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Glimpses of World Gems Centers AFRICAMA DAGASCAR

Madagascar is situated in the Indian Ocean opposite the East African coast. It is the 3" largest island in the world- about 1,600 km long and 580 km. wide. Nature has gifted it with a vast wealth of colored gerp stones, particularly Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald and Aquamarine, hence it is often called a treasure island. Since 1896 until about 1960 it was a French Colony. The capita1 is Antananarivo, which is commonly called Tana. The rural people are very simple. Their life follows the seasons of the year. Madagascar uses local currency, but the US dollar is also valid. World's Highest Mine:

Madagascar has always been good for colored gemstones. Viewing the past of Madagascar, it becomes clear that already large quantities of gemstones had been mined but much more still remains for the future.

Some of the well-known gemstone deposits of this treasure island, are the Aquamarines, near Ankazobe and the Tongafeno area, red Tourmalines and other gems in Anjanabonoina and Fianarantsoa, Tsavorite near Bekili, important Emerald deposits near Mananjary. An Emerald mine is also located in Morafeno. Various Corundums, Sapphires and Rubies, have been discovered in several areas during the last 12 years. j Discoveries of Rubies and Sapphires in the more recent past' followed.

1992: Sapphire discovery in Andranondombo. This is in the South of Madagascar, about 160 km. north east from Tolarano, formerly it was named Fort Dauphine. The mine is situated near the small village Tranomaro. This mine produces blue Sapphires, sometimes just like the fine Kashmir and geuda types of Sapphires.

1996 : Discovery of Sapphire in the Antsirana Province (Diego Suarez) in the north of Madagascar in the area of Ambondromifehy , very close to the Ankarana Natural Reserve. This deposit produces mostly opaque stones which sometimes show stars. The stones are larger - almost a few kilos per piece. Very few are facetable.

1997 : An Important discovery of Sapphires, near lIakaka; very close to the border of the natural reserve Park D'isalo in the Southwest of Madagascar. The area is very large, streching from the village of lIakaka to the nexttown of Sakahara for about 85 km. Besides Sapphires, at the same deposit accompanying minerals like Aquamarine, Chrysoberyl, Tourmaline, Spinel, Zircon and others are also found.

2000 : Latest important discoveries, mostly Rubies, were in the Northeast, near the town of And ilamena.

2000 : Discovery of more Rubies at the East Coast near Ambodivelo.

In between and before these dates, there were still more discoveries of Corundum, but the most important deposits are those mentioned. A. Lacroix, famous French

cientist and mineralogist mentioned in his important research work about the Mineralogy of Madagascar. His book - Mineralogie de Madagascar traces different Corundum
occurrences as early as 1923.