HISTORICAL NEWS

According to Bariand and Poullen, archaeological excavations in Badakhshan indicate early Greek settlement of the region, and the unearthing of "perfect crystals and gems of Beryl" suggest these deposits were known many centuries ago. However, the Panjshir emerald locality has been actively mined in recent times only during the last few decades with the greatest activity since the early 1980's.  The deposit was found by a Russian geologist in 1970.