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[Kosbare]

During my trip to Namibia I picked up some gold sheen sapphire from a local miner. I know there was only one mine in Kenya that produced this type of corundum but it is now depleted. Might have found something really cool but I haven't been able to drum up much useful info online. Anybody have any experience with this stuff? It is very cool regardless.

J.P.

[lithicbeads]

Unfami9liar with it but I have cabbed sapphires and they are much harder than agate. Did they mention what mineral is included?

[gemfeller]

FYI:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB9bunJCLXA

Pretty interesting material; good luck with your cutting!

[rocks2dust]

Did they mention what mineral is included?

I bought a few pieces of the Kenyan stuff in golden (more of a bronze look IMO) and silver several years ago. According to GIA report, the needles are ilmenite (and/or hematite). Can undercut slightly. I really like the pieces that show the corundum growth patterns, over those that have plain sheen. Hadn't heard about this second source

[gemfeller]

The material reminds me a lot of some black star sapphires from Idaho.  Many display a gold sheen instead of a star and differ visually only because they tend to have a darker body color.  I don't know kind of inclusions cause the sheen in those stones but suspect they're much the same as the African gold sheen material: ilmenite, rutile, hematite and magnetite

[Kosbare]

Did they mention what mineral is included?

I really like the pieces that show the corundum growth patterns, over those that have plain sheen. Hadn't heard about this second source

It sounds like this is some of the first stuff out on Namibia... hopefully I got lucky and ahead of the curve! These have cool hexoganal rings...it should make some interesting pieces.

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[Kosbare]

The material reminds me a lot of some black star sapphires from Idaho.

I looked up the black star saphire and it is really similar. I would like to look at some next to my pieces and compare in person. I'm appreciating all the insight!

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