Follow the highway until just before the pavement turns to gravel and you will see the sign for Gem Mountain. They are softer colors with just the right saturation - not too dark and not too . Take full advantage of our site features by enabling JavaScript. They were after the gold, says Cass Thompson, owner and operator of the Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine, roughly 30 miles northeast of Helena. Some of the links on our website are affiliate links. JOM's Vitus 979 L'Eroica. $112.50, $150.00 Potential prospectors can purchase collections of sapphire gravel either from the Spokane Bars physical or online store, with which they can begin their treasure hunt. The bags have an average of 1 natural sapphire per bag that was not added. The small and fractured stones were sold by the ounce for industrial purposes. Both of these options charge a small fee. Enter your e-mail address to receive our newsletter. After more than a century after their discovery in the rivers and creeks of the state, Montanas Alluvial Sapphires were finally considered valuable. Zestimate Home Value: $305,000. Here are some of the locations you have to explore in order to find them. From handmade pieces to vintage treasures ready to be loved again, Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. They can range in value up to 10,000.00. remembering account, browser, and regional preferences, remembering privacy and security settings, personalized search, content, and recommendations, helping sellers understand their audience, showing relevant, targeted ads on and off Etsy. BRIEF HISTORY. It wasnt long before these stones were identified as being Sapphires. Montana Sapphire 1.08 CT Teal Purple Color Change Antique Cushion Cut $1,695. We hope you thoroughly enjoy the experience as we have in finding sapphires! 2 gallons of unwashed sapphire gravel from the El Dorado Bar near Helena, Montana. Four major gravel terraces are visible on both sides of the river. The colorful bits of sand and gravel were of little value. In the end, whats left is a bucket of seemingly innocuous gravel and clay that is rich with sapphires, along with possibly topaz, hematite, garnets, fossils and even gold. Nevertheless, sapphire mining in Montana continued to grow and spread. Click Buy it now or Add to cart and proceed to checkout. He found a 50-carat stone. Montana sapphire is a type of blue sapphire found in the western United States, primarily in Montana. The tray will be left filled with only gravel and any possible gems. Many commercial mines are open to the public throughout the state with the option of visiting the mining area and searching through the gravel outdoors in a beautiful setting. Yogo Sapphires are the most precious sapphires found in North America. Order your sapphire gravel concentrate today! I RECEIVED A BOX OF MONTANA SAPPHIRE GRAVEL FOR MY BIRTHDAY-JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU THE STONES I FOUNG IN THE GRAVEL. Retro Gravel! If outside of USA price will be at actual shipping cost. Bought a bag of gravel from a Montana Sapphire mine. Sapphires were first discovered flowing through the Montana Rivers during the gold rushes in the 1860s. The actual sorting process is fairly simple. Located directly in the celebrated Gem Mountains, the Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine is one of the best places for visitors to learn the gemstones mining history and industrial practices. Sort by. Steeped in a long tradition of treasure hunting, Montana sapphires are a unique find in this extraordinarily beautiful landscape. Subject to federal restrictions and obtaining a permit (in advance), individuals are allowed to collect a single twenty cubic inch specimen (about fist sized). Miles City Occurrence, Custer Co., Montana. Ruby Peak Talc Occurrence, Ruby Range, Madison Co., Montana. Besides Yogo Gulch between Great Falls and Lewistown, which is no longer open to the public, there are many sapphire-rich areas throughout Central and Southwestern Montana, all of which coordinate with historic gold speculation. This group is made up of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. SAPPHIRE GRAVEL BAGS. Our sapphires are so clean that usually treatment is not needed. 2 Stone Montana Sapphire Silver Ring . Montana Sapphire .57 CT Silvery Blue Round Cut $695. Read more. If youre lucky enough to visit in person, we will provide everything you need to find your own Montana Sapphires. 