Tasmanian The Voice of Gemmologist New Find Sapphire Rush Newsletter... · 2019-07-14 · rough...
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Tasmanian Gemmologist Special Notes & Dates 2018 Federal Conference Sapphire Rush in Madagascar 1 GAA Information and contact details 2 Sapphire Rush continued 3 My Diploma in Gemmology Journey Syd Prickett 4 What’ New - Stone Night 5 Things to come 6 Story Page 7 From the Past 8 GAA Federal Conference 9 Short Course Practical 10 Short Course Theory 11 Back Page 12 The Voice of the Tasmania Division What’s inside New Find Sapphire Rush The discovery of sapphires in Madagascar was in 1998 at Ilakaka that has produced some beautiful stones ever since and now in Ambatondrazaka, in October of 2016 sapphires were again found causing a huge rush. People came from all over Madagascar more than 44,000 people travelled to the site including teachers and farmers who have reportedly abandoned their jobs to seek fortunes in the mines. Gemmologist Vincent Pardieu says, “the density of quality sapphires represent a new peak for the industry in Madagascar, out performing the previous sapphire heartland, Ilakaka. There have been more than 100 fine stones over 50 carats in the past six months and this is probably more than in Ilakaka in the last 20 years.” However their mining techniques leave a bit to be desired using rope pulleys which is really just rope wrapped around a branch to lower people down the mine and to make things even harder there is harmful gas at the bottom of the sapphire pit. The miners set up a manual system using large plastic bags to flush out the gas and it is not safe for miners to stay down the mine for more than half an hour, when they need to return to the surface for fresh air.
Transcript of Tasmanian The Voice of Gemmologist New Find Sapphire Rush Newsletter... · 2019-07-14 · rough...
Tasmanian Gemmologist
Special Notes & Dates
2018
Federal
Conference
Sapphire Rush in Madagascar 1
GAA Information and contact details
2
Sapphire Rush continued 3
My Diploma in Gemmology Journey Syd Prickett
4
What’ New - Stone Night 5
Things to come 6
Story Page 7
From the Past 8
GAA Federal Conference 9
Short Course Practical 10
Short Course Theory 11
Back Page 12
The Voice of the
Tasmania Division
What’s inside
New Find
Sapphire Rush
The discovery of sapphires in Madagascar was in 1998 at Ilakaka that
has produced some beautiful stones ever since and now in
Ambatondrazaka, in October of 2016 sapphires were again found
causing a huge rush. People came from all over Madagascar more than
44,000 people travelled to the site including teachers and farmers who
have reportedly abandoned their jobs to seek fortunes in the mines.
Gemmologist Vincent Pardieu says, “the density of quality sapphires
represent a new peak for the industry in Madagascar, out performing the
previous sapphire heartland, Ilakaka. There have been more than 100
fine stones over 50 carats in the past six months and this is probably
more than in Ilakaka in the last 20 years.”
However their mining techniques leave a bit to be desired using rope
pulleys which is really just rope wrapped around a branch to lower
people down the mine and to make things even harder there is harmful
gas at the bottom of the sapphire pit. The miners set up a manual system
using large plastic bags to flush out the gas and it is not safe for miners
to stay down the mine for more than half an hour, when they need to
return to the surface for fresh air.
Page 2
(Tasmania Division) Inc.
