Gemstones – but be careful !!!!
I was thinking back and forth if I should write about this, but finally have decided to do it, as some might have heard of the gemstones anyhow. Tajikistan’s Pamirs, or the Badakshan region is, due to it’s geological history, a big source for gemstones. You’ll stumble upon shops in Khorog almost everywhere. It is mostly rubies, violet and purple spinels, lazurit, lapis, jade and many more. It is even possible to find some in the mountains. I have seen tiny pieces of ruby and jade, fellow travellers found.BUT:as with all other precious things, this attracts offscourings. Subjects that plough through the lands and steal what belongs to the Tajiks and Pamiri. It can be widely seen in eastern Tajikistan, this is why I wrote a separate warning about the voracious dragon steals land. I have read that the gemstone mines are owned by the government, that the miners are government employees and...