10 pounds of virgin gravel *concentrate from the famed El dorado Bar near Helena, Montana. Since I am on the east coast I thought it would be nice to look through some west coast dirt. When you purchase a bucket of sapphire gravel, you have the exact same odds of finding a large, high value gemstone as we do at the mine. Once extracted, the material goes through a trommel, a rotating drum that sorts out the larger rocks, followed by multiple screening and washing processes to refine the material to a manageable size. Washing instructions are included with your purchase. Our natural sapphire gravel box of rocks is perfect for the committed sapphire hunter looking for the chance to find a large, high value gemstone. Please go to the more tab and specials and giveaways for our current gravel bag sale thank you. Macs Gems Missoula, MT USA. The seller might still be able to personalize your item. More to the southwest, the Dry Cottonwood Creek (discovered in 1889) near Deer Lodge, as well as Rock Creek closer to Philipsburg, which was also found in the late 1800s, became popular sapphire mining areas. Conlin's Furniture is a local furniture store, serving the Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wyoming area. Jewelry. Physical Address: 21 Sapphire Gulch Lane (mine); 201 W. Broadway St. (store) Philipsburg, MT 59858. All items except gravel bags 25% off automatically applied at checkout. Absolutely! With its beautiful color patterns and bands, you will immediately fall in love with it as soon as you see it. Best gravel bikes 2020 | 25 top-rated. Garnets of several varieties can be found; the largest on record weighed 40 carats. Since weve been doing it, its pretty much the same. The geologic structure called Spokane Gravel Bar is a deposit consisting of unsolidified sediments, deposited by an ancient river. remembering account, browser, and regional preferences, remembering privacy and security settings, personalized search, content, and recommendations, helping sellers understand their audience, showing relevant, targeted ads on and off Etsy. The natural Sapphire crystal structure is hexagon with triangle terminations which are often flat. (25% off), Ad vertisement from shop Mountainmangemsllc, Ad vertisement from shop GoldCrownJewelry, Ad vertisement from shop NorthStarSapphires, Ad vertisement from shop hangingbyathread1, Ad vertisement from shop TholfanedoSapphires. April 7, 2014 Courtney Holden. Youre sure to find something truly unique with Rings, Pendants, Earrings, and Bracelets along with an extensive selection of Carat Weight, Size, & Cut, Loose Faceted Stones in Blue, Yellow, Orange, Pink, and more. Most of the sapphires are found in the famed Rock Creek deposit, nicknamed "Gem Mountain.". Try contacting them via Messages to find out! We have the best equipment and a fantastic staff. Sapphire production in Montana was, at least initially, a byproduct of the gold rushes of the 1860s. It makes a great gift. Montana Gems of Philipsburg sources their gravel from Gem Mountain as well as the El Dorado Bar deposit near Helena. The History of Sapphire Mining in Montana, The Top Sapphire Mines in Montana for Amateur Prospectors, Sapphire Gallery in Phillipsburg, Montana. This mineral is generally found in metamorphic rocks associated with manganese minerals. Shipping is included, inside the USA. It is the fourth-largest state by area, the eighth-least populous state, and the third-least . During the Montana gold rush in Southwestern Montana in the early 1860s, sapphires appeared as colorful distractions in the miners' pans and sluice boxes. Remember! You will find all types of minerals, fossils, hematite and sapphire. You can dig for a fee and the shop will rent you the proper equipment if you dont have your own. Kelly Iron, Ruby Range, Madison Co., Montana. This will differ depending on what options are available for the item. Absolutely! This is a full two gallon Natural Sapphire Gravel Bucket dumped into a box, hence the nickname Box of Rocks. It contains 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. We cannot guarantee the quantity or quality of the sapphires you will find. Its main use is in jewelry, so it is common to see this product in all types of garments. Mining first started in 1892 with large stones exhibiting good color and clarity faceted as finished gemstones. It is also a variety highly sought after by collectors of precious and semi-precious stones. In rocks affected by contact metamorphism, metasomatism and hydrothermal processes, it is mainly used as an ornamental stone. If you cant visit us in person we can mail you a Box of Rocks. Virgin Montana Missouri River Sapphire / Gold Gravel. Visitors will collect their own sapphire gravel samples, and use the mines washboard and screen to prospect for any gems. Potential gems can be identified by a light sparkle produced when the stone is mixed with a collection of wet gravel. Thats because over 150 years ago, the hills of Montana were absolutely full of gold prospectors drawn by the dreams of striking it rich. It has been used in the asbestos industry as a heat insulator due to its fibrous habit. Also, look for hematitefossils, topaz, jadite, serpentine and agate. Product availability may vary. