Belize's Stone Treasures

Belize is known for its precious stones, including rubies, jade, and limestone. The country has a rich geological history, with the oldest rocks in the region being granites formed around 360 million years ago. While there are no large-scale commercial mining operations in the country, there are plenty of opportunities to purchase jewellery made from locally sourced stones. The ancient Maya city of Altun Ha, located in modern-day Belize, is known for its well-preserved sun god masks and is home to the largest object carved from jade in the Maya civilisation.

Belize's semi-precious stones include conch pearls, coral, and jade

Belize is known for its semi-precious stones, including conch pearls, coral, and jade. While Belize has some minerals, no large deposits have been found to support commercial operations. The only commercial mining that has taken place is for limestone. However, Belize does offer a variety of artisan jewellery crafted with local flair.

Conch pearls are a unique type of pearl found in conch shells. They are considered semi-precious stones and are often used in jewellery. Coral, formed from the skeletons of coral polyps, is another semi-precious stone found in Belize. It comes in a range of colours, including red, pink, and white. Jade, a form of gem stone, is also found in the country and has been used in local jewellery.

Belize has a rich history of gemstone use, dating back to the ancient Maya civilisation. The Altun Ha site, located in the Belize District, is known for its remarkable discovery of a large, intricately carved jade pendant. This site served as a major ceremonial and trade centre during the Classic Period. The pendant, known as the Maya Jade Head, represents the Mayan Sun God, Kinich Ahau, and is considered one of the crown jewels of Belize.

In addition to these semi-precious stones, Belize has a diverse geological landscape. The Maya Mountains, for instance, are composed of volcanic and sedimentary rocks that have undergone metamorphism or chemical alteration. The oldest rocks in these mountains are granites found at the Mountain Pine Ridge, formed around 360 million years ago.

The country's geological resources include granite, limestone, and gold

Belize's geological resources include granite, limestone, and gold. The country's geology consists largely of limestone, with the notable exception of the Maya Mountains, which are composed of granite and other Paleozoic sediments. The oldest rocks in the Maya Mountains are granites that formed when magma cooled below the earth's surface around 360 million years ago.

Granite was also found to be a major resource in the Mountain Pine Ridge area of the Maya Mountains, which is considered the oldest land surface in Central America. This area is characterised by a karst topography with many sinkholes, caverns, and underground streams. The soils in these regions are quite fertile and have been cultivated for thousands of years.

Limestone is another significant geological resource in Belize, particularly in the northern lowlands, which are made up of heterogeneous limestone sediments referred to as the Yucatan Platform. The first deposition of limestone in this region occurred around 200 million years ago, and the land was submerged in a shallow sea around 50 million years ago.

Gold has also been extracted from Belize, specifically from the Ceibo Chico area of the Maya Mountains. Between 1999 and 2008, a Belizean company extracted 2,300 ounces of gold from this region. Additionally, the mountain watersheds adjacent to the Sittee River and the Raspaculo branch of the Macal River are potential sources of gold.

While Belize does have a variety of economically important minerals, none have been found in large enough quantities to warrant extensive mining operations. However, limestone has been used domestically and for export, particularly in road construction.

The ancient Maya city of Altun Ha is known for its jade pendant carvings

Belize is home to the ancient Maya city of Altun Ha, which is known for its jade pendant carvings. Altun Ha, meaning "Rockstone Water" in Yucatec Mayan, is located in the Belize District about 50 kilometres (31 miles) north of Belize City. The site covers an area of about 8 square kilometres (3.1 square miles) and is accessible for tourism.

Altun Ha was a major ceremonial centre and trading link between the Caribbean coast and Maya centres in the interior during the Maya Classic Period. The site features two main plazas with roughly 13 Maya temples and residential structures. One notable aspect of Altun Ha is the absence of carved stelae, which were typically associated with ceremonial procedures.

