In 2004, a man named Zhao Sheliang worked in the gemstone mining industry, traveling from Shaanxi to Lop Nur, Xinjiang, in search of rare jade deposits.
The gemstone industry has always attracted significant attention, but not everyone can make a fortune from it. Zhao Sheliang, hailing from Shaanxi, China, had worked in this field for over a decade, but in 2004, he faced unprecedented difficulties.
At that time, he was not only losing money in his business but also facing substantial losses. He was left with only a few worthless jade pieces that were difficult to sell at a good price. In the face of this crisis, Zhao made a crucial decision to travel to Lop Nur, Xinjiang, to mine for jade.
Many were surprised and did not understand why he chose that location. With his experience and deep understanding of the industry, he realized that most precious stones are formed during the movements of the Earth’s crust. During this process, magma erupts and then solidifies, crystallizing into batholiths. The outer edges of these batholiths contain pegmatite crystals, which often house beautiful, large gemstones.
With relentless effort, Zhao Sheliang’s team discovered several luminescent stones of varying sizes. Seeing promising signs, he instructed his workers to dig deeper, and they unearthed a gigantic gemstone that emitted a jade-green light.
The luminescent gemstone. (Source: Sina).
After confirming the discovery, Zhao Sheliang identified it as a moonstone, a rare treasure once reserved for ancient royalty. A notable example is the pearl found in the mouth of Empress Dowager Cixi upon her burial, which was the size of an egg but valued at 800 million RMB.
The moonstone that Zhao Sheliang found weighs up to 6 tons. He spent three years polishing it, transforming it into a sphere with a diameter of 1.68 meters.
Chemically speaking, moonstone is fluorite, and only about 3% of fluorite can emit light, making it extremely valuable. Natural fluorite is highly prized, whereas synthetic fluorite does not yield high income.
The gigantic moonstone. (Source: Sohu).
In 2010, this massive moonstone was recognized as the largest in the world and was exhibited for the first time at the Wenchang Treasure Jade Palace (Hainan, China). Its appearance sent shockwaves through the gemstone trade. Experts valued it at an astonishing price of 2.6 billion RMB.
Despite its high value, this moonstone has yet to find a buyer due to its enormous size, making it difficult to determine its practical applications. However, turning it into smaller pieces for jewelry would significantly diminish its original value.
To capitalize on the value of this treasure, Zhao Sheliang decided to hold an exhibition in Wenchang City, Hainan Province, China. This approach helped him gain fame while also generating income. At night, the light emitted from the moonstone illuminates the surrounding area, eliminating the need for streetlights, thereby earning it the title of “street lamp.”