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. The club contributed funds for a boundary fence and portable toilets. re/done 70s ultra high rise wide leg jeans August 30, 2022 ; 5:37 pm honey can-do gar-01120 heavy duty rolling garment rack, chrome No Comments How Mining Montana sapphires works: Any sapphires over 1 inch get pulled out, and the rest of the sapphire-gravel mix is processed through a plant to extract the smaller sapphires. I like to Rockhound and gemstone searching. The Zestimate for this house is $305,600, which has decreased by $16,687 in the last 30 days. The natural gravel bucket is direct from our family sapphire mine. DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS AVERAGE RIGHT NOW. 30 POUNDS (VIRGIN MATERIAL) 1/2" TO 1/8". best montana sapphire graveldisadvantages of self check-in at airports. It can also be a replacement for green marble and used as a fertilizer. In 1976, the group entered into a cooperative agreement with the Forest Service for the management and development of Crystal Park for public recreation. Check out our montana sapphire gravel selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our gemstones shops. The Sapphire Gallery in Philipsburg offers guests the experience of hunting for Sapphires without physically going to a mine. Try contacting them via Messages to find out! Also, because its components originate in the mantle areas, they represent a valuable source of information about the earths layers and especially the mantle. Also in Philipsburg, the Sapphire Gallery offers materials from the Rock Creek deposit in the aptly named Sapphire Mountains. From local events, jobs, where to stay and the best things to see and do. Gold miners discovered sapphires there in the . Click Buy it now or Add to cart and proceed to checkout. They are all filled with un-searched gravel. Some of them are specifically from the El Dorado Bar deposit. Sapphires from 1/2 carat up to 10 carats are fairly common. Etsy uses cookies and similar technologies to give you a better experience, enabling things like: Detailed information can be found in Etsys Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy and our Privacy Policy. Since then, treasure hunters still gravitate toward several of these historic mining locations. We have quite a variety of sapphires in Montana, but the mainstay is the Yogo, said Glenn McCaffery, longtime gem enthusiast in Great Falls, Montana, and registered jeweler with the American Gem Society. We're Montana's largest, oldest and funnest sapphire mine . The site is located 7,700 feet above sea level in the Pioneer Mountains of the upper Big Hole Valley southwest of Butte, Montana in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The vast majority of early production targeted the uniform round small sapphires which were shipped to Switzerland for use as watch bearings. A bucket or large pan works great. SHIPPING IS USPS PRIORITY MAIL (PRIORITY LARGE FLAT RATE BOX) IN THE U.S.A ONLY. The site has been a favorite with recreational rockhounds for decades because of the exceptionally well-formed quartz and amethyst scepter crystals. Garnets can be found in igneous rocks (accessory mineral), metamorphic rocks (medium to high-grade metamorphism indicator), and sedimentary rocks (detrital component). In some parts of the Eldorado Bar along the upper Missouri River deposit, there are layers 100 feet below the surface making it more difficult to reach. Under Add your personalization, the text box will tell you what the seller needs to know. . Gombe Sapphires - the best blue-green sapphires in the world, in my opinion. While the high-quality gems of Yogo Creek earned impressive amounts, many of the other sapphires initially found industrial uses, primarily in watchmaking, as well as being used in bombsights for torpedos and as the abrasive material on sanding wheels until the mid-1940s. The largest sapphire discovered at Spokane Bar was 155 carats! The area outside Bozeman also has Hyalite Opal and Montana Moonstone. Blue sapphire is the best known color. Thus, kimberlites are ultramafic intrusive igneous rocks. The by-product of this heating process is a sapphire with improved color and value. About six miles west ofWise River, the Calvert Hill Mine is a good place to find epidote, aquamarine, scheelite and garnets. $9000. Found something you love but want to make it even more uniquely you? The popularity and price of sapphires, especially since they are September's birthstone, today would make early prospectors swoon. One mine In Fergus county, Mon- tana, produced most of the sapphires mined in this country last year, ac- cording to the report of geological survey. Try using a different browser or disabling ad blockers. Here is approximately 20 to 25 pounds (depending on the mostire or clay content), of concentrated sapphire gravel from virgin deposits of the Eldorado Bar, outside Helena Montana along the Missouri River. Fancy Sapphires can often be found in these idyllic mining locations in various colors ranging from light pinks and purples to