Introduction

The rugged mountains of Afghanistan’s Nuristan region (and neighboring areas like Laghman) have yielded a wealth of beautiful tourmaline since the late 20th century. The deposits, which include the Paprok, Mawi, and Kunar mines, became well-known to collectors in the 1980s and especially the 1990s as Afghanistan opened up. These pegmatites produce classic bi-color and multi-color elbaite crystals, commonly in combinations of pink and green. A signature example is the “watermelon” style tourmaline: pink at one end and green at the other, or crystals with a green rim and pink core. Afghan tourmalines often occur as elongated, slender crystals with excellent transparency. Many have superb termination facets – either a steep pyramidal termination or a flat pinacoid that’s glass-smooth. One striking mode is a color-zoned crystal on snow-white matrix: for instance, Paprok is known for elegant clusters of pink and green tourmaline rising from cleavelandite or quartz matrix, sometimes accented by lilac lepidolite. The colors are generally bright (bubblegum pinks, mint to apple greens, and occasionally blues or colorless sections), and clarity is high; it’s not unusual to find portions of a Paprok crystal that are virtually facet-grade. Size ranges from small single crystals a few centimeters long up to sizeable clusters; pieces over 10 cm with good form are known, though truly large cabinet specimens are less common than in Brazil.

Collectors appreciate Afghan tourmaline for combining aesthetics with relative availability. During the 2000s, quite a lot of material hit the Western markets, making Afghanistan one of the primary sources of fine tourmaline. Experts note that Nuristan has “a long history of mining high-quality gemstones, including tourmaline”, especially rubellites and greens. Quality-wise, the best Afghan tourmalines have “deep, rich colors and excellent crystal structures” – a top Paprok piece with saturated purple-pink color and glassy luster can hold its own next to a Jonas or Pederneira tourmaline of similar size. Some unique crystal forms have also come from Afghanistan, such as stiletto-like blue caps (a few rare Mawi Mine pieces show a blue top on a pink body, reminiscent of the California blue caps) and unusual skeletal or “hollow” growths. One observation is that while many Afghan tourmalines are absolutely gemmy, truly un-repaired matrix specimens are hard to find – due to the way they form in vugs, crystals often detach and are later reattached by dealers. Still, the presence of matrix greatly boosts appeal, and some of the most aesthetic specimens feature a spray of multicolored crystals on a bed of white albite, creating a beautiful contrast. In summary, Afghanistan’s tourmalines are a staple of modern collecting, offering brilliant colors and fine form. They may not have the singular historical moment of a Jonas or a Tourmaline Queen, but they consistently produce high-quality specimens that are highly sought after for their vibrancy and clarity, earning Nuristan a place among the world’s great tourmaline provinces.