Friday December 5, '08

We discovered "fee-mining" last summer. It seems that there are many places across this land where a tourist can buy a measure of ore and learn to seek treasure within it. The target can be precious metals, fossils or gemstones. Different strokes for different folks and geographical areas.

In July Del Alden took us to an active sapphire mine in the wilds of Montana. Specifically, the Gem Mountain Mine near Phillipsburg, MT.

We thoroughly enjoyed learning that the gem material is just slightly heavier than the rest of the material from the mine so it can shaken, mixed, rocked, sluiced and manipulated to collect in a specific place. Once we got the hang of manipulating the pit-run and equipment we were overjoyed to find many little sapphires!

Most of the foundlings aren't gem quality, but every once in a while one is. Of the 50 or so stones we found 6 were near one carat and reasonably well-formed. Staff at the mine were quite willing to sort the finds for us. They also offer the service of sending the promising stones off to be treated and faceted. For a few dollars per stone they sent our treasures off to Asia to be turned into jewels. A four to six month wait ensues.

Well, surprise! A few days ago a package arrived -certified mail- in Olympia containing our treasures. Darbi opened the package and described the goodies for us over the phone. We seem to have six cute little brilliant-cut sparkleys, nicely clear and mostly medium blue (one pink!). They've come a long way from the little greenish semi-transparent lumps we sent. We're excited to see them when we get home in the spring.

What fun. I'm sure we'll find new adventures in dirt on down the road!