At present, the most famous auction markets are sapphires from Kashmir, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. But in fact, every producing area has high-quality sapphire output. Now Xiaoji presents the complete works of sapphire places with both hands, so learn to collect them quickly ~
Distribution map of major sapphire producing areas in the world? Study on the main producing areas of colored gems in the world
So far, the blue sapphires found in the world are mainly concentrated in Asia, among which Kashmir, Myanmar and Sri Lanka are all very famous sapphire producing areas. In addition, sapphires are also produced in Africa, Oceania and America.
1. Kashmir sapphire is known as the most precious sapphire in the world, and its status is like the ruby of ancient shepherd and the emerald of Myanmar.
42.28 carat cushion cornflower sapphire, produced in Kashmir.
If you are not familiar with the name Kashmir, I believe cornflower sapphire will definitely remind you of it. The cornflower sapphire was first born in Kashmir, India, giving people a hazy velvet-like unique texture, which is similar to "cornflower" and named after it.
cornflower
Kashmir lies in the valley between India and Pakistan. Due to territorial disputes, depleted reserves and difficulties in mining, it is difficult to find cornflower sapphire in Kashmir.
The punctate inclusions in the unburned sapphire in Kashmir give the sapphire a velvet appearance under light.
In particular, the color band in Kashmir sapphire is a diagnostic feature. The "milky white" ribbon is composed of microscopic particles, which are very fine. Although it will reduce the transparency of sapphire, it also produces a unique "velvet" appearance.
Solid inclusions of various shapes can also be seen in Kashmir sapphires, among which smaller zircon inclusions are the most common, among which slender needle/columnar leek amphibole crystals and columnar tourmaline crystals are of genetic significance.
2. Burmese blue is a traditional sapphire producing area. Gemstones are mainly produced in pegmatite, corundum syenite and gneiss, and there are many mining areas, and the quality of sapphire produced is also good. There are three main sapphire mining areas in Myanmar: Gu Mo, Su Meng and South Asia.
Royal sapphire
Gumu sapphire enjoys a high reputation in the gem industry because of its clean interior, high transparency and bright color. The top color of blue sapphire is called "sapphire". In addition to blue, there are many colors such as purple, purple and yellow. The color and quality of sapphires in Su Meng are not as good as those in Gu Mo mining area. Sapphire from South Asia has smaller particles.
"Sapphire" is a true blue or purple blue, which is the highest grade of sapphire color. Bright blue or dark blue whose saturation and lightness meet certain conditions can reach the level of "sapphire" (click to view the classification standard of blue sapphire). It is worth noting that "Sapphire" is not limited to its place of origin.
Three Groups of Directional Rutile Needle Inclusions in Sapphire from Myanmar
Rutile is the most common mineral inclusion in Myanmar sapphire. Rutile with different lengths is distributed directionally, showing gray or color interference color.
Rutile needles in Burmese sapphires
In addition, black opaque graphite, round zircon, magnetite, apatite, phlogopite, dolomite and other mineral inclusions can also be seen.
Needle-like mineral inclusions in Burmese sapphires and carbonate mineral inclusions in Burmese unburned sapphires.
Sapphire in Myanmar is usually polycrystalline, and the double mirrors are parallel to the direction of rhombus. Sometimes a "cross-plane hollow tube" formed by the dissolution of acicular diaspore can be seen at the junction of two sets of double crystal planes.
Polycrystalline twins with interference color in Burmese sapphire
Third, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka sapphire original stone
Sri Lanka produces many kinds of colored gems and is known as the "Island of Gems". The mining and trade of sapphire has a long history in Sri Lanka. Today, Sri Lanka is still one of the largest producers of high-quality sapphires in the world.
Directional arrangement of rutile acicular inclusions in sapphire from Sri Lanka
Sapphire in Sri Lanka is very rich in color, including the rare pink orange Papara Chacha sapphire, which is also the main producing area of starlight sapphire.
