Hessonite Garnet from Horseranch Range, BC

Tucked away within British Columbia's diverse geology are a wide variety of gem deposit types and gem species. British Columbia is the world's largest producer of nephrite jade. Rhodonite production is significant and small amounts of opal are currently marketed to a local tourist market. In 1997, the author published a paper in The Canadian Gemmologist outlining the geology and gemstones from some of British Columbia's gem occurrences. Since then, deposits of rhodolite garnet and iolite have been identified in the Slocan valley and additional occurrences of opal and peridot have been discovered in the BC's interior. Interest in gem deposits within British Columbia has increased dramatically in the past few years. Several mining companies are now involved with gemstone exploration.

Unless otherwise noted, this list only includes localities that have produced faceted gems or crystals that could otherwise be cut into gems.