President: Byron Nicol Ph: 6247 7619 Email: [email protected]
Vice President: Maree Prickett Ph: 6297 8311 Email: [email protected]
Secretary: Maree Prickett Ph: 6297 8311 Email: as above
Treasurer: Byron Nicol Ph: 6247 7619 Email: [email protected]
Committee Peter Murray Ph: 0407 975 281 Email: [email protected]
Robert Long Ph: 6249 8845 Email: [email protected]
Syd Prickett Ph: 6271 3500 Email: [email protected]
John De Ruyter Ph: 6225 5312 Email: [email protected]
Jewel Beresford Ph: 6261 4233 Email: [email protected]
Jorge Pavez Ph: 0408 034 489 Email: [email protected]
Giselle Devereaux Ph: 6278 3998 Email: [email protected]
Education contacts: Jewel Beresford 6261 4233 [email protected] - Education Officer
Syd Prickett 6271 3500 [email protected] - Education Officer
Correspondence address:
P.O. Box 2138
Howrah
TAS 7018
Tutorial address:
“Philip Smith Centre”
2 Edward Street, Hobart
Contact details:
Ph / Fax; 03 62614233
Email; [email protected]
URL; www.gem.org.au/tasdivf.htm
Newsletter Reminder
This newsletter contains important
information technological updates, humour,
news of your division etc., but it also has
details of forthcoming events about which
you will not receive any other notices !!
Therefore failure to read this may result in
you missing out on events. Your feed back
would also be appreciated and if you think
more articles about, whatever could or
should be included…..
Send them in.
The Gemmological Association of Australia
Written contributions to this newsletter are
very welcome. If you have any material you
would like to be published please forward it
in either written or electronic form
(preferred) to the appropriate addresses on
page 2.
It does not have to be a large item
Page 3 Sapphire Rush cont.
Left:
Plastic Bags used to flush out the gas from the bottom of the sapphire pit.
Another Gemmologist Rosey Perkins, who was also at the site in October of 2016 says some of the stone is of such high quality that some laboratories' have mistaken the stone to be of Kashmiri origin and regarded as the best in the world.
The mine is still theoretically in a protected area for conservation. Located south of Zahamena National Park and north west of Mangerivola Reserve there are some concerns that the mining will disrupt wildlife however the techniques being used by the miners are small-scale artisanal prospecting techniques that are far less destructive than industrial or chemical processes. There is no telling how long this site of the rush will last before it is exhausted.
Madagascar has become one of Africa's leading producers of the coloured gems since they were first discovered on the island in the 1990s, exporting $16.5 million of sapphires, rubies and emeralds in 2015, according to MIT's trade database. This does not include a sizeable black market.
Thank you and I acknowledge Vincent Pardieu for his contribution to this article.
Page 3
Thousands of people mining anywhere they can fit in.
Sapphires from the area
Page 4 Surprises in Gemmology
My Diploma in Gemmology Journey
Doing my Diploma in gemmology and a few surprises I found along the way.
Prior to undertaking the Diploma in Gemmology, I had many years experience in fossicking for gemstone in Northern NSW for mainly topaz and quartz varieties, O’Briens Creek for Topaz and Aquamarine and Central Queensland for sapphires. My life in fossicking started with my father taking me fossicking in an old Holden station wagon to the sapphire fields of Central Queensland, 60klm west of Sapphire and Rubyvale which was an adventure. I was 13 at the time and there were 17 dry creek crossings to cross to get to Tomahawk Creek to dig.
Over the next 30 odd years I dug a lot of sapphire in central Queensland and I also had the opportunity during that time to get a large variety of rough gemstone from East Africa. This rough gemstone included large amounts of Garnet, Almadine, Rhodolite, Pyrope, Spessartine and yes Tsavorite. Sapphire and ruby from Songea and Tunduru, Tanzanite from Tanzania, Tourmaline and Zircon, the list goes on.
My wife and I used to sell a lot of rough and cut gemstone at the gem shows in Queensland, Redcliffe, Toowoomba, Beenleigh, Buderim, Warwick to name a few.
With all my knowledge and specimens of rough and cut over these years, I could just look at a gemstone and identify it straight off the cuff (well that’s what I thought anyway).
The Diploma
As you would know undertaking the Diploma in Gemmology takes a lot of study and gem-stone identification in the classroom and at home.
One afternoon I was using the Polariscope to identify singly refractive and doubly refractive gemstones and the anomalous Extinction of some gemstones.