Arrow-shaped rutile inclusions in unburned sapphires from Sri Lanka
The needle-like rutile needles in Sri Lankan sapphires are thinner than those in Myanmar. Needle-shaped rutile is often distributed parallel to the bottom or cylinder (which can produce six-ray starlight effect), and individual coarse needle-shaped rutile can be seen as "arrow-shaped" twins. Other mineral inclusions include spinel, apatite, pyrite, hematite, feldspar, zircon, crystalline uranium ore and diaspore.
Lattice fluid inclusions in sapphire from Sri Lanka
Rich fluid inclusions are one of the most important characteristics of sapphire in Sri Lanka. The combination form of fluid inclusions is regular and the composition pattern is beautiful.
Parallel Ribbon in Unburned Sapphire from Sri Lanka
Fourthly, there are abundant sapphire resources in the central, western and eastern parts of Thailand. The main producing areas of sapphires in Thailand are Tsien Quanfu, Datuk, Beibi Fufu, Bafu and other places. The output of rubies and sapphires accounts for more than 90% of the total output of corundum in Thailand.
Black star sapphire is mainly produced in Thailand. When the rutile needles arranged in three directions intersect with the needle-like inclusions of hematite/ilmenite at a certain angle, there will be twelve starlight (two groups of six starlight) composed of golden yellow and silvery white, also known as "double starlight" phenomenon.
Twelve stars Thailand sapphire
The most characteristic inclusions in Thai sapphires are flat stress fractures centered on solid inclusions, such as yellow translucent apatite, colorless transparent plagioclase, pyrrhotite, calcite and biotite.
Verb (abbreviation of verb) Madagascar In recent years, Madagascar has gradually become a major producer of gem resources, with sapphires produced in Ilaka, Antananarivo, Tolinaro and Antsiranana. Madagascar's sapphire exports are large, but the output is unstable, which is greatly affected by the policy.
Parallel tubular inclusions in unburned sapphires from Madagascar
Rutile needles in Madagascar sapphires are mostly needle-shaped and vary in size. It can be seen that slender tubular or fibrous inclusions, if there are large hollow tubes, are often filled with orange-red "disseminated substances"; In addition, mineral inclusions such as feldspar, zircon, niobite, spinel, monazite, amphibole, graphite and mica have also been found.
Niobium-bearing iron ore in Madagascar sapphire "burr-like" inclusions in Madagascar sapphire
6. Montana, USA The United States also has rich sapphire resources, but the most famous one is Montana sapphire. Montana is the state with the most gem-grade sapphire in North America, and the primary sapphire ore is mainly produced in Yogo Gulch.
American Yogo sapphire? Gemmological Institute of America.
Yogo sapphire is usually hexagonal plate crystal, so it is usually less than 1 carat after cutting and polishing. Its source can be identified by inclusions and trace elements. At present, it is proved that Yogo sapphire has a large output and may enter the jewelry trading market in large quantities in the future.
7. Australia Australia is one of the main producing areas of sapphire. Sapphire with high commercial value is mainly produced in secondary deposits related to alkaline basalt, and most Australian sapphires come from New South Wales.
Australian sapphires have low transparency, mainly dark blue, black blue, white, grayish green, yellow and other colors, and the colors are uneven.
Australian sapphire has obvious growth zone, and its interior is generally clean, with a small amount of solid inclusions such as hematite and feldspar, as well as a small amount of fluid inclusions and secondary healing cracks.
Sapphire original stone crystal
Eight, China Shandong in China, Hainan, Fujian, Jiangsu, Qinghai, Shandong and other places have sapphire distribution. Shandong Changle is the largest sapphire producing area at present.
Similar to Australia, Shandong sapphires are produced in magmatic deposits in basalt, with low transparency, dark color and developed color bands. In addition, there are some green, blue-green and yellow-green sapphires. There are many kinds of internal solid inclusions, such as zircon, rutile, garnet, ilmenite and corundum microcrystal. Fluid inclusions are often distributed in groups on the healed fracture surface, or exist in the form of handprints and elbows. Hexagonal growth zone is also one of the important characteristics of Shandong sapphire.
Guild sapphire color grading standard
Conclusion Although the gemmological characteristics of sapphires from different habitats are similar, there are differences due to different geological conditions and geochemical environments. After a long time, these differences are still recorded and preserved as important characteristics of origin identification.
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