India is certainly among the top gemstone countries of origin, but many stones are just being processed there: polished, cut, faceted. The same goes for (South) Africa, Thailand and Russia. Many stones sold on the stone markets in these countries are just resells. The same applies to the stone suppliers on ebay. However the latter are more reliable than real life storekeepers. Because there is a pretty high chance that you will visit (or not) their online store again and leave a review.<\/p>\n The idea behind my continent series: Australia<\/a>,\u00a0followed by Africa<\/a> and South America<\/a>\u00a0was using the symbolic stone for the continent. The stone had to be iconic for the continent and preferably found (almost) nowhere else. This is why I took the Australian black opal, the South African Pietersite and the Colombia Emerald.<\/p>\n The emerald was the most difficult to get. The main gemstone countries of origin for Emerald are Colombia, Zambia and Brazil. There is a slight difference between these varieties which only specialists can tell, though there are many\u00a0articles on the differences<\/a>.\u00a0For my purpose a Brazilian emerald would do too, being from South America as well. Having searched on ebay I noticed that Zambian stones are slightly more\u00a0bluish in color. But at the end I had just to rely on the honesty of supplier.<\/p>\n As I plan to continue the geographic series with new countries such as \u00a0China, Russia,\u00a0maybe India, Mexico and the USA, the question arises. Which stone shall be selected for these gemstone countries of origin? For instance gemstones mined in China<\/a> include \u00a0Peridot, Agate, Blood Stone, Amber, Cinnabar, Corundum, Sapphire, Zircon, Diamond, Garnet, Nephrite, Jade, Turquoise, with Jade<\/em> and Nephrite<\/em> being iconic for the Chinese art and culture. Thinking of India one thinks of moonstone. In fact Moonstone<\/em>\u00a0is found in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Madagascar, Brazil, Australia and India. But various colors only come from India and the other sources yield white moonstone.<\/p>\n Russian gemstones have been traditionally mined in the Urals mountains: Alexandrite, Demantoid, Topaz, Amethyst, Emerald and the famous Malachite. However if you buy a cheap\u00a0Malachite <\/em>on the market today the chance is close to 100% that it would be the Congolese variety. The mines in the Urals have been pretty much exhausted.<\/p>\n So the stones for Russia have to be more or less exclusive for this country. Which makes me think of Charoite<\/a>,<\/em> Belomorite<\/a>, Beryl\/Emerald, Demantoid<\/a>, Chrom diopside<\/a>. <\/em>I have already some of them in stock, bought in their country of origin, even with a certificate. So we shall see what comes (to be continued).<\/p>\n More interesting links on the gemstone countries of origin<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.gemselect.com\/other-gems\/gems-by-country.php<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/kontinentusa.com\/kratkij-obzor-mirovogo-rynka-dragocennyx-i-poludragocennyx-kamnej-i-rol-rossii-v-mirovom-rynke\/<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Australia](\"\/\/zilvera.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Australia-opal-5af-300x258.jpg\")
![\"south](\"http:\/\/zilvera.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/SouthAmerica2cf.jpg\")
![Australia<\/a>,\u00a0followed by](\"http:\/\/zilvera.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Australia-opal-5af.jpg\"){kind=link}
![Africa<\/a> and](\"http:\/\/zilvera.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Africa-necklace-4cf.jpg\"){kind=link}