ISLAMABAD: Scientists have developed several techniques to give new colors to gemstones for value addition which ultimately raise their price and they get very high price in market.
Much brighter colors are produced in stones by treating them with thermal, electron beam heat, gamma rays and neutron irradiations.
These artificially colored stones are called "treated gemstones" and they have set very good example of generating wealth through research and prosperity through science.
Giving details, Spokesperson Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) Rehana Batool said Topaz is leading the treated gemstones market in the world and is famous among rich and ruler class since centuries.
It is found in USA, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Myanmar and Pakistan , she said, adding, in Pakistan, topaz is mined from Gilgit, Hunza, Shiger, Skardu, Roundoo and Mardan.
"Pure topaz is always colorless and colors are produced due to the inclusion of other elements in it".
Rehana Batool said the colors found in topaz are yellow, brown, orange, beige, red and green. The treated blue topaz becomes 30-50 times expensive than the ordinary one, she added.
It is fact that most of the blue topaz is treated to change its color but it is not always. Blue topaz is also found naturally in Texas and Russia, she mentioned.
Northern areas, Gilgit and Baltistan, are known globally for their gems along with their scenic beauty.
The gems found in Pakistan include Quartz, tourmaline, peridot, garnet, ruby, topaz and many more.
Rehana said in uncut or raw form, gemstones are sold on less price. For example, quartz is exported for few dollars per kg in raw. While only one stone of few karats (1 gram = 5 karats) after value addition can bring more prices than a kg of raw stones, she stated.
She said "We are living in the age of value addition and we must add value to our gemmological treasure to generate wealth for lifting up country's economical condition".
Indonesia and Thailand are making millions of dollars by exporting treated gemstones to the world.
"To make the maximum out of our gem deposits, we need to adopt the latest value addition techniques".
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