Located in the Red Sea off the southern coast of Egypt, Zabargad Island is a unique geological wonder. Composed primarily of peridotite, a coarse-grained igneous rock that is rich in beautiful blue peridot gemstones, the island has an area of 1.74 km2 and is the largest in its archipelago. Often referred to as a desert island due to its lack of fresh water and limited biodiversity, Zabargad Island has a rich history of gemstone mining that dates back over 3,500 years.
In ancient times, peridot gemstones were collected from the island and used as jewelry for Mediterranean kings. The rock found on the island’s surface was initially thought to be topaz, leading the Greeks to call the island “Topazios”. However, scientists have since identified it as peridotite, which contains olivine and pyroxene minerals that can form peridot gemstones.
The formation of peridotite on Zabargad Island is a result of deep geological processes that occurred millions of years ago. Buried in the Earth’s upper mantle at a depth of over 150 km, the peridotite cooled and hardened before being pushed to the surface through tectonic plate collisions. Despite being situated near tectonic activity due to its location on a mid-ocean ridge dividing the African and Arabian plates, Zabargad Island remains above such activity thanks to its positioning above sea level.
Gemstone mining on Zabargad Island continued into the early 20th century but came to an abrupt halt when Egypt nationalized its mines in 1958. Today, it stands as a reminder of its rich geological history and stunning peridot gemstones that have been cherished for centuries.
