View our range of sapphire rough. It can be any depth from one foot down to 90 foot below the surface. The Bedford Hills district has the deepest floor. Here at Graves Hill we a find sapphires from 1 to 18 foot in the areas we have explored so far.
Thus, all colours of the translucent form of the mineral corundum are known as sapphires. The main deposits of high-quality sapphire gemstones are found only in a few places, mainly in southern Asia and eastern Africa and the islands of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and Madagascar.
Remember sapphire are very heavy, they will tend to sit on bedrock, so sometimes you may have to dig quite deep down to get to the good stuff. Tip 4. If the bedrock (very hard rock that the sapphire can't go through) has a indentation, clean out that dip, chances are a sapphire fell in there.
Sapphires are mined from alluvial deposits or from primary underground workings.
Sapphires are created through certain shifts in heat and pressure, and can be found in both metamorphic and igneous rocks. Rocks in which sapphires can be found include granite, schist, gneiss, nephaline syenite and a variety of others. They may also be found in deposits of alluvium.
To identify if your sapphire stone is real, stay in total darkness and use a flashlight to shine a light on it. If you have a genuine sapphire, the same color as the sapphire stone should reflect back. However, if it is a fake sapphire (usually made of glass), you will see other color reflections in the crystal.
Most notably are the sapphires from Sri Lanka. For thousands of years fine sapphires have been found in this special place. Sri Lanka (formally called “Ceylon”) is still the top producer of fine untreated stones in the world.
Check For Blemishes
Natural sapphires have flaws and inclusions which prove that they came straight from nature. If you look at them with a jeweler's magnifying glass or loupe, you will see small spots and blemishes which occur naturally as the sapphire formed thousands of years ago under the earth.
Sapphire Rarity
Sapphires are rare gems, especially when compared to diamonds. The most common color is blue, but deeply saturated blue sapphires with high clarity are difficult to find in nature, making them incredibly valuable. Green emeralds and red rubies are harder to find in nature than sapphires.
One of the most productive mining regions in the world for sapphires, follow along as we discover what makes Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos a group of powerhouses for gem-quality sapphires. A selection of natural sapphire crystal rough.
In addition, natural sapphire comes in more colors and clarities than lab sapphire. For example, lab blue sapphire will always be a pure blue, without tint. On the other hand, natural sapphire can also be greenish blue or violet blue.
Montana is the only state in the United States with any significant production of gem-quality sapphires. There are four localities where sapphires are found in Montana, and only one of them is a primary deposit–the others are all alluvial deposits.
Diamond can scratch them; so can man-made materials that incorporate silicon carbide, which, with a Mohs rating of between 9 and 10, is harder than sapphire.
Montana is known as the Treasure State because it is rich in many mineral and gemstone sources, including two types of sapphires: the Yogo Sapphire from the central area of the state, and Fancy Montana Sapphires found mostly in the western half of the state.
Stones Similar to Spinel
Red, pink, and blue spinel gems are frequently confused with rubies and sapphires, so much so that some famous gems were initially mislabeled as ruby or sapphire. For black spinel gemstones, black tourmaline can be a solid stand-in.
Sapphires are a rare gemstone that can take millions of years to form. Like rubies, sapphires are also formed out of the mineral corundum. In scientific terms, the mineral is known as aluminum oxide. Corundum acquires color when there are other minerals that become present as it is forming.
However, natural sapphires come in almost every color of the rainbow including pink, rose, violet, yellow, orange, green, blue-green, or white (colorless). The special color combination of pink-orange or orange-pink is known as Padparadscha sapphire, the rarest sapphire color, and a special rarity.
The most valuable sapphire is the very rare Padparadscha Sapphire in the colour combination orange-pink. In general one can say that lighter pastel colours are always cheaper than rare intensive sapphire colours. Blue and intense pink sapphires have always been rare and reflect the current and future higher value.
Depending on where you're searching, sapphires are another precious gem that's often found by gold prospecting metal detectors. Sapphires are generally thought of as blue, but they can occur in several different colors depending on what trace minerals are present including yellow, pink, grey, and black.
For the most part, sapphires, especially blue ones, feature a steely gray undertone that sets them apart from other rough gemstones. In certain cases, these jewels may even have a slightly milky appearance. As such, if you notice the same on your gemstone, it is probably a real rough sapphire.
A sapphire stone can always be re-cut, so clarity is probably more important. A top quality 1 to 2 carat stone might retail for prices between $800 - $1200 per carat. While quality 2 to 3 carat stones would sell for approximately double the price per carat, so that would be around $1600 - $2000 per carat.
The most highly valued blue sapphires are velvety blue to violetish blue, in medium to medium dark tones. Preferred sapphires also have strong to vivid color saturation. The saturation should be as strong as possible without darkening the color and compromising brightness. Blue sapphires often have some inclusions.
Though sapphires are rarer than diamonds, they are often a more affordable diamond alternative or accent. The brilliance, durability and timelessness of diamonds keeps them as the more expensive of these two gems.
Emerald: Like sapphires and rubies, emeralds are among the rarest of all gemstones. They are rarer than sapphires but not quite as rare as rubies. Note: Comparing to diamonds, fine quality sapphires, rubies and emeralds are far, FAR more rare.
The Blue Belle Of Asia earns the title of the most expensive blue sapphire in the world, after selling for $17,305,996 at Christie's Geneva in November 2014. This 392.52-carat untreated Ceylon sapphire features a cushion-cut stone that draws your gaze into the depths of its captivating blue prism.