Gemstones are one of the most precious and beautiful materials used in manufacturing jewellery. These stones are distinguished by their beauty and natural shine and add a touch of luxury and elegance to oranaments. Gemstones have been used in jewellery since ancient times when they were considered a symbol of wealth, power and beauty.
Historical books are full of the geological diversity of the Sultanate of Oman. The books of the Assyrian civilizations in particular and the Sumerian civilizations mentioned this.
The Omanis are also interested in precious and semi-precious stones, as Muttrah Souq is famous for trading in various types of natural and artificial, local and imported, especially onyx, malachite, and turquoise. Some Omanis adorn themselves with silver rings that are decorated with various types of agate found in Oman, including citrine, carnelian, jasper, and bloodstone.
Oman's rocks contain an abundance of semi-precious stones, such as coarse crystalline and milky quartz, and fine quartz, which includes Chalcedonian, agate of all kinds, chrysoprase, carnelian, citrine, serpentine, jasper, the majority of green metamorphic rocks, and some gabbro, granite, and marble rocks.
These stones are used for decoration, sculpture, and the formation of rosaries, beads, and various antiques. Tejarah contributes many programs on the possibility of manufacturing rosaries and necklaces from these stones. It also holds educational courses on metal incubators and the possibility of using them in the jewelry industry. Crystalline quartz minerals, which form in the form of clusters and geodes, are among the most important semi-precious stones.
Zaki Hamad al Farsi, founder of the Zanakite Jewelry Shop says, “Oman is full of good things and minerals, and people have become passionate about owning these stones and adornment with them, and with the spread of such businesses on social media, it has become easy to buy and acquire these stones. He would like government agencies to support more and pay attention to such trade and encourage Omani youth to practice this craft.”
Quartz is considered one of the most important and widespread minerals in the Sultanate of Oman. It is the main mineral in the eastern sands, the acidic and metamorphic igneous rocks in Jalan and Dhofar, in Saih Hattat in Muscat, and the silicate clusters in Marmul and Thammarat. Also, found in the flint layers spread throughout all geological units from ancient times. To modern ones in the form of veins and layers of different thickness and purity.
Turquoise is considered one of the most famous gemstones in Oman, which has been extracted and traded in the region for thousands of years. The mining and extraction of gemstones are also regulated by the government to ensure sustainability and fair business practices.
The government is making efforts to monitor and ensure the quality of gemstones displayed in jewellery stores. It is also providing the service of examining and analyzing gemstones to ensure that the required global standards are maintained.
Officials said the devices designated for identifying and examining various gemstones contributed to raising the level of performance, achieving accuracy in the results, and reducing the degree of risk to which the consumer and merchant alike are exposed.
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