At time of great dryness in south, sapphire samples are found on ground, several centuries after their first discovery. Actually, one of most beautiful quality in world is just leaving ground. Rare Stones Safari

The Yellow orthoclase from Itrongay, was found in eluvium, but comes from a pegmatite with diopside of a very special type, which presents single characteristic to be made of transparent minerals only.

About Ilakak

It is in accesses of downwards brook named Ilakaka that first sapphires were found in 1998. The excavations follow gravel deposits which Madagascans call lalam' bato, (the way of stones.)

The essential characteristic of Isalo formations is their main constitution of soft sandstones, very permeable, badly cemented which disaggregate easily on surfaces by giving thick siliceous sand coverings. Sakalama This sapphire of natural color, therefore untreated was found in alluvium in sandstones. This is why it does not have any more its original shape. The first deposits consist of conglomerates, gravels and sands, One finds there elements of rocks and minerals: quartz, feldspars, micas, zircons, tourmalines, ilmenites, magnetite, monazite, rutile, chrysoberyls, corundum. Andranondambo Area The occurrences of Andranondambo area were industrially exploited since 1993 and have been almost abandoned few years later. Actually, it is very difficult to exploit sapphire direct in mother rock, because corundum is not concentrated enough. This sapphire was sold as a Kashmir Sapphire by some dealers on international market.

Pakistan Gem Safari The Northern areas conceals treasures, such of rubies, emeralds, sapphires, aquamarines, topazes, tourmalines etc. This is at occasion of one of our visits in valley, that some children tolled us that they found some fragments of emerald in Swat river. Gem Adventure (novel)

The plane landed early – something extremely rare on AirMad line serving Tananarive. Mrs. Nory was standing on airport's tarmac, right next to a gendarme. She welcomed her daughter Tina coming back from Belgium. © 1987 - 2004 gggems.com All rights reserved.

Find-diamonds computer program

Partition Enterprises has been working together with De Beers company and University of Queensland to develop a program that calibrates density separator x-ray sorting machines more accurately, thus maximize diamond yield. Partition will showcase their products at Electra Mining 2004 Exhibition in Johannesburg.

De Beers sightholders

Sightholder firms have to satisfy various criteria such as a high degree of expertise in valuing rough diamonds, high experience in cutting and polishing. De Beers has 125 sightholders to whom they assure a monthly direct supply of rough diamonds and from whom they collect around $ 600 million. The privilege of being a sightholder company is carefully preserved, as being a sightholder means being „on cards”, otherwise supply of diamonds may become dangerously scarce for that company. That is why offered diamonds will be eventually purchased regardless of their quality – pack diamonds can be argued on but they are very rarely rejected, as sightholder cannot afford to lose its status and break relationship with De Beers Diamond Trading Company, relation that is essential for business. In Japan, only company appointed as sightholder is Tasaki.

Innovative complementary grading tool

A new feature will be added in grading reports: light performance. Although concept of measuring light performance of diamonds has been introduced six years ago, this standard of diamond evaluation was never introduced into grading reports of diamond grading laboratories. GemEx Systems, Inc. of Wisconsin and EGL USA of New York will provide a combined diamond grading report to diamond customers – besides certification of 4Cs, its light performance will be measured. The specific section in report will contain results of diamond analysis under six different lighting angles. The GemEx Light Performance Report makes difference between diamonds with similar 4C characteristics that can differ in brilliance, fire and sparkle. The analysis is result of a patented spectrophotometer technology based on computerized BrillianceScope that measures diamonds’ brilliance, fire and sparkle, providing a powerful tool for cutting, sales, buying and marketing of fine diamonds.

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