11.99 carats Uncut Swat Emerald with Pyrite Inclusions — Pakistan

This is a single piece of natural emerald  rough from the Swat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Swat is one of the largest emerald-producing regions of Pakistan and in fact of South Asia. The crystal measurement is 22 × 12 × 15 mm. The weight of stone is 11.99 carats (approximately 2.2 grams). 

Stone Details

• Stone Name: Emerald (Beryl)
• Carat Weight: 11.99 ct (approx. 1 piece — almost 12 carats)
• Weight (grams): 2.2 grams 
• Dimensions: 22 × 12 × 15 mm
• Clarity: Translucent
• Treatments: 100% Natural — Earthly Mined, No Treatments

Size Reference

What the Stone is About? 

The emerald stone is photographed with macro lenses to document the stone under both dark-background studio lighting and a white-background daylight setup. The color of stone is vivid green color with strong translucency. 

The surface is rough and unpolished, with natural fracture faces and a stepped cleavage plane visible on the flat upper face. Small golden-yellow pyrite inclusions are scattered across the surface and partially embedded within the crystal, appearing as bright metallic flecks in the macro images.

Pyrite in Swat emeralds forms during the same hydrothermal fluid activity that crystallizes the beryl itself — both minerals precipitate from the same mineralizing solution within schist-hosted veins, making their co-occurrence a direct record of the deposit's formation conditions rather than a secondary or accidental feature. This pyrite-emerald association is specific to certain Swat Valley specimens and is not commonly seen in emeralds from other major origins such as Colombia, Zambia, or Brazil. 

Use Cases

At 11.99 carats and with translucent clarity, this piece is suitable for collection due to its unique features. However, lapidary cutting to recover faceted stones with transluscent or made into cabochon by keeping " pyurite" on top of table. 

 The pyrite inclusions are surface and near-surface features; a lapidary would assess window areas to plan cuts around or through them. The hexagonal crystal system is consistent with beryl, and the vivid green color is characteristic of chromium-bearing Swat emeralds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much faceted stone can be recovered from 11.99 carats of emerald rough?
A: Recovery rates for emerald rough typically range from 10–30% of the rough weight, depending on clarity and fracture placement. If made into cabochon, a big size cabochon can be cut with highlighting pyrite features on top of table. 

Q: What causes the golden flecks visible on this Swat emerald?
A: The metallic golden inclusions are pyrite (iron sulfide), a common associated mineral in Swat emerald deposits. Pyrite forms during the same hydrothermal processes that crystallize the emerald and is a natural, untreated feature of the stone.

Q: Is Swat Valley emerald the same quality as Colombian emerald?
A: Swat emeralds are a distinct origin with their own color profile — typically vivid to medium green, colored by chromium and vanadium. Colombian emeralds are generally considered the benchmark for top color, but Swat origin is recognized among collectors and dealers as a legitimate and documented source.