Tag Archives: madagascar

Madagascar: A gemologist’s journey (Daytime in Ranomafana)

Posted on January 16, 2015 by mrahm

I remember this morning awakening for the first time surrounded by mosquito netting and listening to the call of lemurs in the forest. It was amazing! This area is known for mosquitoes, especially in the evening. I was told by … Continue reading →

Posted in Madagascar | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Madagascar: A gemologist’s journey (Evening in Ranomafana)

Posted on January 14, 2015 by mrahm

Continuing on from Ambatovaky we head to Ranomafana, where we spent a day without gem mining activities to enjoy the park. Ranomafana National Park, located outside Ranomafana the town, is a gorgeous tropical rain forest comprising over 161 square miles. … Continue reading →

Posted in Gemstone Tidbits, Madagascar | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Madagascar: A gemologist’s journey (Placer gold locality)

Posted on January 12, 2015 by mrahm

About an hour outside of Ambositra in the country is a gold placer mining locality. In this placer gold locality miners use very primitive methods. It is said they find on average only .30 gram per day among all of … Continue reading →

Posted in Madagascar | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Madagascar: A gemolgist’s journey (Ambositra)

Posted on January 8, 2015 by mrahm

My goodness, time has gotten away from me. I left for a mission to Madagascar on October 20th and returned just in time for the busy holiday season. Unfortunately I mis-calculated how much time I would have on the Internet … Continue reading →

Posted in Madagascar | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Madagascar: A gemolgist’s journey (Ihasofotsy)

Posted on October 22, 2014 by mrahm

Along the way to the quartz mine, locals in Ihasofotsy set up a mineral show. There were lots of amazing quartz pieces including quartz with fuchsite, quartz with hollandite, rock crystal clusters etc. As we shopped, locals looked on. One … Continue reading →

Posted in Gemstone Tidbits, Madagascar | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Madagascar: A Gemologist’s Journey (Drive to Itremo Massive)

Posted on October 20, 2014 by mrahm

Early in the morning, we leave Ambatofinandrahana for the long drive to Itremo Massive, the quartz capital of Madagascar. This area is famous for numerous quartz veins producing an enormous number of quartz specimens each year including rock crystal quartz, … Continue reading →

Posted in Madagascar | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Madagascar: A Gemologist’s Journey (Ambatofinandrahana)

Posted on October 18, 2014 by mrahm

Ambatofinandrahana is probably my favorite town in Madagascar. This once-thriving town in an area rich in quartz, Beryl-Columbite, Lepidolite, danburite and other minerals, is now in disrepair. Upon our arrival in Abatofinandrahana we were greeted at the boarding house by … Continue reading →

Posted in Madagascar | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment