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New-Line Jewelry Agate&Sapphire
Harmon's Agate & Silver Specials
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Montana Sapphire Jewelry
Gem quality Montana sapphires are found in a few major deposits in Western and Central Montana. The first sapphires were found in 1865 as alluvial deposits in the Missouri River gravels south east of Helena, Montana. These were discovered trapped in the riffles of early Montana gold miners' sluice boxes as they sifted the Missouri river gravels in search of gold nuggets. Most of the early gold miners knew little about the gems and minerals other than the gold they pursued, of which they knew plenty. At first the sapphires were but a nuisance that clogged the riffles in the sluice boxes, but soon some of the miners decided they might have some value and began to save them. Placer miners in early Montana history also found gem quality sapphires in Dry Cottonwood Creek, twelve miles north west of Butte, Montana in 1889. In 1892 sapphires were found at Rock Creek, sixteen miles south west of Philipsburg close to the Sapphire Mountain range. Although not exposed in most of the alluvial deposits of weathered out Montana Sapphires, the host igneous rocks that contain in the sapphires probably resembles the black igneous rock of a particular composition that is present in other sapphire deposits in Central Montana. This rock evolved from magna that rose to the surface from deep within the mantle pressured by catastrophic continental crustal actions. The last major and most renowned sapphire deposit found was discovered by a hunter, trapper, prospector named Jake Hoover. His find of alluvial blue sapphires in Yogo Creek in 1894 led to the discovery of the Yogo Sapphire dike in 1896 by a sheepherder named Jim Ettien. This dike of sapphire was destined to become recognized over the next many years, as North America's richest deposit of precious gemstones. Sapphires are natures second hardest mineral at 9 on the Mohs scale with diamond being 10. Quality cut gem sapphires are also one of natures most beautiful and durable stones for use in lasting jewelry that can be handed down from generation to generation. Montana's gem sapphires come in almost all the colors of the rainbow and some of the color hues are almost one-of-a-kind. Montana is one of the few states in the union to have the privilege of having two state gemstones. Both the Montana agate and Montana sapphires are official state gemstones. We as lapidaries and silver and gold smiths, can offer for sale our sapphires set in standard ready-made silver and gold findings, or in our own hand-crafted silver and gold mountings. Some of these will hold Montana sapphires only some are combined with Montana agate to make one-of-a-kind heirloom quality jewelry.
Gorgeous Montana Sapphire 14 karat gold ring with .85 carats of sapphires, the biggest blue sapphire weighs .55 carats. Size 7 $750.00
a 10 karat gold ring with a pink .15 carat sapphire in a size 5 3/4 $150.00
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