What Montana county is rich in Yogo sapphires?

What Montana county is rich in Yogo sapphires?

Judith Basin county, Montana
Yogo sapphires are a variety of corundum found only in the Yogo Gulch area, in Judith Basin county, Montana. This gemstone rich area was inhabited by the Blackfeet Indians long before anyone thought about mining Montana sapphires.

Are Yogo sapphires rare?

These Yogo Sapphires are extremely rare. If mining resumes, deeper mining will be needed to find these beautiful gems. Between mine closures and a need for deeper mining, the ultimate cost to recover these stones will increase.

What is the largest sapphire ever found in Montana?

Rock Creek, Montana—Potentate Mining has unveiled a 64.14-carat sapphire recovered at its Rock Creek mine in Montana. The mining company believes it to be the largest gem-quality sapphire to be unearthed in the U.S.

Are Montana sapphire Rare?

Are Montana Sapphires Rare? Montana sapphire is not found in very large rough pieces. Considering that a rough nugget will yield a cut stone only about 1/3 of the original size means that large, fine quality faceted Montana sapphires are very rare.

Why are Yogo sapphires so expensive?

The term ‘Yogo’ refers to the Yogo Gulch in the Little Belt Mountains, east of Great Falls. While it is estimated that 5.6 tons (or 28 million carats) of Yogo Sapphires are still in the ground, the excavation of them is costly and difficult, which keeps their scarcity and relative price high.

Why are they called Yogo sapphires?

Corundum gems of most colors are called sapphires, except for red ones, which are called rubies. The term “Yogo sapphire” refers only to sapphires from the Yogo Gulch. The cornflower blue color of the Yogo results from trace amounts of iron and titanium.

Where are Yogo sapphires?

History and Information about Yogo Sapphires Yogo sapphires are a variety of corundum found only in Yogo Gulch, part of the Little Belt Mountains in Judith Basin County, Montana, United States, on land once inhabited by the Piegan Blackfeet people.

How can you tell a Montana sapphire?

Some Montana sapphires from the Missouri River deposit undergo color change. Color change in these sapphires results from the trace element vanadium. Often, they appear blue in daylight and violet to purple in incandescent light. Pale colors shift from sky blue to lavender.

What is special about Montana Sapphire?

One of the most striking differences is their color. Sapphires from Montana are unique in that they naturally occur in light pastels, unique blue-greens, and smoky grays. So, a Montana sapphire could be a calming leaf green or a sky blue-grey.

Do Montana sapphires have value?

Typical Montana sapphire can cost anywhere from $250-$1500 per carat for under 1/2ct to upwards of $7000 per carat for larger than 5 carats. Price is dependent on the quality of the gemstone (ie color, clarity, cut, and carat).

Are Yogo sapphires expensive?

The largest crystal ever found was a 19 carat stone that in 1910 was crafted into an 8 carat gemstone. The largest cut Yogo is 10.2 carats and resides in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Rarer than diamonds, Yogo sapphires are coveted, exquisite, expensive jewels.

What is special about Montana sapphire?

Where can I buy Yogo sapphires in Montana?

There’s a yogo sapphire jewelry company around Bozeman, Mt. that has resurrected the Vortex mine. Many montana jewelers are anxiously awaiting loose yogo sapphires for sale. These montana blue sapphires have been coveted for years, making this montana state gemstone a must have in any collection.

Will county lines affect Yogo sapphire mining in Lewistown?

The yogo sapphire mine site resides inside Judith Basin County and was carved out from parts of western Ferguson and eastern Cascade counties. This minor change in county lines appears to have had no effect on yogo sapphire mining in the Lewistown area.

Where can I find sapphires in Montana?

The major gem sapphire deposits in the state of Montana. The sapphire deposit at Yogo Gulch is the only primary deposit in Montana. Figure 3. This suite of rough and cut Yogo sapphires shows the wide range of blue to violet or purple hues and light to dark saturation combinations that can be found in Yogo sapphires.

Are Yogo sapphires a good investment?

Montana yogo sapphire can be a good investment – as long as they remain unique, the value will hold. There’s a yogo sapphire jewelry company around Bozeman, Mt. that has resurrected the Vortex mine. Many montana jewelers are anxiously awaiting loose yogo sapphires for sale.