States that, "Those (stones) occurring from only one location: Some gem varieties/materials are only known from one source. As a result, we indicate the origin without an additional charge.
Tanzanite (Tanzania) Benitoite (USA – California) Red Beryl (Bixbite: USA - Utah) Tsavorite (East Africa) Pezzottaite (Madagascar)"
Pezzottaite has also been mined in Afghanistan. Have they been listing all pezzottaite as Madagascar?
Post subject: Re: Single Source Gems May No Longer Be Single Source
Posted: Tue May 08, 2018 2:49 pm
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Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
I'm only finding a record of 2 localities for pezzottaite in GIA's literature: Madagascar and a trapiche crystal found along the Thai-Myanmar border. Perhaps you should direct this question to Chris Smith at AGL. And if you have any links to Pakistani locations, please submit. Report back.
The find in Afghanistan was tiny if I remember right, and never hit the open market. But tsavorite has been found in Madagascar as well, and to a lesser extent tanzanite in Kenya. Unless you play tautological games about the names and origin which would be a bit self defeating.
Post subject: Single Source Gems May No Longer Be Single Source
Posted: Tue May 08, 2018 8:17 pm
Gold Member
Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 2:18 am Posts: 1542
Tsavorite is now being found in Ethiopia also. Nice colored tones, mostly small sizes. It is a little too dark in large sizes, but makes as good small calibrated as I have seen from any of the traditional sources. Ethiopia is still East Africa, geologically so is Madagascar. All part of the Mozambique belt. Origin is problematic in my opinion, and ripe for mistakes.
Post subject: Single Source Gems May No Longer Be Single Source
Posted: Tue May 08, 2018 9:16 pm
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type
Joined: Tue May 01, 2018 7:07 pm Posts: 8
The second site link on this page is about the find in Afghanistan, I bought a few when they were being touted as red Beryl. Sold a couple and kept a couple.
Post subject: Single Source Gems May No Longer Be Single Source
Posted: Tue May 08, 2018 9:47 pm
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type
Joined: Tue May 01, 2018 7:07 pm Posts: 8
Hi Barbra, I emailed AGL via their site before posting this here, but had not received a reply yet (since last I checked my mail). It may have been an oversite. Difficult to remember every piece of info on one's site, and think to update when new information is available. A few years ago, I had noticed that some sellers were listing it as red beryl.
Post subject: Re: Single Source Gems May No Longer Be Single Source
Posted: Wed May 09, 2018 4:05 pm
Valued Contributor
Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2013 9:16 am Posts: 239 Location: Germany
@barbra you ment my post?
From Canada they are found at Jeffrey Mine/Asbestos. Grossulars from orange/pink to deep green, what I would call tsavorite. Here are some specimen, though its a german site:
Yeah, specimen grade tsavorite from Afghanistan isn't too hard to source, and it apparently does come in facet grade sometimes. I've never picked any up but I've seen it for sale several times. I think we already had a conversation in a recent thread about whether chromian grossular like the Canadian material counts as well (imo yes, assuming adequate color, just like emerald).
Post subject: Re: Single Source Gems May No Longer Be Single Source
Posted: Wed May 09, 2018 9:57 pm
Gold Member
Joined: Mon May 26, 2014 9:42 pm Posts: 1033
From mindat localities of pezzottaite:
Afghanistan
Konar Province (Kunar Province; Konarh Province; Konarha Province; Nuristan) Chapa Dara District ⓘ Dara-i-Pech pegmatite field (Darra-i-Pech; Darra-e-Pech; Pech; Peech; Page) Herb Obodda Nuristan Province (Nurestan Province; Nooristan Province; Nuristan) Wama District (Vama District) Parun (Paroon; Parown) pegmatite field ⓘ Dewa Mine (Deva Mine)
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