Where Are Sapphires Mined?

Where Are Sapphires Mined? thumbnail
Where Are Sapphires Mined?

Sapphires are metamorphic stones. They belong to the aluminum oxide (corundum) species of gem. Sapphires can be any color except red--this color of corundum is named ruby. They are commonly mined from alluvial deposits.

  1. Asia

    • In Asia, sapphires are mined in Myanmar, China, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

    Near East and Middle East

    • Sapphires from the Middle East and Near East come from Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

    Off the Coast of Africa

    • Madagascar produces sapphires in the city of Ilakaka and in the land surrounding it.

    Africa

    • In Africa, both Kenya and Tanzania are involved in sapphire mining.

    Australia

    • Sapphires are mined in Australia--in Queensland and New South Wales. In Queensland, there are several major deposits, the Anakie field and the Lava Plains. In New South Wales, sapphires are mined from the New England field.

    USA

    • In western Montana, near Helena, sapphires are mined in several places--from the Spokane Bar deposit and the El Dorado deposit. Also in Montana, not far from Utica, sapphires are mined in Yogo Gulch. On the other side of the U.S., sapphires are mined in Franklin, North Carolina.

Related Searches:

Resources

  • Photo Credit Lestatdelc

Comments

You May Also Like

  • How to Identify Sapphires

    Sapphires are among the most beautiful and most precious gems in the world. They come in a wide spectrum of colors, the...

  • How Do Sapphires Form?

    Sapphires have long been appreciated for their beauty and valued for centuries. They can be found gracing England's crown jewels. Pope Innocent...

  • Where Are Rubies & Sapphires Most Prevalent?

    Rubies and sapphires are beautiful stones to use in jewelry. Both are a different variety of a mineral called corundum. Rubies and...

  • How to Mine Sapphire

    In 1865, the first sapphires found in the U.S. were discovered in Montana. Subsequently, sapphires have been found in North Carolina. Both...

  • How to Identify a Padparadscha Sapphire

    The padparadscha sapphire is the most valuable of the colored sapphires. It is a bright pinkish-orange stone with qualities that are debated...

  • What Countries Are Sapphires Found In?

    What Countries Are Sapphires Found In?. Brilliant gems that sparkle in light, sapphires commonly possess a blue tint, though they can present...

  • Where to Design a Sapphire Ring

    Designing your own jewelry with the help of a jeweler or an online entity can be incredibly rewarding. Anything, well almost anything,...

  • White Sapphire Vs. Diamond

    When most people think of sapphires they imagine a deep blue. But sapphires can also be white and they can compete with...

  • What Is the Meaning of Lab-Created Sapphires?

    Sapphires are a beautiful stone that is made of an aluminum oxide composition. They can be blue, white or almost any other...

  • Why Are Sapphires Precious?

    The word "sapphire" stems from the Latin word "saphirus" and the Greek word "sapheiros," both of which mean blue, according to jewelsforme.com....

  • Book Clubs in Dallas

    Book Clubs in Dallas. Book clubs provide an opportunity for avid readers to discuss books with others who share their passion. Most...

  • Commercial Uses of Sapphire

    Sapphire is the birthstone for those born in September. Sapphire is a tough, durable and very hard corundum-variety gemstone but it is...

  • How to Find Sapphires in Montana

    Montana is a state famous for its rugged countryside and multiple gold and mineral mines. The Treasure State is home to some...

  • Facts About Star Sapphires

    Star sapphires are cabochon-cut sapphires that reflect light in such a way that the stone appears to have a star within it....

  • What Do Sapphires Represent?

    Sapphires are a gemstone commonly mined in Africa, Asia and Australia. They are one of four precious gems that occur in nature,...

  • The Definition of a Ceylon Sapphire

    There is no sapphire as highly respected for its quality and enduring value as the Ceylon Sapphire. For the past 2000 years...

  • How to Determine the Quality of a Star Sapphire

    Sapphires are a precious gemstone, but collectors are even more excited when the stones contain a valuable irregularity. Long strands of microscopic...

  • Real Sapphires Vs. Manufactured

    Many people are familiar with the blue glow of a piece of sapphire jewelry. Few know, however, that the sapphire can be...

  • Where are Rubies Mined?

    Rubies are formed from the mineral corundum, as are sapphires. Both stones acquire their color from additional impurities. Rubies can be of...

  • How Are Sapphires Made?

    With a color range that includes every shade except red, sapphires are one of the most varied naturally occurring gemstones. While these...

Related Ads

Featured