Identification of sapphires from Madagascar

with inclusion features resembling those of

sapphires from Kashmir (India)
Dr. Adolf Peretti (FGG, FGA) and Francesca Peretti (GG)

In late 2016, a new sapphire-producing mine was dis-

covered at Bemainty, near Ambatondrazaka and Didy in
Madagascar (Figure 5). The mine produced a consider-
able amount of large sapphires, including Padparadascha
and yellow sapphires (Figures 4a, c). The mining area has
now been closed. The Bemainty mine lies north of the Didy
mine (Figure 5) in a slightly different geological setting with-
in a so-called Imorona-Itsindro Series.
The formation of sapphire at the Didy mine is believed
to be related to Nb-Ta pegmatites that are mapped in
the area south of Didy. Niobite inclusions found within sap-
phires from Didy suggest a connection to these pegmatites
(Peretti and Hahn, 2013). The geology of the new Bemain-
ty mine and its surrounding does not indicate such Nb-Ta
pegmatites, yet niobite inclusions in one of the samples Figure 1a Figure 1b
from the new mine have been found. Currently fieldwork Figures 1a, b. Mining in the Bemainty area near Ambatondrazaka
the area is not being undertaken due to elevated security
in Madagascar before April 2017. Figure 1a shows a soil profile
risks (Figures 1a, b).
of theheavily weathered rocks containing sapphires. Fig. 1b gives
Spectacular inclusion features have been found in sap-
phires from Bemainty and they resemble textbook Kash-
an idea of the large crowd at this illegal mining site, with several
mir (India) sapphire inclusions (Figures 6 to 11). As a con- tens of thousands of miners participating, leaving a trail of de-
sequence, a certain degree of misinterpretation of these struction in the protected rainforest. (Photo is from the miner)
sapphires seems to exist in the market, and a series of
stones from Madagascar has possibly been falsely classi-
fied as Kashmir sapphires (Krzemnicki 2013). Kashmir sap-
phires have seen an unprecedented rise in value with pric-
es that can reach well over $100,000 per carat, while their
counterparts from Madagascar are ten times less expen-
sive. This offers a great potential for fraud and the correct significant amounts of sapphire besides isolated single find-
identification is thus an important part of the challenge of ings. Madagascar is the major sapphire producer dominat-
internationally recognized gem-testing laboratories. ing the world market supply. Madagascan sapphires are
In order to distinguish the sapphires from the new mine in occasionally misrepresented as originating from Myanmar,
Madagascar from those from Kashmir, we have prepared Sri Lanka or Kashmir. InColor/ICA Figure 1a Figure 1b in the
a Master Set of more than 50 reference samples from both Bangkok market, all reported of being from the new depos-
mines, carefully selected to cover the entire range of inclu- it. Among the samples are more than two dozen sapphires
sion features (Figures 4a, b, c). that contain typical Kashmir inclusions (e.g. Figure 6). These
types of inclusions were found in rough samples that we
The GRS Kashmir-Ambatondrazaka Master Set obtained directly from the mine and kept as rough, Sizes
The Kashmir Master Set of was prepared from the GRS range from 2 to 10 carats. Approximately 20% of our a very
reference collection, comprised of hundreds of sapphire particular and unique way (Peretti et al, 1990). In the high
reference samples from Kashmir, collected over the last 20 Himalayas, pegmatites intruded into a series of amphibo-
years. Many of those samples have been cut in our own lite and ultramafic rocks (Figure 3b). During that process,
facility and then categorized according to different inclu- the pegmatite was depleted of silica and a reaction rim
sions features, covering all the literature-published features of tourmaline was formed around the pegmatites (Peretti
of Kashmir sapphires. et al, 1990).
The Ambatondrazaka Master Set includes samples that This process has become known as de-silification and
we received from two commissioned independent agents it ultimately leads to the formation of sapphires within the
that we have sent to the new mines, as well as cut and pol- pegmatites. The sapphires either formed within the peg-
ished stones from more than five different reliable sources matite or in the reaction zone. There are different types of
Figure 2. Countries with sapphire deposits of commercial sapphires with varying inclusions such as tourmaline, pla-
importance. The Kashmir sapphire mine in northern India gioclase and amphibole, depending on the spot where
has been exhausted for decades and does not produce the sapphire was formed.
 30 o 60 o 90 o
60 o
RK RUSSIAN FEDERATION
BELARUS
ANY POLAND
.
ZECH REP UKRAINE
AUSTRIA MONGOLIA
D ROMANIA
LY BULGARIA Figure 2. Countries with sapphire deposits of commercial impor-
KYRGYZSTAN
GREECE TURKEY TAJIKISTAN tance. The Kashmir sapphire mine in northern India has been
SYRIAN
CYPRUS ARAB REP Jammu and exhausted for decades and does not produce significant amounts
CHINA
LEBANON IRAN AFGHANISTAN Kashmir
ISRAEL JORDAN
IRAQ of sapphire besides isolated single findings. Madagascar is the
major30
o
KUWAIT PAKISTAN sapphire producer dominating the world market supply.
YAN ARAB BAHRAIN NEPAL
EGYPT
MAHIRIYA SAUDI QATAR Madagascan sapphires are occasionally misrepresented as origi-
VIETNAM
ARABIA UNITED ARAB INDIA nating from Myanmar, Sri Lanka or Kashmir.
EMIRATES
LAO
OMAN BURMA
CHAD
SUDAN
YEMEN
MYANMARTHAILAND
CAMBODIA Formation of Kashmir Sapphires
CENTRAL ETHIOPIA 1 1 ultramafic rocks (enstatite-olivine)
AFRICAN REP
. 2 3 4
N
UGANDA SOMALIA SRI LANKA MALAYSIA 2 chromium-anthophyllite-tremolite
CONGO SINGAPORE 3 garnet-amphibolite
KENYA 0 o
4 amphibolite
D.R. CONGO INDONESIA 5a 6 5b
5 alteration zone
TANZANIA a) talc-cabonate b) biotite
6 contact zone, tourmaline rim
NGOLA
ZAMBIA 7b (dravite, schorl)

1 7 corundum-plagioclase-pegmatite
ZIMBABWE a) unaltered rock
MIBIA
BOTSWANA
MOZAMBIQUE
MADAGASCAR b) partially prelaced into
fine-grained mica,
kaolinite and carbonate
corundum (colorless) or
SOUTH 30 o 7a sapphire (light blue or blue)
AFRICA 1m

Below: Figure 3a. The Kashmir sapphire deposit is an isolated Figure 3b. The geology of the formation of Kashmir sapphire at
spot at an elevation of 4600 meters within the Himalayan moun- this primary deposit. A pegmatite intrudes rocks of peridotite
tain range. One of the authors (Adolf Peretti) studies the primary and amphibolite and produces a tourmaline reaction zone (Per-
deposit
30 o at the site in the early
60 o1990s. Only a few gemologists
90 o in etti et al, 1990).
the world made it to the Kashmir sapphire mine. (Photo: Rainer
Kündig).
 Figure 4a. Parts of the GRS reference collection with sapphires from the new deposit near Bemainty in Madagascar

Figure 4b. the GRS Kashmir reference Master Set. Figure 4c. A selection of padparadscha sap-
phires in a lot from the new mine in Mada-
gascar for the GRS reference collection.

Below: Legend for Figure 5, opposite page.

Legend
Sedimentary and Volcanic Rocks (and metamorphic equivalents) Plutonic rocks (and metamorphic equivalents)

Non-specified alluvial rocks Tsaratanana Complex Antananarivo Zone Betsimisaraka Zone

Qa
Beforona Group Ambalavao Series Imorona-Itsindro Series
Betsimisaraka Zone
Migmatic plagioclase gneiss with biotite Anatectic granite, idiomorphic Migmatic hornblende +_ biotite
Mananpotsy Complex nATAfo ± hornblende and granitogneiss with ЄAgro K-felspar Facies nPllom garnet-orthoamphibolite
amphibolite lenses and porphyroblastic Anatectic granite/migmatized,
Formation of Sakanila gneiss ЄAgr not differentiated
nPMPs Biotite-Gneiss ± hornblende and
Mafic biotite gneiss mafique, banded and Betsiboka Series
amphibolite with quartzite unites/
quarzite lenses, graphite lenses
nATAfz locally sheared, with quartzite, amphibole Hornblende-tonalite gneiss with
± sillimanite ± garnet rocks and and pyroxene, metagabbro and Kiangara Series nAMMgt ± clinopyroxene and amphibolite boudins
nPMPss meta-ultramafitite ± garnet-bearing and pyroxene metadiorite;
some calcsilicate marbles Alkali granite and syenite gneiss,
Gneiss à sillimanite Amphibole-gneiss nPKlsg polyphase stratified, coarse-grained local charnockitisation
nATAfzag and medium differentiated (biotite
Antananarivo Zone syenogranite, alcaline-leucogranite Mafic granofels/mafic rocks with gabbro-like
and quartz-bearing syenite). nAMMgtf composition
Mananpotsy Complex
Ambatondrazaka Formation Cr, deposit type not specified
nPMPz Biotite-Gneiss (± sillimanite Fe, deposit type not specified Imorona-Itsindro Series
± graphite) with lenses of quartzite Ni, deposit type not specified Granite charnocktic granites or Granite with biotite or hornblende and
and amphibolite nPck charnockites (not assigned) nPllzg intercalated layers of older gneiss rocks.
EGP, Alluvial
REE, Rare earth element Gabbro
deposit type not specified nPlleb
Cu Sn, deposit type not specified Gabbro Otheoamphibolite (not assigned) Large deposit
nPlleb
nPlleam
Ni, lateritic nickel, nickel sulfide non-specified Nb-Ta, columbite-tantalite bearing
non-specified pegmatite
Be, Beryl-bearing pegmatite
Ni+/-Co, NIckel-bearing laterite
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 very fine
streamers
blue color
zoning