orange, greens, and yellows. Over 12,000 pieces of jewelry have been produced from the fine Sapphires dug up by the gallerys many visitors. Like all sapphires, Montana sapphires are tough and relatively scratch-resistant and make great jewelry stones. With rich cornflower blue Yogo sapphires and fancy-colored gems in any color of the rainbow, these stones are a great choice for any jewelry project. Its also home to a whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with love and extraordinary care. It doesnt take long to train your eye to see the pastel colors and different shapes, which are sometimes more rounded or potentially crystalline depending on the mine location. Thompson said the basic premise of sapphire mining hasnt changed very much over the past century. At Wise River, take the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway Road approximately 25 miles to Crystal Park. We also created 2.6 million jobs in the U.S.enough to employ the entire city of Houston, TX! Customers are given a shaker box, which is a screened, roughly three-inch tall container that allows the water to flow through the materials. Lucky rockhoundsalso might find a Japan Law Twin, a pair of crystals joined at an unvarying angle of 84 degrees, 39 minutes. . Prospectors did not recognize the gemstone at first, since these particular samples were not the traditional blue that the high-valued gemstones were known for. $2,082.50, $2,450.00 Its interesting to consider what sapphires are strewn along these now underwater former gold stakes when prospectors tossed the pretty stones aside. Ruby is a red sapphire which is one of the most prized. Discovered in the early 20th century by geologists mapping the Missouri River area, the site was named after the Spokane Hills that are composed of Spokane shale. Many do confuse it with the mookaite jasper that originates in Australia. Other places have storefront facilities where there is typically an option to purchase a bucket to sort through at the shop or buy materials to take home. This product needs to be thoroughly washed in a container that is not connected to any household plumbing. 10 pounds of virgin gravel *concentratefrom thefamedEl dorado Bar near Helena, Montana. The value of these stones remained unknown until 1895, when a new landowner, Ed Sapphire Collins, sent samples of the pebbles to Tiffanys & Co. Tiffanys and bought the pieces for $3,750 ($128,350 as of 2022). Exclusive Distributor of Montanas Gem Mountain Mine. Thompson said that theyll often continue mining into December, which can be a brutal month. Shop anextensive selection of loose stones in various carat weight, size, cut, and color. It usually takes 2-3 hours to screen the dirt, and it is a lot of work, especially in the summer heat. This type of data sharing may be considered a sale of information under California privacy laws. It is filled about halfway with gravel, then washed in a large tub or trough.   United States   |   English (US)   |   $ (USD). But after the construction of the dam in the early 1900s to create Hauser Lake, several of the gravel bars were submerged deep below the surface. We do not know how big or how clean it will be. Found something you love but want to make it even more uniquely you? RockSeeker.com is reader-supported. The deep red color of common garnet created a demand for the mineral as a precious and semi-precious stone and is a major niche in the industry that garnet continues to supply. Our global marketplace is a vibrant community of real people connecting over special goods. These sapphire deposits include a series of terrace-like gravel bars along the riverbank. There are very few flaws, he explained. Fill out the requested information. Phone: 406.859.4367. Diamond Mine, Butte Mining District (Summit Valley Mining District), Butte-Silver Bow, Montana. The valuable gemstones produced in-state are still considered some of the most valuable in the world. The sapphires mined in 1908 . Set where you live, what language you speak, and the currency you use. ), Kimberlite: The Rocks with Diamonds in Them, Lannen Placer, First Choice Mining District (Garnet Mining District), Granite Co., Montana. Rhodonite is a mineral from the group of silicates, with the chemical formula Mn (SiO3), where 54.1% of the volume is MnO, and 45.9% corresponds to SiO2, it is found in metamorphic rocks associated with manganese minerals. The seller might still be able to personalize your item. VISIT OUR RETAIL STORE: Working Hours: Open Daily 9am - 6pm. Located on the Pioneer Scenic Byway south of Wise River, Crystal Park is an inspiring public dig site where youll find amethyst as well as smoky and brilliant clear quartz scepters in a variety of forms. This is our Sapphire Sack. At present, it is known as Zabargad Island, where apparently the first specimens of this natural product were found. Shop BMW 325 Convertibles in Chatham, VA for sale at Cars.com. Touch