GeoVision Gem News

Film

During January 2002, GeoVision Inc. via this web site will offer DVD copies of a 52 minute, $400,000.00 documentary filmed in Afghanistan last summer.

"July 2001. Gary Bowersox travels into the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan to find the oldest mine on earth. Rich Blue Lapis, the precious gemstone that decorates the death mask of King Tutankhamun, is still mined in the remote mountains. The journey there involves slipping over the border at night and climbing some of the highest passes on earth. Traveling by horseback, Gary follows in the footsteps of Alexander the Great and Marco Polo.

In the nearby Panjsher Valley, Gary meets old Afghan friends and visits emerald mines. The vein of raw gemstones was uncovered by Russian bombs, and is now one of the most important sources of emeralds in the world.

The Gem Hunter in Afghanistan is a great adventure to discover some of the most spectacular mines, scenery and people on earth."

Expeditions

2002 Expedition: Two Expeditions are being planned for the summer of this year (2002).

• July 2002 - Tajikistan Expedition - This expedition is to expand on the 2001 expedition of gathering information on the gemstones of Tajikistan and their locations.

• August 2002 - Afghanistan Expedition - This expedition is scheduled to field six foreign geological and mining experts with twelve Afghan miners to develop an optimal program for advancing geological surveys and training of miners with a goal to jump start an employment program and provide foreign currency to the new government of Afghanistan. This program will depend on available funding.

2001 TV Filming Expedition to Egypt and Central Asia: A 2001 Expedition to Egypt and Central Asia is now complete. GeoVision, Inc. and Free Spirit Films have joined together to film and document for TV the 7,000 year old trail from the lapis lazuli mines hidden at altitudes of over 12,000 feet in the Hindu Kush Mountains to Egypt. The film features the intrigues and dangers along this trail by told by such adventures as Gary Bowersox, Marco Polo, and Alexander the Great. Carved scarabs (family seals) and antique lapis statues, jewelry and mask made for the Egyptian Pharaohs are filmed as well as modern lapis pieces. The documentary film is scheduled for release January 2002. (See slide show #8).

2000 Expedition: In the year 2000, their was heavy fighting in Afghanistan. Therefore, Gary Bowersox elected to travel alone into the country. After meeting with gem miners in Tajikistan and purchasing a 50 Spinel from Kuh-i-Lal, Gary waited in Dushanbe for Commander Ahmed Shah Massoud to send a helicopter for him. Once in Panjsher, Gary plans was to continue mapping the emerald mining area using satellite maps and GPS readings to refine ground truth on the satellite map. However, the fighting intensified, bombs were being dropped and the valley was surrounded on three sides by the Taliban/Pakistan Army and Bin Laden's troops. Once the helicopter was no longer available for escape, Gary decided to travel the 110 miles by heel and toe express (walking) and horse thru the Hindu Hush Mountains to Chitral Pakistan. After reaching Pakistan, Mr. Haider (owner of The Mountain Inn and Gary explored a new fossil field at 13,000 feet which was located north of Chitral at the base of Mt Tirichmir (25,500 feet). (See slide show #7).

Articles

A 17-Page Article on the "Ruby and Sapphire from Jegdalek, Afghanistan", by Gary W. Bowersox, Eugene E. Foord, Brendan M. Laurs, James E. Shigley, and Christopher P. Smith, was published in the Summer 2000 "Gems & Gemology", the Quarterly Journal of the Gemological Institute of America.

Symposiums

The 8th Symposium on the Gems and Minerals of Afghanistan will be held in Tucson, Arizona, USA on February 10, 2002. The goal of this symposium is to review the knowledge of gem mining in Afghanistan and produce a plan for an August 2002 Expedition Team. The goal of the 2002 Expedition is to formalize a plan to jump start the gem and mineral mining for the new government of Afghanistan and to create as many mining jobs as possible.

Gary W. Bowersox, President, GeoVision, Inc. was invited by The Gemological Institute of America to present a poster session at the International Gemological Symposium to be held in San Diego on June 21, 22, and 23. Gary's presentation was titled "Central Asia: A prime Source of Gemstones for the 21st Century (Afghanistan, Kazakistan, Kyrgistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan)." Click HERE for abstract.

The 7th Symposium on Gems and Minerals of Afghanistan was held on the 4th & 5th of February, 1998 in Tucson, AZ. Since 1998 the political situation in Central Asia has prevented miners and scientist from attending an 8th Symposium.

Gems

From the 70 carat Ruby rough purchased at Jegdalek, Afghanistan (see Slide Show #1, Slide #15), GeoVision presents for sale a 32.23 carat ruby and diamond 18kt gold pendant valued at $77,000.00. The ruby was cut by Bart Curren of Glyptic Illusion fame and the pendant was designed by award winner Gregg Crawford. The ruby and diamond pendant was featured in the Summer 1998 issue of Gems & Gemology.

All Articles

• A Status Report On Gemstones From Afghanistan
  by Gary W. Bowersox
  © 1985 Gems & Gemology (Winter)
  Republished with permission
• The Gujar Killi Emerald Deposit, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan
  by Gary W. Bowersox and Jawaid Anwar
  © 1989 Gems & Gemology (Spring)
  Republished with permission
  Scanned for Internet presentation
• Emeralds of Panjshir Valley, Afghanistan
  by Gary Bowersox, Lawrence W. Snee, Eugene E. Foord, and Robert R. Seal II
  © 1991 Gems & Gemology (Spring)
  Republished with permission
  Scanned for Internet presentation
• Ruby and Sapphire from Jegdalek, Afghanistan
  By Gary W. Bowersox, Eugene E. Foord, Brendan M. Laurs, James E. Shigley, and Christopher P. Smith
  © 2000 Gems & Gemology (Summer)
  Republished with permission
  Scanned for Internet presentation