Origin of Sapphire [Introduction to Sapphire 6]

Gem-grade sapphires are found in many countries around the world. Some of these historically important deposits are now no longer produced because the mine is no longer active (such as the famous Kashmir sapphire mine).

Sapphires from Asia: Myanmar, Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Thailand

Since ancient times, Sri Lanka has been the oldest known sapphire producing area. The sapphires produced here have been traded to India, the Middle East and the European continent. Many sapphires found in Byzantine jewelry are believed to come from Sri Lanka. This gem island country is still an important sapphire producing area, producing many high-quality sapphires (such as the Blue Belle of Asia, the beauty of Asia).

Left: Gem mining near Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. Right: Gem products for sale at the gemstone market near Elahera, Sri Lanka. Photo: SSEF, SSEF.

Although Burma is better known for its rubies, for centuries, the Mok Valley Gem Mine (the Gem Mine) was also a very important sapphire producing area.

A more than 1500-carat Mo Gu (Myanmar) sapphire raw stone. Photo: SSEF

For centuries, Thailand and the border areas between Cambodia and Thailand have been the source of sapphires and other gems. Today, neither country is a major producer. Thailand has gradually transformed from a gem mining country to an important center for gem cutting, optimization processing and gem trading. And sapphires from basalt areas, such as sapphires from Thailand's Kanchanabur and Chanthaburi, or Cambodia's Pailin Province, can still be found in the market today.

Sapphire is mined by hand in a river near Pailin, Cambodia. Photo: SSEF, SSEF.

The mines in Kashmir (now India) are no longer active, but Kashmir is still the most popular sapphire producing area, as can be seen from the auction records of sapphires. The sapphires produced in the Zanskar mountain range in the region were first discovered in the 1880s, and the main mining activity took place between 1882 and 1887. This also means that the vast majority of Kashmir sapphires that appear in the trade today come from old heritage.

Sapphires from Africa: Ethiopia, Madagascar, Tanzania

In the 1960s, sapphire deposits were discovered in the Umba% 20 Valley in northern Tanzania. The sapphires in this area are famous for their colorful colors, producing sapphires of various colors and light colors. In the 1990s, the Songea and Tunduru deposits in southern Tanzania were discovered and became important sources of goods in the global gem trade.

From the gem-producing Umba Valley to Mount Usambara in northern Tanzania. Photo: Michael Krzemnicki, SSEF

Other African sapphire deposits related to volcanic rock (basalt) have been discovered in East Africa (such as Rwanda and Kenya), Nigeria, Cameroon, and most recently (2017) in Ethiopia over the past few decades.

Madagascar, which has a geological history related to East Africa and Sri Lanka, has become one of the most important sapphire producing areas in the world in just a few decades. In 1991, the first sapphire was discovered near Andranondambo in southern Madagascar, which triggered a series of gem crazes. After that, the Ambondromifehy mining area (1993), especially the Ilakaka and Sakahara mining areas (1998) and the Bemainty/Ambatondrazaka mining area (late 2016) discovered and produced incredible sapphires, which made the sapphire industry in recent decades. Fusion.

Sapphire of America: Montana (United States)

Sapphire was discovered in Montana in the late 19th century. In addition to the Yogo Gulch mining area, Montana also has other sapphire mining areas (such as Rock Creek, Missouri River and Dry Cottonwood Creek), and not only produces sapphires, but also produces a large number of colored sapphires.

Other Sapphire Origin: Australia, France

Sapphires were discovered in Australia in the 1850s. From the 1970s to the 1980s, Australian sapphires played an important role in the international gemstone trade, and most of the gemstone materials produced in the region were purchased by Thai dealers and subsequently optimized. The two main sources of Australian sapphires are related to volcanic rocks (basalt). They are the New England Mine (New England) in northern New South Wales and the Anakie Mine (Anakie) in central Queensland. The colors of these basalt sapphires are often called BYG colors (blue, yellow, and green).

In Europe, there is also an ancient sapphire producing area, namely the Massif Central in France (Massif Central). Basalt sapphires are found here, which are occasionally used on ancient Roman jewelry and medieval jewelry.

Basalt sapphires (related to basalt, a type of volcanic rock), such as sapphires from Australia, France, Asia, and Africa. For such sapphires, their specific origin is often difficult to distinguish, and they are uniformly called sapphires from basalt producing areas.

Examples of high-quality sapphires from different origins identified by SSEF. Photo: SSEF

Origin identification of sapphire

The study of different sapphire deposits enables gemologists to identify sapphires from different deposits, and determine their origin through microscopic observation, spectral analysis and determination of trace element content.

In the final analysis, origin identification is a conclusion based on expert opinions. At SSEF Swiss Jewelry Research Institute, origin identification relies on the analysis and summary of the microscopic characteristics, trace element concentrations and spectral data of colored gemstones. All kinds of observation and test data obtained from the gemstone samples sent by customers are compared with our huge gemstone reference database and scientific research literature of colored gemstones of known origins, and the origin identification conclusion is given after comprehensive consideration.