Topaz

specimen number:
2282046

location:
Karengernge, Kalumbila, North-Western, Zambia

description:
Choice gemmy terminated lustrous Imperial topaz crystal. In great condition.

The Karengerenge locality, situated near Laumbila in the Solwezi District of North-Western Province, Zambia, is an artisanal dig site known for producing distinct, high-quality gemstone specimens, particularly imperial topaz. Geologically, the area is positioned within the complex Lufilian Arc, a major pan-African orogenic belt characterized by deformed Neoproterozoic metamorphic rocks of the Katanga Supergroup. The topaz mineralization is hosted within localized pegmatite bodies and hydrothermal quartz vein networks that intruded the regional mica schists and gneisses, allowing for the formation of sharp, highly lustrous, orange-to-champagne-colored prismatic crystals. Small-scale mining and manual panning operations by local villagers have been carried out intermittently over recent decades, with significant specimen extraction and international market recognition coming to light during the 2010s and 2020s.

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