I had a lot of rough garnet so I started looking at these under the Polariscope and observing what some garnets looked like with anomalous extinction and what inclusions and other factors may cause this.
To my surprise I found a gemstone in the garnets that was doubly refractive. So I put it on my faceting machine and polished a window. I then took a refractive index to discover it fell in the range for Corundum. Yes, it was a ruby I eventually faceted the gem and it ended up being 1.2cts of clean ruby. I had been selling the rough garnets at many gem shows and I am unsure if a lucky buyer came out with a ruby from the rough which I sold at $2 to $3 per carat.
Yes, I then knew that no matter how many rough and cut gemstones you have seen over the years unless you have the knowledge to test gemstones with gemmological equipment you don’t really know what your looking at in many cases.
Syd Prickett FGA
Next issue I will tell you about the Taaffeite I found.
What’s New Page 5
Did you know ? We hold stone nights
Venue: Philip Smith Centre
When: The first Monday of Alternate months
Time: 6.30 to 8.30pm
Cost: Free to members
We have some great gemmologists there to guide you through
the stones and equipment. Learn how to study and identify a
stone.
Rob and John will be there to share the experience with you.
Just come along or give one of them a call on -
Rob Long - 6249 8845
John DeRuyter - 6225 5312
Spectroscope
Microscope Polariscope
Refractometer
Page 6 What’s New
Things to come: In 2018 Tasmania will be hosting the Federal
Conference in Hobart so lots to look forward to -
Interesting Speakers - Dinner
More information to come
Page 7 Story Page
Pink Diamonds
A couple visited the top of Western Australia and while they were there ventured into
jewellery shops as you do. The lady had always wanted a pink diamond, and as any lady
reading this would say ‘why not’. In their jaunts around they saw a couple of small pink
diamonds in a stone box, the price on the box was $34,630.
As they discussed the price they commented on how much pink diamonds had gone up, as
previously they had seen one years before for $10,000 so they decided to have a look at
them. They were considering buying one, thinking it would be around $15,000, but wait
that’s not the end, $34,630 was not for both diamonds, only one diamond weighing 0.119ct
was worth that and the other diamond weighing 0.12ct was $33,120.
Needless to say they left the jewellery shop with no pink diamond.
This is the original photo taken on their mobile phone
Who would have known
Page 8 From the Past
Phoenix Harmonies Natural Gemstones
Sterling Silver Jewellery
Hand made Gemstone Jewelley
Website -
WWW.PhoenixHarmonies.com.au
Phone; 0408 190 455
See us at
Salamanca Market
Hobart Site 91
A Sapphire worth 10,000 pounds ($16,926.32 today)
Apparently there are 4 C’s in which the value of all gems is judged—colour, cut, clarity
and carat. Scoring A plus in all four C’s is the gorgeous sapphire, pictured, the most
valuable gem found in Australia. Called “The Golden Queen” the stone is worth 10,000
pound. It was found at the Willows Field, just out of Anakie, in Central Queensland in
1952 by fossicker Harold Clifton-Parr, who sold it a year later for just over 6,000 pound
($10,153 today). In it’s rough state the stone weighed 323 carats (there are 142 carats to
an ounce), and it had to be cut.
The two Toowoomba men who bought the stone took it to America, where the experts
said the risk of cutting it was too great. One slip, and the sapphire could crumble into
worthless pieces. So the owners brought it back to Australia, and asked a Sydney gem-
cutter, Mr. Ernest Bliss, to take the risk. It took him
two months to cut the “big yellow” and produce the
Golden Queen which weighs 91.35 carats.
Mr. Bob Porter, who manages a Brisbane jeweller’s
shop, is looking after the gem for its owners. “The
sapphire could be worn with pride by a Queen or an
Empress,” was his comment. This article from the
Women’s weekly in 1962.
Page 9 Keeping You Up to Date
GAA Federal Conference May 2017 The conference was interesting as always with many topics to discuss and all states
attending. The weather was fine, well really we don’t know, we were inside at the meetings.