The most famous artefact discovered at Altun Ha is a large jade pendant carving of the Maya sun god, Kinich Ahau. Weighing almost 10 pounds, with a height of 14.9 cm (6 inches) and a circumference of 45.9 cm, it is the largest carved jade object found in any Maya community in the region. The jade head is considered a national treasure and a replica is on display at the Central Bank of Belize. Its likeness is even watermarked on all Belizean currency.

The discovery of the jade head sheds light on the cultural and trade significance of Altun Ha. The presence of such a large jade carving suggests that the site was an important trade or ceremonial centre. The jade used for the carving is believed to have been imported from ancient mines along the Motagua River valley in eastern Guatemala.

In addition to the jade head, other jade artefacts have been recovered from Altun Ha, including jade beads, bracelets, and anklets. These discoveries highlight the importance of jade in Maya culture and its use in elite burials during the Late Classic Period.

The Sun God's Tomb in Altun Ha contains a large jade head

The Sun God's Tomb, found in the ancient Mayan city of Altun Ha in Belize, contains a large jade head, weighing 4.42 kg (9.75 pounds) and measuring 14.9 cm (5.8 inches) in height, with a circumference of 45.9 cm. This jade head is the largest single piece of carved jade ever found in Mesoamerica. The head is that of the Sun God, Kinich Ahau, featuring a bird-like beak, crossed eyes, and fang-like elements on either side of the mouth.

The jade head was discovered in 1968 by two Belizeans working for Dr. David Pendergast of the Royal Ontario Museum of Canada. It was found in a tomb deep inside Structure B-4 of the Temple of the Masonry Altars, alongside the remains of an elderly adult male, likely a ruler or high priest. The tomb is estimated to date back to between 600 and 650 AD.

The presence of the jade head and other valuable artefacts suggests that the tomb belonged to a person of high status. The jade head itself is a priceless artefact and a symbol of Belize's young nation. It is usually kept under secure guard in a bank vault in Belize, except when loaned for specific archaeological exhibitions abroad.

The discovery of the Sun God's Tomb and the large jade head provides valuable insights into the ancient Maya community of Altun Ha, highlighting its complexity, wealth, and importance as a trade centre. The site of Altun Ha, located about 50 kilometres north of Belize City, was occupied for many centuries, from around 900 BC to AD 1000.

The Maya Mountains contain the country's oldest rocks, including granite and Santa Rosa Metasediments

The Maya Mountains are a mountain range located in Belize and eastern Guatemala. The range's highest peaks are Doyle's Delight, at 3,688 feet (1,124 m), and Victoria Peak, at 3,680 feet (1,120 m). The mountains are named after the Maya people, who retreated into the mountains before the Spanish arrived, leaving great centres, such as Lubaantun on the mountains' southeastern periphery, deserted behind them.

The Maya Mountains are the only source of igneous and metamorphic materials in Belize. The range is one of the few places in the country where limestone is not the dominant geological feature. The mountains are mainly made of Paleozoic era granite and sediments. The Maya Mountains and associated foothills contain a number of important Mayan ruins, including the sites of Lubaantun, Nim Li Punit, Cahal Pech, and Chaa Creek.

The Maya Mountains were known as the Cockscomb or Coxcomb Mountains to Baymen and later Belizeans until at least the mid-20th century. Their current name is thought to honour the Mayan civilisation. The orogen mainly consists of metamorphosed late Carboniferous to middle Permian volcanic-sedimentary rocks overlying late Silurian granites. The country's oldest rocks are found in the Maya Mountains, which include granite and Santa Rosa Metasediments.

The sedimentary cover in the Maya Mountains is predominantly composed of Palaeozoic strata. The cover in the foothills and plains is predominantly composed of Cretaceous marine strata to the south, west, and north, but this transitions into Quaternary alluvium to the east. The geologic evolution of the exposed portions of the Mountains' basement has been deemed "one of the most disputed aspects of Central American geology".

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