains rich in precious and semi precious gemstone deposits. Some of Afghanistan’s precious and semi precious gemstones include: lapis lazuli, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, tourmaline, kunzite, aquamarine, spodumene and beryl. 

The lapis lazuli gem is Afghanistan’s most recognized and world famous stone. Its name is derived from the Latin word lapis, which means stone, and the Persian word lazhward which carries the meaning blue. It is from Badakhshan, a province in the north of the country. It is often used to make beads, and is very popular for among men for their choice of jewelry.

Emeralds, which are a lovely dark green color, are found in the valleys of the province Panjshir. The rocks in which the emeralds embedded in lie in the Panjshir Valley at elevations of 3000–4000 M.

The Ruby is a rich blood red colored gem. Its name comes from ruber, which is Latin for red. It is found in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, and also in Badakshan province. Marco Polo has written about the rubies of Afghanistan in his travelogues, claiming “…It is in this province that those fine and valuable gems the Balas Rubies are found.”