Other April News

April 25: 100-Carat Diamond Offered in Christie’s Sale

The largest colorless diamond to be auctioned in 18 years will be offered May 28, according to a Christie’s Hong Kong press release.

Nameless. The 101.27-carat diamond in this tiara comes with “naming rights.” (Photo: Christie’s)

The stone was cut from a 460-carat rough, the modified shield shape featuring 92 brilliant facets. Also offered at the sale is a 10.63-carat green diamond (pictured below). [back to top]

Timeless. Christie’s claims that “millions of years are required to render even a pale green body colour to a 1 carat diamond.” (Photo: Christie’s)

Sixth Annual John Sinkankas Symposium: Garnet

The sixth annual John Sinkankas Symposium was held over the weekend, on the topic of garnet. The event is co-sponsored by the San Diego Mineral and Gem Society and the GIA’s Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center.

Pala’s Wimon Manorotkul provided photographs for this year’s symposium booklet. The gemstones are (l–r) rhodolite, spessartite, and tsavorite garnets.

Speakers and topics were scheduled as follows.

• Lisbet Thoreson: Garnets as Gems in Ancient Times 
• Skip Simmons: Mineralogy and Crystallography 
• Si Frazier: Interesting Garnet Facts 
• Bill Larson: Rarer Gem Garnets 
• John Koivula: Microworld of Garnet 
• Meg Berry: Cutting Hints for Gem Garnets 
• Robert Weldon: Gem Garnets and Photography Tips 
• George Rossman: Color in Garnet

[back to top]

Pala’s New Corundum Collection

Bill Larson’s hands-on approach in the mineral world has connected the dots between the actual mining endeavors on the one hand and, on the other, dealing with the collectors of the minerals found within the mines. Involved in mining operations around the globe, including Russia, Sri Lanka, Mexico, and right here in San Diego, Bill has seen firsthand what it takes to hunt and gather these often rare natural crystal forms.

Blue, yellow, and red corundum crystals exhibiting the classic tapering hexagonal dipyramidal form. Crystals are about 5 cm. tall; the blue and yellow sapphires are from Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, and the ruby is from Kitul, Kenya. (Photo: Jason Stephenson)

Being able to discern a potential collector-specimen from a piece of rough for cutting takes not only a trained eye but also an artistic one: to imagine how best the crystal can be freed from its host or, even better, being able to keep a trace of the host as a base for a specimen. As a mineral collector, preserving nature’s crystal form is central, but to a gem lover the curiosity that goes along with the possibility of a clean, colorful stone being trapped inside the crystal is paramount. Witnessing the transformation from rough through cutting and the ultimate faceted gem is exciting and gratifying, if foresight and a little luck are on your side.

In his 40 years of globetrotting, Bill has mastered the art of assembling wonderful collections that represent either a single species found throughout the world, or one locality that produces a variety of species. These focused collections allow us to catalog the treasures of our planet in a calculated way while gaining knowledge of diagnostic crystallography from specific localities.

The new corundum collection contains representative samples from all major sapphire-producing regions. Studying this collection allows us to go back in time, leaving the seemingly endless assortment of faceted sapphires behind, and to understand the formation and ultimate crystal form that defines each of these sapphire-bearing deposits.

The Corundum Collection is a new installation at Pala, and will be available for purchase once all the specimens are in place. (Photo: Jason Stephenson)

The collection highlights some of the more well-known deposits of India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam, Madagascar, Tanzania, and some of the lesser-known ones: Russia, Australia, Brazil, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Macedonia, and the U.S., which all produce some form of corundum.

This collection is now on display in the mineral house on the Pala International grounds.

Interested in a single ruby or sapphire crystal? Check the following links to see what’s in stock:

• Sapphire
• Ruby

[back to top]

Andesine-Labradorite Testing Underway

On February 1, just prior to the Tucson show, JCK’s Gary Roskin blogged [content removed] regarding relatively inexpensive sales of andesine-labradorite by Jewelry Television (JTV). Sales of the gemstone were so brisk, JTV’s inventory was reduced “to a fraction of its original level,” according to JTV’s own blog entry [content removed] of January 31. The popular stone would be in short supply at Tucson.

This 34.06-carat sunstone from China was acquired by Pala’s Bill Larson at the time of the ICA Congress in 2005.

In that same entry, JTV co-founder Jerry Sisk made a cryptic announcement—of a pending announcement: “[W]e are on the cusp of announcing information regarding andesine-labradorite that no one in the gem world has been able to discover!” Roskin openly wondered, “OK—we haven’t been able to discover what? Why it’s selling out at $40-$100/ct? Where it comes from. (China? Tibet? the Congo? Oregon? some lab in Bangkok?) Hmmm. Well I’m curious.”

Over the next days and weeks, the the following were posted to the JTV blog:

• The installment of Jewel Hunter Jack, whose first mission (“accomplished!”) was to track down the location of the andesine mine that “yields dramatic red, green and yellow labradorite” that JTV was selling
• Video clips of Sisk announcing that much of the marketed andesine-labradorite was from mines in northern China and southern Mongolia, and that the color was achieved by heating (the treatment had previously not been detected)
• A link to Andesine Labradorite FAQs, which mention that JTV had forwarded treated and untreated rough, from a source in southern Mongolia, to major labs and universities in the U.S. for research; JTV also offered to buy back what it had sold as “untreated,” until March 30

On March 5, Roskin blogged [content removed] that the JTV rough had been sent for testing to Drs. James Shigley (GIA), George Rossman (Caltech), and John Emmett (Crystal Chemistry). Roskin also speculated on the possibility of diffusion treatment and questioned the claims of “natural color” for material from other non-U.S. localities (Tibet, Congo, Central America).

It will be some time before testing is completed. Meanwhile, read David Federman’s Colored Stone article, “The Furor Over Feldspar” [content removed], which reviews the history of sunstone production in the United States and the perspective of Minnesota gemstone cutter, John Dyer, who actually has worked with andesine-labradorite rough. [back to top]

Burma Bits

2007 Gem Trade Statistics – 89% Increase Over FY2006–07

A February 20 item on the Yangon City website stated that “the export of gems and low-prize gems fetched over US $562 million from January to December, 2007, it was learnt.” The item announced the 45th Gems Emporium, which was held in March.

“Awed by the Fabulous Ruby Ngamauk.” Read the story of this ruby in our reprint of C. M. Enriquez’s “Fire-Hearted Pebbles from Burma.” Below, Han Htun, FGA, and Pala’s Bill Larson, under the image of King Tibaw showing the royal ruby to gem merchant extraordinaire and author Edwin Streeter. (Photos: Bill Larson)

The $562 million figure is consistent with the three $185 million dollar sales ($555 million total) reported or estimated for 2007. An April 8 Bangkok Post article echoed this report. This figure doesn’t seem to account for several interim sales held in December, August, and January, however.

The 2007 calendar year total can be compared roughly with the fiscal year 4/06–3/07 total of $296.9 million—an increase of 89 percent.

As always, see our Burma Gem Sales and Statistics page for updates. [back to top]

March Gem Emporium Sales Figures Withheld

No sales figures have been issued for the 45th Annual Myama Gems Emporium, held March 9–20. An Agence France-Presse (AFP) article March 11, reported that $153 million (€100 million) worth of jade, gems, and pearls would be offered at the sale. This is considerably less than the €148 million worth offered at last year’s annual sale, although the lots offered are 7,700, compared with 6,000 a year ago.

Pala has received personal communication Chinese buyers at the jadeite auctions account for more than 95% of the sales. No buyers from the U.S.A. were listed.

AFP quoted an official as stating that the 7,123 jade lots offered this year were worth about €78 million. The official said this number of lots “is the largest quantity of jade compared to previous auctions.” A March 11 Rapaport story, attributed to Xinhua News Agency, echoed the jade lot figure as well as an offer of 300 lots of gems and 270 lots of pearls.

India-based Sify reported that the highest floor price was for a 30-kg. boulder worth €2.38 million. Sify posted an AP photo of a 142-kg., $2.2-million boulder, along with three other photos from the sale. [back to top]

Bite-Sized Bits

• Brunei to promote trade with Burma in gems, jade, and jewelry (Xinhua)
• Japanese partner delivers 40,000 South Sea pearls to Burma operation (Myanmar Times) [back to top]

— End April Newsletter • Published 4/20/08 —

Hot Colors in Tucson

In case you couldn’t make it to Tucson this year, Pala’s Jason Stephenson provides the following highlights.

There weren’t necessarily any new varieties on display this year at Tucson, but there were definitely some new localities producing some of our old favorites.

Tanzania has been a real hot spot for new gem deposits lately. The aftermath of the giant spinel crystal was scattered amongst a handful of dealers. These shocking neon spinels with mixtures of red, pink, and orange were unquestionably distinguishable from other localities by their unique hues. Some larger stones—8-ct.-plus—were available, but seem to have either some silk when pure color, or clean with a bit of brown. See our new Tanzanian spinels here.

There was another new find in Loliando, Tanzania, of spessartite, which was recently dug between December ’07 and January ’08. Beautiful mandarin and pumpkin colors reminiscent of the Nigerian deposit. The larger stones unfortunately had some clarity issues but the smaller ones were bright and colorful. Along with cut gems there were some incredible crystals from marble size to baseball size. We have dozens of these gemstones available here.

Step Right Down. Miners in Mozambique dig through several meters of hard soil in a series of benches to reach the alluvial tourmaline-bearing horizon. This photo, by Gems & Gemology editor Brendan Laurs, is currently on display as part of a new exhibit, “On the Gem Trail,” which features 35 images of gems, landscapes, and cultures from Mozambique and Colombia. More info and photos available here. (Photo: Laurs/GIA)

There was still plenty of buzz around the new paraiba-type tourmaline from Mozambique, as everyone learns more about the array of colors being produced from this locality. Some of the interest this year involved the rich purple and magenta colors that are the natural counterparts to the iconic paraiba blues. The electric greens and bluish greens round out the color palette. Conversation about these neon tourmalines always entails the Brazilian material, which seems to be almost unobtainable. So for now our path to paraiba continues to wind through Mozambique. See our selection of neon tourmalines here. [back to top]

Pala’s Featured Stones: Ruby and Sapphire Suites, Cat’s Eye Emerald

This month we go back to the classics: ruby, sapphire, and an emerald with a twist.

Ruby and Sapphire Suites

Two beautiful sets of corundum, red for girls and blue for…well, probably girls, too.

Ruby suite. Sixteen gorgeous, pure and vivid red, round brilliant-cut rubies with a total weight of 16.43 cts. Dimensions range from 5.5 to 6.4 mm. Search on inventory number 13895. (Photo: Wimon Manorotkul)

The limited market on fine quality ruby and sapphire seems to be shrinking as prices keep climbing. Finding a nice matched pair can even be difficult, since most of the time only one stone can be cut from a single piece of rough (because corundum crystals don’t grow very large). Then the process of matching stones by hue, tone, saturation, size, and cut can be a tedious and time consuming task.

So take in the sight of these beautiful suites, which have been accumulated through time and with attention to detail.

Blue sapphire suite. Twelve beautiful royal blue, round brilliant-cut sapphires with a total weight of 24.85 cts. Dimensions range from 6.3 to 7 mm. Search on inventory number 13894. (Photo: Wimon Manorotkul)

Cat’s Eye Emerald

The color of chrysoprase, the preciousness of an emerald, and the phenomenon of a cat’s eye. This stunning gem will fool even the sharpest of collectors with its individuality. This unique emerald will certainly be:

A cool colored cat’s eye in a colloquialism amongst collectors.

Cat’s eye emerald from Brazil, 4.62 cts., 10.50 x 9.92 x 6.37 mm. This stone has been sold. (Photo: Wimon Manorotkul)

Interested? Select the inventory numbers above, call, or email us. [back to top]

Fingerprinting the Hope Diamond

Phosphorescence of Blue Diamond Studied

An inexpensive, portable spectrometer taken “into the vault” has allowed for the spectral fingerprinting of 67 natural blue diamonds, including the two largest known: the Hope and Blue Heart. The Hope Diamond has long been known to glow red when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, a phenomenon thought to be quite rare; greenish-blue phosphorescence is more common.