base with these knowledgeable operations for your treasure hunt. Sapphires were first discovered in Montana in 1865 by prospectors searching for gold in the gravel bars along the upper Missouri River (Summer 2017 issue of Gems & Gemology ). Drummond Quarry (Spring Gulch Mine), First Choice Mining District (Garnet Mining District), Granite Co., Montana. Family . Turning off personalized advertising opts you out of these sales. Learn more in our Privacy Policy., Help Center, and Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. While gold was one of the main forces, followed by silver and copper, behind the creation of Montana as a territory and a state . donaldson cross reference to fleetguard; 1989 ford mustang gt for sale; quick coat epoxy for tumblers; oxalic acid and sodium hydroxide titration lab report; best montana sapphire gravel. The optical properties of diamond include a high refractive index, high dispersion, and brilliance, giving it the title of the best-known gemstone on the planet. Plan your next adventure at the one and only Gem Mountain. This crystal is used to carve pieces that are very attractive to the eye. The rough in the photo totals 64 carats. While mining for gold in 1895 along Yogo Creek in the Little Belt Mountains east of Great Falls, prospector Jake Hoover collected the brilliant blue stones instead of discarding them, and sent them to Tiffany & Co. in New York City for an assessment. Capistranomining.com Specializing in American Mined Gemstones Benitoite, Montana Missouri River Sapphire and Oregon Sunstone. Montana Sapphire Gravel Bags. The Sapphires were declared the the finest precious gemstones ever found in the United States by Tiffanys Chief Gemologist, George Kunz. Check out our montana sapphires gravel selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. The mine is situated in a very accessible area of spectacular natural beauty that is rarely visited or seen by millions of visitors who hurry by on their way to either Glacier or Yellowstone National Park. The garnets can be cherry red or flame orange. Sign up for our FREE weekly email.Delivered to your inbox every Friday. Forums - Mtbr.com. Ruby is a red sapphire which is one of the most prized. The largest gem quality sapphire was 50 carats (so far). Declared the official State Gemstone of Montana in 1969, Sapphires have become a cornerstone of Montana's industry, trade, and culture. Click here to subscribe! Send me exclusive offers, unique gift ideas, and personalized tips for shopping and selling on Etsy. Building and riding mountain bikes. Its also home to a whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with love and extraordinary care. Other finds, though uncommon, are diamond, topaz, citrine, and ruby. Whether searching gravel on-site or having it shipped to your own, Montana Gems offers materials from Rock Creek and the Eldorado Bar areas. Bound in a conglomerate of feldspar and bentonite clay, sapphires tend to settle well below layers of topsoil, overburden, and evidence of volcanic activity in the gravel bars. This gravel is filled with great colorful river worn rock from the Missouri River in addition to raw gravel from virgin ground. Very dirty natural sapphire gravel. The sapphires come in every color and all sizes and clarity. The mine also offers a dig option. You can view our instruction video if you follow this like (or copy and paste) to assist you in finding sapphires in your gravel. (15% off), Sale Price $2,082.50 Amateur prospectors will want to bring any potential Sapphires to a professional gem expert. The process will dissolve the mineral responsible for the Sapphires miscoloration at these temperatures while not damaging the gemstone itself. With powerful tools and services, along with expert support and education, we help creative entrepreneurs start, manage, and scale their businesses. Yet, thanks to their lack of coloration, they continued to garner only a meager market value. But first, lets take a quick look at just a sample of some of the rocks, minerals and gemstones that can be found in Montana. All Rights Reserved. Blue sapphire is the best known color. The equipment just gets bigger, he says. The gold is in small flakes, nuggets and dust. It is also known as golden topaz due to its color characteristics. They are considered to be among the finest sapphires in the world. The Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine & Gold Fever Rock Shop offers mining for beautiful Montana sapphires. Distributor of Gem Mountain Montana Sapphire gemstones and jewelry. Directions. The most commonly found color is green-blue. The gem in the ring weighs 1.53 carats; in front the left stone is a . Daniel Lloyd on Twitter: \ Building 1X Gravel Bike From Road Bike. Luckily, high-quality Sapphires can be found throughout Montana, albeit not quite as valuable as the naturally azure samples of Yogo Gulch. Some of the indoor shops offer gravel