"Vato Masina I": Sapphires rush near Bemainty, Madagascar (first part)

[@batumuliajogja]

I love sapphire! This is my one of my dream to visit Madgascar for sapphire!

[@coreymerrill3257]

I hope to get a nice raw chunk like that clear and blue . Or a big ol raw star sapphire... could a star sapphire be pink? How about green and purple dichroic material? Can that have chatoyancy , common sense says yes but that's not always correct. I love your work

[@VincentPardieuFieldGemology]

Yes, indeed: Star sapphires can be pink. Actually corundum of all colors can be found as star stones when the right inclusions creating the star are present.

[@VincentPardieuFieldGemology]

Some other articles about the sapphire rush mainly based on Rosey Perkins visit in October 2016: www.independent.co.uk/environment/a-sapphire-rush-has-sent-at-least-45000-miners-into-madagascar-s-protected-rainforests-a7431761.html and theconversation.com/a-sapphire-rush-has-sent-at-least-45-000-miners-into-madagascars-protected-rainforests-69164

[@VincentPardieuFieldGemology]

More info on the sapphires rush near Bemainty please check on GIA website: Our first release: www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/winter-2016-gemnews-sapphire-rush-near-ambatondrazaka-madagascar and a full study on that new material is available here: www.gia.edu/gia-news-research/sapphires-gem-rush-bemainty-ambatondrazaka-madagascar and see also Rosey Perking reports, after her expedition in Oct 2016: Perkins R. (2016) Sapphire rush in the jungle east of Ambatondrazaka, Madagascar: an expedition report: roseyperkins.com/visit-sapphi... roseyperkins.com/sapphire-rus... roseyperkins.com/sapphire-rus... and watch the following video she published after her return: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWndZGVplr2oors

[@arashghasemi]

Vincent: I have a question for you: Is there any sapphire in the history, with the quality shown in the thumbnail, that is absolutely not treated/enhanced???

[@VincentPardieuFieldGemology]

Sure, there are many. The stones in the thumnail are unheated sapphires from Bemainty...

[@arashghasemi]

@@VincentPardieuFieldGemology That's so amazing! I have never seen anything like it in person. Thanks for letting me know they exit.

[@mrceylonsapphire93]

Good work

[@nicholaspearson4246]

This sapphire rush in Madagascar is having unfortunate impacts on the remaining rich and unique biodiversity of the island. Of course the rush is also providing work for the poverty afflicted Malgasy people, so its a mixed bag what is happening.

[@unpopuIaropinion]

Nice videos, please show us some cut gems from the localities you visit!

[@lincolnthinking]

nice geological fact, the valley was an ideal trap for large size sapphires ~ onward and upwards to source veins ?

[@HighlanderNorth1]

It's funny how the sellers always start out with a ridiculously high price. The guy with the small, rough potential star sapphire asks for $1000. The rough was maybe 2cts tops, and after cutting, it will probably be 1ct or less. So it's got to be faceted and polished yet. Then the buyer will have to make a profit for his efforts(long travel etc), then he sells it to a jeweler, who must make a profit. All those facts considered, not to mention the fact that nobody knows if it will end up with a good star or not, and I'd say that the miner should probably be paid about $100+ for it.

[@jonathanmalm9548]

What does one sell for retail?

[@zenfonedavid4466]

1000??? for 2ct rough. ridiculous. i sell many gemstones in my country for only sub 100$ , the buyer sell it again in ny for nice profit

[@VincentPardieuFieldGemology]

Well these were asking prices... In Madagascar and particularly on mining sites, people often first ask for crazy prices. :-)

[@VincentPardieuFieldGemology]

Another interesting publication associated with this new deposit : myemail.constantcontact.com/SSEF-TRADE-ALERT--Kashmir-like--sapphires-from-Madagascar-entering-the-gem-trade-in-large-sizes-and-quantities--29-3-2017-.html?soid=1101798710063&aid=TfeIQXkiGYQ

[@mkmkamil]

how about Srilankan Sapphires

[@VincentPardieuFieldGemology]

Well, you will have to wait for me to return to Sri Lanka. In the meanwhile you can may be enjoy that video we did when I was working at GIA: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpSygGyPgdaXrM0

[@ns7027]

Awesome

[@aventure-voyage]

Nice Video !!! ;)

[@abrahamgomez1166]

Great Stuff :)

[@jonathanbell9349]

Those folks make pennies