Hope Diamond glows for 8.2 seconds after exposure to UV light. The intensity, color, and duration are unique to each blue diamond. (Photo: John Hatleberg, courtesy National Museum of Natural History)

Researchers, including Jeffrey Post, curator of the Smithsonian’s National Gem and Mineral Collection, and Sally Eaton-Magaña, now technical editor of Gems & Gemology, found that “virtually all” blue diamonds phosphoresce orange-red (660 nm.). But this band usually is obscured by an accompanying green-blue (500 nm.) emission. It’s the intensities of these two bands—unique to each stone and likely due to relative amounts of boron and nitrogen—that provide gemologists with the means of fingerprinting.

The findings were first presented at the Gemological Research Conference of the Gemological Institute of America. According to the abstract [PDF, 5.7 MB] of that presentation, the method employed—phosphorescence spectroscopy—is not often used in gemology, but it allowed them to test the stones at room temperature without fear of damaging the jewels, which happened to be on loan for exhibition at the Smithsonian.

The research was published in January by the Geological Society of America. Also tested were treated and synthetic blue diamonds, which “showed behavior distinct from natural stones,” according to the article’s abstract.

See also:

• Smithsonian Magazine article (1/14/08)
• Science News article (1/12/08)
• American Geological Institute article (1/11/08)
• Discovery Channel article (1/8/08) [back to top]

Ornament as Art: Avant-Garde Jewelry from the Helen Williams Drutt Collection

Once you’ve seen the Hope Diamond and the Carmen Lúcia Ruby at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, you’ll want to head over to the American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery. In “Ornament as Art” you’ll be hard-pressed to find actual gemstones or crystals, but the variety of 275 examples of “wearable art” could be worth the search.

But would Madeleine Albright wear it? This brooch, entitled “Double Fibula,” was fashioned in 1968 by American artist Albert Paley, who has been honored by the American Institute of Architects. It is composed of gold, silver, bronze, pearls, moonstone, and Madagascar labradorite. (Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Helen Williams Drutt Collection; gift of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Mecom, Jr., by exchange, 2002.3999, © Albert Paley. Courtesy Smithosian American Art Museum.)

Drutt’s collection was assembled over 40 years. The current show, which closes July 6, highlights the work of more than 115 artists from 21 countries. [back to top]

Burma Bits

Sales Up for Semi-Precious Stones

An informal survey of Yangon jewelers found sales up from a year ago, according to The Myanmar Times’ 2/25–3/2/08 issue. Jewelers who were forthcoming said at least half their sales are for semi-precious stones, with spinlel, amethyst, peridot, topaz, and citrine being the most popular. Credit was given to fashion shows that showcased semi-precious jewelry. [back to top]

Maw-sit-sit from Burma. Read more about this rare material. (Photo: Wimon Manorotkul)

45th Myanma Gems Emporium Underway

The 45th Myanma Gems Emporium, which was scheduled for March 9–20, is now underway, according to a Global Insight article. The story stated that $153 million in gems would be offered at the sale. [back to top]

Who’s Buying?

The Christian Science Monitor last week examined the fact that Burma gem sales continue to be lucrative due, in large part, to China’s patronage. The article quotes one of Thailand’s prominent intellectuals, Acharn Sulak Sivaraksa: “Burma is supported by China. End of story.”

As we reported in December, the (legitimate) gem trade in Burma is dwarfed by oil and timber. The article puts the trade with China, Thailand, and India in electricity, natural gas, oil, and timber at $2 billion a year, compared with the reported $297 million in fiscal year 2006–07.

Sulak goes so far as to characterize China’s investment in Burma (which includes weaponry) as “imperialist.” [back to top]

Trade Figures – 4/2007–8/2007

The following statistics were included in a February 10 story by the official China Xinhua News Agency.