washing throughout the year, but for those who want to hunt at the mine sites, its best to wait until the weather moderates. This beautiful stone is considered silicon dioxide, with its origins in the USA. The Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine is one of the largest, oldest, and best Sapphire Mines in the World. This specimen looks great in the display case, and it can even be a lovely gift. To separate the valuable gems from the rest of the stones, sapphire hunters will now begin to shake the tray. THIS IS A 30 POUND BAG OF VIRGIN ( NEVER LOOKED THROUGH ) GRAVEL. If outside of USA price will be at actual shipping cost. Check out Montana Gems of Philipsburg for your one-stop-gem gravel shop! During the Montana gold rush in Southwestern Montana in the early 1860s, sapphires appeared as colorful distractions in the miners pans and sluice boxes. But because of the sapphires high specific gravity of four (although much less than golds 19.3) these areas were often intermingled with placer deposits, which is why they were intertwined with the search for gold. We cannot guarantee the quantity or . Garnets of several varieties can be found; the largest on record weighed 40 carats. However this is a natural product and we cannot guarantee the quantity or quality of the sapphires you will find. About 30 miles northeast of Helena, on the Upper Missouri River, is one of the main sapphire mining areas in Montana. Today, Montana offers a huge variety of options for rockhounds and prospectors. You could call it the "Quiet Giant" of sapphire mines, because it has produced over 180 million carats of sapphires for over 130 years without receiving much "press". And many of these sites are free and open to the public year-round. Beautiful Serpentine has been found in many locations around Montana, but there is no specific location where you can go to; you just have to pick a mining site. Typically, orders of $35 USD or more (within the same shop) qualify for free standard shipping from participating Etsy sellers. To put it in perspective, Thompson said a 50-carat sapphire is roughly one and a half inches long and as big around as a mans thumb. Fill out the requested information. For two summers in 1999 and 2000 we were managers at the Jewel of the Rockies Sapphire . Gravel bags from our mine on he Eldorado bar in Helena montana u.s.a. Is it legal to collect rocks, including Montana sapphires? The most common uses for a diamond are gemstones, industrial abrasives, diamond windows, speaker domes, heat sinks, low friction micro-bearings, wear-resistant parts, cable manufacturing. The finds in Southwest Montana range from gold to Dogtooth Calcite. It is 53.8mi (86.6km) long and is a mostly gravel road. When searching for sapphires, sharp eyes are needed to pick out the tiny gems that are mere millimeters across, but larger stones closer to 10 carats are not uncommon. Front-end loaders and excavators are the front line in removing the materials from the mining location before further processing. Thompson said some of the stones found on their place were valued between $1000 to $10,000 per carat. The garnets can be cherry red or flame orange. In the global market for gems, jewelry, and precious stones, the real attention of the consumer is directed only towards a small group of gems that are known as the four great gems. Shipping policies vary, but many of our sellers offer free shipping when you purchase from them. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 8.95 Cts Natural Multicolor Montana Sapphire Oval Shape Treated Gemstone at the best online prices at eBay! We have some of the biggest and best sapphires in the world, that come off our mine. Montana Sapphire paydirt rock hounding bag. Turning off the personalized advertising setting wont stop you from seeing Etsy ads or impact Etsy's own personalization technologies, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive. We Mine ItYou Find It. Gravel Bike on the Cheap: Resurrecting. These unique gems come from only limited area, named Yogo Gulch, located in the Little Belt Mountains of Montana. We have some of the biggest and best sapphires in the world, that come off our mine. This is from an ancient river bed so you may also find garnets, hematite, petrified wood, gold flakes and small aquatic fossils. Mountain Consolidated Mine, Butte Mining District (Summit Valley Mining District), Butte-Silver Bow, Montana. Original Price $150.00 Copyright 2022 Rock & Gem Magazine. The Yogo is untreated and of exceptional quality. In this post, Im going to list the some of the best rockhounding dig sites you can visit in Montana. Montana is home to North Americas only commercially mined sapphire industry. . To enable personalized advertising (like interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. The largest is the blue stone that the ring is resting on; it weighed 10 carats and yielded a 3.63-carat gem.