Tag Archives: tourmaline

Madagascar: A gemologist’s journey (Isalo National Park Evening)

Our afternoon in Isalo National Park was just as beautiful as the morning. After a delicious lunch and entertainment by four friendly ring-tailed lemurs, we’re off again on one last adventure to a tropical waterfall. The scene was just too … Continue reading

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Madagascar A Gemologist’s Journey (Ambatonapetraka Tourmaline Locality)

Ambatonapetraka is a recently discovered weathered pegmatite zone with a very high concentration of tourmalines. Because it is such a recent discovery, the locals still have “tourmaline fever.” We are there on a Sunday, so fewer miners are busy working. … Continue reading

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Madagascar: A Gemologist’s Journey (Sahatany Valley Pegmatite Field Part II)

My previous post I covered the first half of our day in the Sahatany Valley. I ended at the Estatoby dig where our group split up. I chose to continue on up the mountain. We begin the long hike up … Continue reading

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Madagascar: A Gemologist’s Journey (Tsaramanga Pegmatite Mine)

The journey from Mahaiza to the Tsaramanga Pegmatite was beautiful. Terraced landscapes of rice paddy fields are very common in this area. What looks like a cascading waterfall on the hillside is actually a vein of marble. All along the … Continue reading

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Tourmaline

My plan for the end of October was to tell you a bit about tourmaline and show you some orange sapphire engagement rings in honor of Halloween. However, my father was unexpectedly admitted to the hospital and I was out … Continue reading

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