• Jade Production: 9,505 tons
• Gem Production: 9.433 million carats
• Pearl Production: 35,369 mommis (132 kilograms)

We’ve updated our Burma Gem Sales and Statistics accordingly, on Palagems.com. [back to top]

American Mineral Treasures

The theme of the 54th Annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show was “Minerals of the USA,” highlighting all the great mining localities that brought beautiful and fascinating specimens for the world to see. American Mineral Treasures, edited by Gloria A. Staebler and Wendell E. Wilson, was inspired by this year’s show.

This hardbound 350-page beauty is the most comprehensive book compiled on American minerals, mining localities, and the great folklore that goes along with discovery and exploration.

The introduction, on a brief history of mineral collecting, sets the stage and outlines collectors, starting in the early 1600s and continuing through today’s prominent collectors/dealers.

The chapters bounce around the country like an enthusiastic collector seeking knowledge about the variety of deposits—from the remote epidote deposits in Alaska to the unusual zinc ore minerals of New Jersey, from the spectacular pegmatite minerals of San Diego County to the high-elevation aquamarine and rhodocrosite deposits of Colorado. From the shocking pyromorphite specimens of Idaho to the stunning crystallized gold from the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. A total of 44 mineral-producing areas are highlighted in glorious detail.

All the chapters were written by the individuals actually involved with the mining efforts, which gives the stories a real, raw sense of what it was like. Each chapter takes you through the history of the mining area and all the charters driven by “gold fever” to find what lay behind the rock wall.

These colorful stories of adventure and exploration are complemented by splendid photographs of some of the best and/or quintessential pieces found. A must-have encyclopedia of USA minerals for the collector.

The book is available from The Mineralogical Record. [back to top]

— End March Newsletter • Published 3/19/08 —

First International Pearl Convention: GIA Report

These 8+ mm. cultured pearls were harvested from Mexico’s Sea of Cortez. Pearl production was one topic addressed at the conference. (Photo: Douglas McLaurin, courtesy Perlas del Mar de Cortez®)

Last November, we called your attention to a pearl convention to be held that month in the United Arab Emirates. According to the First International Pearl Convention website, 120 delegates from over 30 pearling nations attended the conference, which was held in Abu Dhabi. The five-day convention included “ten technical seminars, a daylong summit, two study tours, and a host of networking opportunities.” The inspiration behind the event was a revitalization of what was once a thriving local trade until the early 20th century, according to officials who opened the convention.

The Gemological Institute of America’s Gems & Gemology Spring 2008 issue contains a report on the convention. It includes commentary on the conference highlights—technical issues, production, and economics and marketing. For instance:

• Elisabeth Strack, from Hamburg, Germany, “discussed terminology and taxonomy issues (e.g., the vast majority of pearl ‘oysters’ are actually not classified biologically as oysters)”
• Climate change also figured into the discussion: Shigeru Akamatsu, from Tokyo, mentioned the challenge of over-warm water temperatures on the small akoya pearl oysters. (In his GemmoBasel 2005 session, Kobe-based Andy Müller stated, “Temperatures in excess of 32°C [89.6°F] are usually deadly”) [back to top]

Bill Larson Elected to AGTA Board of Directors

Pala International President Bill Larson was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), it was announced January 16. The term of office is three years.

The AGTA press release is available here. [back to top]

Path to Paraiba: More on Mozambique’s Tourmaline Mines

A year ago, we profiled Moussa “Moses” Konate and his paraiba-type tourmaline mines, in “The Path to Paraiba Winds Through Mozambique.” This month, the GIA released a report on the deposits following a visit late last summer. Gems & Gemology editor Brendan Laurs and Netherlands National Museum of Natural History researcher J. C. “Hanco” Zwaan. The report discusses the location, geology, and mining of copper-bearing tourmaline.

So many choices… The group of paraiba-type tourmalines above demonstrate the range of color being produced by the mines near Nampula, Mozambique. (Photo: Wimon Manorotkul)

As we reported last March, Konate had suspended operations in order to develop the local community infrastructure. The GIA report states that Konate and crew “had completed a comprehensive environmental impact report and performed systematic mapping and test pitting of their claim” in preparation for mechanization of the operation. They foresee completion of a 150–200-ton-per-day washing plant by mid-2008.

New in stock. This 76.91-ct. cushion cut neon tourmaline from Mozambique was just added to our inventory. See inventory #16167. (Photo: Wimon Manorotkul)

[back to top]

Burma Bits

Jade and Gem Sales News

» First Sale of Year Held January 15–19

The 24th Gems & Jade Sales 2008 was held January 15–19 by Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd. (UMEHL), resulting in the sale of the following, according to the official New Light of Myanmar newspaper (Jan. 19 and Jan. 20).

• 357 jade lots sold out of 1,214 offered
• 247 gem lots sold out of 397 offered

No monetary figures were disclosed, as was the case with UMEHL’s 23rd sale in August 2007, which sold 404 jade lots of 1,121 offered and an unknown number from 315 gem lots offered. (See also the UMEHL website.)

Can you pronounce “Hpakan”? Richard Hughes at Burma’s jade mines in Upper Burma, September 2004. (Photo © Richard W. Hughes)

» 45th Gems Emporium Scheduled for March 9–20, 2008

On February 9, Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint met with organizers of the 45th Myanma Gems Emporium 2008, according to the official New Light of Myanmar. The dates for the sale were announced as March 9 to 20. The March 2007 sale totaled $185 million. [back to top]

Gem Dealers React to Mandalay–Rangoon Market Move

Construction workers lay tile around a hotel swimming pool last fall near jade warehouses in Mayangone township. (Photo: Myanmar Times)

Mandalay gem traders have expressed concern to The Irrawaddy regarding relocation of the largest gem market, from Mandalay to Rangoon (Yangon). The January 21 story quotes dealer Than Tin: “The authorities want to move the Mandalay gem market to Rangoon because it would be easier to control and export large quantities of gems legally. … Everyone is disappointed.” The Irrawaddy claimed that the Mandalay gem and jade market “has slowed drastically” in light of the impending relocation.

We reported on this move in November via a Myanmar Times story. At that time, Yangon’s Mayor, Brig-Gen Aung Thein Linn, said that warehouses were being built in the northern Mayangone township “as part of a plan to make the city Myanmar’s sole gem and jade trading centre.” Also planned were a new hotel and six dozen buildings to “be used as jewellery shops and as accommodation for jade industry specialists visiting Yangon”—the hope being that foreign carvers would aid in the development of the value-added jade market that the government is eager to exploit. [back to top]

Bits & Pieces

» The Geology of…Ruby

We stumbled across this item from 2004 that still might be of interest due to its mention of Mogok ruby.

This 4.86-ct. star ruby from Mogok is found in our Ruby Buying Guide. (Photo: John McLean)

The Geology of…Rubies by Anne Sasso: Discover (Nov. 2004)
This is an overview of the theories and controversies of ruby formation. A delicate balance is required to produce ruby: a rare avoidance of iron and silica, together with a trace of chromium. Penn State professor Peter Heaney calls it a “minor geological miracle.”

The article closes with a statement that deserves comment. “Politics in Myanmar have long blocked scientists—especially Western scientists—from entering the country to take a look.” We mentioned this to ruby expert Richard W. Hughes, who had this reply: “The Burmese regard  their gem resources as a strategic resource. They no more invite ‘Western scientists’ to poke around than we invite Saddam’s people to Las Alamos.” Think the Burmese are paranoid? Just ask the Bolivians, to whom it was revealed this month that Peace Corps volunteers and a Fulbright Scholar were asked by a U.S. Embassy official to spy on any Cubans or Venezuelans with whom they came into contact during their stay, as reported by ABC News among others.

