HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The modern history
of emeralds in India began with the discovery in 1943 of green crystals
near Kaliguman near the fortress of Kumalgarh in south Rajastan.
The Kaliguman mine was opened in 1944.
About in 1945, the deposits of Bubani and Rajgarh were located.
Also in 1945, the Tekhi deposits north of Kaliguman were found in the
same rock belt.
Emerald lore is deeply ingrained in Indian culture, and the high esteem
this gem held in antiquity, and still holds, is described by Tagore in
his Màni-Màni, a work largely devoted to ancient Indian
gem lore.
Emerald is mentioned in the great sanskrit epic the Mahabharata,
probably compiled in its present form between the first and third
century A. D.
Later sanskrit lapidaries rank emerald fifth among the precious stone,
preceded only by diamond, pearl, ruby and sapphire.