Minerals from Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a long and well-documented history of gemstone mining, particularly from alluvial deposits. It is best known for sapphires, but a wide variety of other minerals can be found.

The Ratnapura district is the most famous gem-producing area, often referred to as the “City of Gems.” Sapphires from here can range in colour from deep blue to pink, yellow, green, and even colourless. These are typically alluvial in origin and found as water-worn crystals, often accompanied by garnet, spinel, zircon, and topaz.

Most of the mining is artisanal or small-scale, with traditional methods still widely used. As a result, specimen-quality crystals are less common than cut stones, but rough material does make its way to market, especially for collectors of gem minerals.

Sri Lanka also produces moonstone, especially from the Meetiyagoda area. The material from here is orthoclase feldspar rather than the more common plagioclase variety and is prized for its blue sheen. While most of it is used for jewellery, rough and polished nodules are often available.

Other minerals reported from Sri Lanka include tourmaline, beryl (including goshenite and aquamarine), and various forms of quartz. Some rare pegmatite minerals have also been found, but these are not often seen outside of academic or local collections.

Labels may sometimes use the older name “Ceylon,” especially for material collected or traded prior to 1972.

Sri Lanka