For more on ruby in Burma, see this chapter from Richard W. Hughes’s classic, Ruby & Sapphire. [back to top]
 

» Russia to Prospect for Gold in Kachin State

Victorious Glory chairman Krivoshey Pavel receives copy of mining agreement on Feb. 15. (Photo: New Light of Myanmar)

Last Saturday, the official New Light of Myanmar reported a deal struck with Russian Federation-linked Victorious Glory International for “exploration of gold and associated minerals along Uru River between Phakant of Kachin State and Homalin of Sagaing Division.” This new development began with a ban on gold mining imposed by the military last August. Singapore-registered Chandwin Projects holds an 80 percent interest in Victorious Glory, according to The Moscow Times. Such international cooperation continues a trend that includes a 25-year interest-free loan from Saudi Arabia and a 33-percent jump in trade with Japan. Last March, The Kachin Post reported on a joint venture with Victorious Glory to explore for uranium in a jade mine in Hpa Kant Township. [back to top]

— End February Newsletter • Published 2/21/08 —

February 8: GIA Reprint – Topaz Blue & Déjà Vu

An article by Robert Weldon

We’re pleased to reprint Robert Weldon’s article, “Topaz Blue & Déjà Vu,” courtesy of the Gemological Institute of America. Weldon neatly discusses the history and science of gemstone irradiation, up to the point of recent Nuclear Regulatory Comission actions.
 

At right: Virtually colorless topaz rough (above) is irradiated and then heated to turn blue (middle layer of rough). The NRC and experts today say that topaz should be faceted before it is irradiated so that cutters are not exposed to potentially harmful dust. Rough in the range of 25 to 50 ct, faceted gems in the range of 32.72 ct to 7.12 ct. Photo by Robert Weldon, © 2007 Gemological Institute of America.

Jade Art Now – February 10–15, 2008

Friends of Jade Sponsors Tucson Exhibition

Awakening by Deborah Wilson. Jade, bronze, and steel. (Photo courtesy Deborah Wilson)

Friends of Jade presents its second annual exhibition of contemporary jade sculpture and jewelry, concurrent with the other major Tucson shows next month.

Event: Jade Art Now
When: February 10–15, 2008
Where: Antiquities, Plus... Gallery
Address: 2752 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson

[back to top]

Pala’s Featured Stone: Multi-Colored Tourmaline

Mozambique Surprise

This month’s featured stone comes from the land made famous for the recent discovery of paraiba tourmalines. Along with the rare occurrence of the element copper, we also find a mix of elements creating a wide variety of colors in the tourmaline family. The multi-colored tourmaline exhibits the unusual nature of tourmaline deposits in Mozambique.

Multi-colored tourmaline, 59.40 cts., 36 x 15.23 x 12.57 mm. Search on inventory number 16129. (Photo: Wimon Manorotkul)

You can imagine the original crystal growing through a metamorphosis of color: first encapsulating all the iron in the green section of the crystal, then introducing a mixture of manganese and titanium to produce the yellow band, and then finally exhausting all the iron and crystallizing the newly introduced manganese chromophore into the tourmaline lattice, which produces the final pinkish-red section. (Don’t quote us on this; our description is a simplification of a complex process that occurs in the genesis of multi-color tourmaline.)

This complex and varying composition must crystallize in unique conditions. The fact that the entire tourmaline emerged flawless after cutting is a true feat of Mother Nature.

Interested? Select the inventory number above, call, or email us—or see this gemstone in person at the Tucson Show. [back to top]

Jade from Qinghai Used in Olympic Medals

Olympic medals presented at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing will incorporate jade from the province of Qinghai, on the northeastern area of the Tibetan Plateau, in western central China, according to a January 1 story from the official Xinhua News Agency.

Jade bands like these will be incorporated in this summer’s 2008 Olympic medals—white for the gold, light green for the silver, and light green for the bronze. (Photo: Xinhua News Agency)

This is the first time that non-metal materials will be used in such medals, according to Xinhua, but one of our readers recalls lead crystal or polished glass being incorporated into the medals presented at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France.

“We had the donation ceremony this afternoon,” said [province vice governor] Jidi Majia. “Qinghai will donate a great deal of manufactured jade bands to BOCOG. The jade will come from a Kunlun Mountain area which locates in Ge’ermu city.”
   “Qinghai has abundant reserve of jade. We will select the best manufacturer to ensure the quality,” he added.

A Friends of Jade article on the medals questioned whether the 6,000 medals required would employ Chinese jade exclusively. Friends of Jade also has articles on Ge’ermu jade (such as this one).

