Why are Yogo Sapphires so expensive?
- 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.
Consequently, Are Yogo Sapphires still mined? History and Information about Yogo Sapphires Because Yogo sapphires occur within a vertically dipping resistive igneous dike, mining efforts have been sporadic and rarely profitable. It is estimated that at least 28 million carats (5.6 t or 5.5 long tons or 6.2 short tons) of Yogos are still in the ground.
Is a Montana sapphire the same as a Yogo Sapphire? A Montana sapphire is, simply, a sapphire from Montana. Yogo sapphires are also Montana sapphires, but originate from a particular deposit known for its excellent cornflower blue color. Both sapphires and rubies are gem-quality corundum. Rubies are the red variety, while all other colors are sapphires.
in the same way, How can you tell a Yogo Sapphire? While the color of Yogo Sapphires is always a vivid blue, Montana sapphires are found with different colors including green and yellow. While there are productive sapphire mines in other parts of Montana, they rarely produce blue sapphires that have the striking color and clarity of those found in the Yogo Gulch.
Where can I find Yogo sapphires? The major deposits found in Montana are in the Yogo Gulch in central Montana, the Missouri River near Helena, Dry Cottonwood Creek near Deer Lodge, and the Rock Creek deposit in the Sapphire Mountains near Philipsburg.
Where can I dig for Yogo sapphires?
Although sapphires can be found throughout Montana today, the majority of the finds can be attributed to four major locales: Yogo Gulch, Rock Creek, Dry Cottonwood Creek, and the gravel bars along the Missouri River northeast of Helena.