Treasure from the Ancient World
Large peridot crystal in GIA’s collection is mined from historically significant island 
By Mauricio Minotta

Aplace called Island of Death or Serpent Isle doesn’t necessarily sound like somewhere you would want to be under any circumstances. And considering the extremely harsh terrain, Zabargad, as it’s known today, leaves very little reason for a visit. 

The tiny, 4.5-square-kilometer island in the Red Sea is as deserted as it can get. Zabargad is a mostly brown, arid landscape with literally no fresh drinking water. But believe it or not, the island 60 miles southeast of Egypt’s Ras Banas peninsula was once one of the most guarded locales in the ancient world, primarily for the only item of value it ever produced – fine quality peridot.

Christian crusaders are known to have returned to their homes with large specimens as part of their loot. Fine quality examples from Zabargad’s mines can be found in places such as the Treasury of the Three Magi in Cologne, Germany, the Vatican in Italy and … GIA’s World Headquarters in Carlsbad, California.

Among the various treasures in the GIA Collection is a 346.45-carat peridot crystal from Zabargad. Historically, most of the rough mined from the island was shipped to cutting centers, so it’s very unusual to come across a specimen in its original state, says Museum Director Elise Misiorowski.

“Such large crystals were rare and seldom left in their rough form because they could fetch far greater prices as cut stones,” she says. “So this peridot is really a very special part of our collection when you consider not only its size, but also its origin and place in gemstone history.”

The earliest known literature on the legendary island dates back to King Juba II of Mauretania (25 B.C.-23 A.D.), who wrote that Zabargad (Arabic for peridot) was first explored during the reign of Queen Berenice (340-279 B.C.). In the first century before Christ, Sicilian writer Diodorus Siculus (90-21 B.C.) wrote that the Egyptians kept the island under constant watch, and anyone who tried to approach it without permission, let alone attempt to land and steal its peridot, was threatened with death.

Zabargad was the only source of peridot from 1906 until the start of World War II. Of specific interest was the quality and unusually large sizes of rough that were extracted from the island’s highest point, Peridot Hill (235 meters above sea level).

The Turkish rulers of Egypt directed several successful mining ventures on the island until 1922, when the Red Sea Mining Company was given a mining lease and located new sources on Zabargad. It discontinued mining in 1939 and the mines have remained abandoned ever since.

Prior to being added to the GIA Collection, the peridot crystal was part of the Gebruder Bank private collection. Professor Herman Bank of Idar-Oberstein, Germany, purchased the crystal in 1934. He later had it analyzed by renowned mineralogist Dr. Wilhelm Friedrich Eppler, who performed an extensive optical mineralogical report on the specimen.

His results were published in the German mineralogical journal Zentralblatt and the Deutschen Goldsmiede Zeitung in 1939. Copies of the original reports are also part of the GIA Collection, which helps to document the history and provenance of the crystal. Through the generosity of the Bank family, GIA was able to add the specimen and its accompanying documentation to its permanent collection.

Recent Donations
The following are highlights from recent non-cash gifts to the Education department and the growing GIA Collection:

Michael Goldstein Ltd. donated a 1.72 ct antique rose cut diamond for the GIA Collection that is on display as part of the Museum’s exhibit, “From the Vault: Gifts to Our Collection.”

An anonymous donor gave three diamond rings: a 1.05 ct. marquise brilliant cut with four princess-cut brilliants (0.56 tcw); a 1.15 ct., oval-shaped brilliant cut with two triangle-cut brilliants (0.56 tcw); and a 1.05 ct., princess brilliant cut with two tapered baguettes (0.18 tcw), all of which are on display in the “From the Vault” exhibit.

Robert and Marlene Anderson, of Huntington Beach, California, donated a collection of Virgin Valley opal specimens with light-to-full play of color for Education.

Dudley Blauwet, of Louisville, Colorado, donated several samples of pink beryl that were mined in Madagascar. Their total weight is 60.85 cts.

Douglas Rountree, of Clayton, California, donated samples of rough sapphires from Montana. They will be used for Education.

A.F. Greenwood Co. Inc. donated a collection of loose colored gemstones, as well as natural and cultured pearls and beads, for Education.

J. Mark and Debbie Ebert, of Los Angeles, California, donated aquamarines and iolites for Education.

Jaques Prades, of Gamma Creations, donated a diamond pave ring, set with a large blue topaz and sapphire briolettes. It was a gift to GIA’s Designer Collection.