The Olympic Games open August 8 (at 8:00 p.m.—8/8/08 at 8). See the story for more details and photos. [back to top]

Burma Bits

Burma Announces 2008 Sales

» First Sale of Year Held January 15–19

In late December, the official Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd. (UMEHL) announced a gems and jade sale to be held in mid-January, according to the weekly, The Myanmar Times. It is the company’s 24th such sale, the last occurring in August 2007. (See details at the UMEHL website.)

Mining in Mogok. Richard Hughes exiting a loodwin in Burma’s Mogok Stone Tract. (Photo © Richard W. Hughes)

The UMEHL sale is a relatively small one. Today’s edition of the government daily, New Light of Myanmar, reports attendance of only 637 merchants—roughly 20 percent of the number at November’s sale. In contrast to that sale’s 5,000+ jade lots, the current one will feature just over 1,200, with no floor-price total being mentioned. [back to top]

The Myanmar Times article also refers to an unnumbered sale held by UMEHL that ended December 13, the results of which were not available.

» 45th Gems Emporium Scheduled for March

The 45th Myanma Gems Emporium 2008 is scheduled to be held in March, according to a January 11 article in the official daily, New Light of Myanmar. No other noteworthy details were included in in the article.

Playing with Numbers: A Look at the November Sale Figures

The Myanmar Times article cited above includes a $185 million sales figure for the November 2007 gem emporium—$35 million more than the weekly had reported early last month—based on “independent estimates.” The decline of the US dollar against the euro probably doesn’t explain the discrepancy, but exchange rate confusion might underlie figures that were reported before and after the sale.

Ma Chun-an receives prize for being jade lot high bidder at November sale. (Photo: NLM)

On November 27, the day following the sale’s end, official Chinese Xinhua News Agency reported that floor prices for the sale totaled $230 million. That same day, Agence France-Presse (AFP) put the total at “nearly 200 million euros (about 300 million dollars).”

On November 19, while the sale was underway, The Myanmar Times reported floor prices of $300 million (without citing a euro figure). But to muddy the waters, the article claimed that €130 million of the total was for two jade blocks. If the exchange rate on November 19 was €1.4658 to the dollar, €130 million would have equaled $190 million, nearly $30 million more than the $162.5 million ($100 + $62.5 million) quoted in the same article.

In any case, two jade-block whoppers were on offer in November. The day after the sale ended, another AFP article speculated that the more expensive of the two may actually have sold.

The [New Light of Myanmar] newspaper did not say whether that pricey green stone was sold during the auction, but noted the military government “honoured” the highest bidder of jade lots without giving further details.

Well...honoring the highest bidder is a tradition at the conclusion of the sales, so AFP appears to be fishing on this one. And it’s questionable whether the sale of either of the two high-priced jade lots could have been kept under wraps. Even if they had, it likely would have pushed the November sale’s total over $200 million instead of the $185 million most recently reported.

For the record, we’re using the Myanmar Times “independent estimate” of $185 million on our Burma Gem Sales and Statistics.

» Other New Trade Statistics

Our updated Burma Gem Sales and Statistics also features the following figures for Fiscal Year 2006–07:

• Jade Production: 20,458 tons
• Gemstones: 20.879 million carats
• Pearl Production: 240,595 mommes

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Burma Trade with China Up 37% Over Last Year

Figures for the first three quarters of fiscal year 2007–08 show that bilateral trade with China was $1.435 billion, up nearly 38 percent over the same period last year, according to the Chinese Embassy in Burma, as reported by the Chinese government’s Xinhua News Agency on December 9.

The statistics lead to China becoming Burma’s second largest trading partner and sixth largest foreign investor. The timeframe via which this claim was made is uncertain, but the article did state that Chinese investment amounted to $638 million, in 30 projects, from 1992 to October 31, 2007. [back to top]

Miners’ Lives and Livings

Workers in Burma find ways of making a living as mining operations close or relocate.

• Los Angeles Times profile of the travails of gemstone, jade, and gold miners and scavengers
• Mizzima News story on the tug-of-war between rebels and military in Phakant, Kachin state—with gold miners in the middle

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— End January Newsletter • Published 1/16/08 —