Needless to say the Victorians’ looked after us with plenty of good food and the odd wine.
One of the members Darren Daley donated some Queensland sapphires which were all
graded and then some were handed to each state for training students.
BOSE donated some Diamonds, did I just say Diamonds, YES Diamonds, fracture filled for
training students. Very bright and shinny.
Western Australia were very kind in donating a book to each state titled ‘Gemstones of
Western Australia’ second edition by J Michael Fetherston, Susan M Stocklmayer, and
Vernon C Stocklmayer. The book was originally produced by a collaborated project between
GAA Western Australian Division and the Geological Survey of Western Australia.
This book is now in our library for all to enjoy.
There were some changes at the Federal AGM in which our long standing President Katrina
Marchioni stood down and the new president is Chris Holdsworth.
Picture
From one president to another.
No Chris the flowers are not for you,
they are for Katrina for doing such a
great job.
Thank you so much Katrina.
Fracture filled Diamonds from BOSE
For students to study
Page 10 Short course - 10 weeks
Practical Gemstones Practical
Gemstones
• This course is done during the year providing we have a minimum of
4 students
• 10 weeks, two hours per night, one night a week
• The Venue: Lecture Room, Philip Smith Centre, 2 Edward St, Glebe
• Cost for members and non members is $350.00
Content
How to handle gemstones
How to test a gemstone
How to use gemmology
instruments
How to use a microscope
How to determine the
stones characteristics
How to determine a
gemstone’s name
If you are interested contact :
Rob Long: 6249 8845
John DeRyter: 6225 5312
or
Email - [email protected]
To enquire about dates for this
course and confirm your place
for this great opportunity.
This is a great starting point for understanding gemstone and is the next step to
making a decision to become a gemmologist.
Once you have completed the Introduction to Gemstone course you will be able to
apply to do this ‘Practical Gemstones’ course. After completing both courses you can
decide if gemmology is for you. Trust me it’s a great experience.
Even current Gemmologists might like to do a refresher course and this is the one for
you.
Page 11 Short Course - 6 weeks
Below is a great short course that GAA Tasmania provides to people interested in gem-
stone. Participants can pay as they go, we all know what the economical climate is like.
This is also a great course for people to test out before deciding to do the diploma .
Introduction to Gems and Gemmology
Syd & Maree Prickett
GAA
This course is presented each year with a minimum of 4 students.
Six weeks, two hours per night, one night a week.
The venue is: Lecture Room, Philip Smith Centre, 2 Edward Street, Glebe.
The cost for this course is $200.00.
CONTENT
What is a gemstone?
Where are they found?
From what are they created?
What gives them their colour?
Why do they react to light?
How are they cut?
Can you identify a fake?
Synthetics & Treatments
Their place in History
What determines their value?
Do I want to be a gemmologist?
PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE
A reference book
Notes
Specimens
Tweezers
10x Lens
Statement of participation on completion
WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?
Anyone interested in the science, art &
craft of gems: jewellers, antique dealers,
lapidaries and those with a huge curiosity
about this incredible fascinating world.
If you are interested contact:
Maree Prickett Secretary 0408 190 455
Syd Prickett Federal Member 0437 104 970
to secure your place for this great course.
What we are looking for -
Students
Students
Students
If you know anyone who is keen on gemstone encourage them to do
one of our short courses, we need more members and you can help.
Just ask them to please contact us via our email - [email protected] or
give one of the committee a call phone numbers on page 2.
Advertising in this magazine -
We welcome anyone wishing to advertise in this magazine to please
contact us through our email - [email protected]
1/4 page - $ 75.00
1/2 page - $ 148.00
Full page - $ 295.00
This includes -
Colour advert
Magazine is issued to all members in Tasmania including one to each
State head office 4 times a year.
Would you like this magazine emailed to you
Please send your email to [email protected]
