The Lagos Gold and Gemstones Conference and Exhibition will be featuring four gems from Bauchi. These gemstones have been discovered in the regions of Bogoro, Alkaleri, Toro, Ganjuwa, and Shira in Bauchi State. These areas are known for their precious stones.
Gemstones Found in Bauchi
Beryl: A mineral prized for its diverse colour range, beryl is the parent material for several gemstones, including aquamarine and emerald. While emerald is renowned for its rich green hue, we will focus on aquamarine and tourmaline in this article.
Aquamarine: A variety of beryl, aquamarine is valued for its serene blue colour, reminiscent of the ocean. Its name is derived from the Latin words “aqua” (water) and “marina” (sea). This gemstone is typically found in clear, colourless, or pale blue hues, with deeper tones being more prized. Aquamarine is known for its hardness, making it suitable for everyday wear. It is often found in pegmatite veins, which are coarse-grained igneous rocks.
Emerald: Emeralds are prized for their vibrant green colour and are a variety of the mineral beryl. Here are some of their key properties:
Tourmaline: One of the gemstones found in Bauchi is the tourmaline. A crystalline boron silicate mineral, tourmaline occurs in a wide range of colours. Its name originates from the Sinhalese word “tura mali,” meaning “mixed gems.” This diversity in colour makes tourmaline a fascinating gemstone. Tourmaline’s properties vary depending on its colour variety. For instance, pink tourmaline (rubellite) is prized for its intense colour, while green tourmaline (verdelite) is less common. The hardness of tourmaline ranges from 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, making it durable for jewellery.
Price Range
Emeralds:
Lower-quality emeralds: These can range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars per carat.
Mid-range emeralds: These typically fall between a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars per carat.
High-quality emeralds: Exceptional stones can command prices of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars per carat, with some record-breaking examples reaching millions.
Beryl:
Lower-end beryl varieties: Can range from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars per carat.
Mid-range beryl varieties: Typically priced between a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per carat.
High-end beryl varieties (like high-quality emeralds): Can range from thousands to millions of dollars per carat.
Tourmaline:
Common colours (green, pink, blue): Can range from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars per carat.
Rare colours and higher qualities: Prices can soar into the thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars per carat.
Paraíba tourmaline: The most expensive variety, with prices often exceeding $10,000 per carat and reaching as high as $30,000 or more for exceptional stones.
