Afghani Tourmaline. Afghanistan is rich in minerals and metals, including Gold and Silver and copper, and gemstones, precious and semi-precious (also petroleum and natural gas). Its resources are said to have the potential to make it one of the richest mining regions in the world; it is also said that the last time there was a coordinated exploitation of these resources was back 2000 years ago, in the time of Alexander the Great and the Greco-Bactrian kingdom which followed, when Silver and Gold and gemstones were systematically mined.

Afghani Tourmaline is sourced mainly in Nuristan, a rugged province in the north-east of the country, up close by the border of north-west Pakistan. The Tourmaline beads are cut in Kabul in an ancient Bactrian bead style. The above Afghani Tourmaline bead strand, with spacers of coloured glass, is in the exact form in which it left Kabul, save that it has been re-stranded in Sydney and fitted with 9ct Gold end ring and spring clasp.
The necklace is strung on tiger-tail, plastic-coated wire, very strong and holding a nice round form on the neck.