white, cloud-like
inclusions, assorted with
emerging small rutile

irregular clouds of pin

points over a wide area with
isolated few rutile needles

leathers

streamer streamer

Figure 6. Inclusion features found in a high-value sapphire over
10 cts, originating from the new Bemainty sapphire mine in Mad-
agascar as seen under 60x magnification and oblique fiber optic
illumination. The minuscule details resembling clouds, streamers
and striae, possess all the hallmarks of Kashmir sapphires. Only
the study of minute details reveals differences (Figure 7). (Photo:
Matthias Alessandri)
Figure 7. Sketch of the Madagascar sapphire inclusion details
(Figure 6) revealing subtle differences to similar inclusions found
in sapphires from Kashmir (Figures 15 and 17), e.g. development
of small rutile needles around clouds. This phenomenon is absent
in Kashmir sapphires.

Figure 8. Oscillating color zoning in a sapphire from the new

mine in Madagascar. Note the occasional appearance of yellow
color zoning. Such color zones have not been found in Kashmir
sapphires of the GRS Master Set.

Figure 9. Fluid feathers containing yellow infillings. This is due to

the late hydrothermal alteration and weathering process found in
sapphires from Madagascar. This alteration within fluid inclusion
feathers is absent in Kashmir sapphires. (Photo: Willy Bieri)

Figure 10. Clusters of long zircons included in the sapphires from

Madagascar. The zircons have extensive tension cracks and are
often corroded and milky. They are distinctly different from the
zircon inclusions found in Kashmir sapphires (Figure 16).
 Figure 11. Oscillating milky and blue zones and streamers
perpendicular to the growth zones are found in this gemquality
cornflower blue sapphire from the new mine in Madagascar
(viewed under fiber optic illumination). At first glance, it resem-
bles the inclusion features of a Kashmir sapphire. Only the study
of minor details allows a distinction from features observed as
inclusions in Kashmir sapphires.

Figure 12a. Two examples

of Kashmir sapphires that
are part of the GRS Kashmir
reference Master Set. On the
left is a crosssection through
a 20-ct gem-quality Kashmir
sapphire with a polished
window. On the right is a
100+ ct Kashmir sapphire
carving by Glenn Lehrer,
California. The carved
Kashmir contains a 5-mm
dravite tourmaline over-
growth, proving its Kashmiri
origin. All the samples were
obtained before the opening
of the new deposit in Mad-
agascar.

Figure 12b. The same two Kashmir sap-

phires as in Figure 12a are exposed to
long-wave ultraviolet light and exhibit
distinctive fluorescence. Left: Core of a
Kashmir sapphire shows yellow-orange
fluorescence, followed by a zone of inert
reaction to UV-light and an outer rim of red
fluorescence. Right: The Kashmir sapphire
shows red fluorescence throughout its
body and possesses a distinctive zone of
intense red fluorescence, restricted to a
growth zone within the crystal. Yellow fluo-
rescence was exclusively found in Kashmir
sapphires, while red fluorescence can also
be observed in sapphires from the new
deposit in Madagascar.
Figure 13 Figure 14

Figure 15 Figure 17

Figure 16 Figure 18
Preliminary Comparison Study
We have compared the following properties of the
samples for this preliminary report:
A) Solid inclusions
B) Fluid inclusions
C) Age of zircon inclusions
D) Color zoning
E) Inclusion features indicative of Kashmir sapphires
F) UV-fluorescence analysis
Further analysis is currently focused on oxygen iso-
topes, zircon ages, LA-ICP-MS analysis and SEM-EDS. We
will report further on our findings in the near future. For the
first report, we focused on sapphires that are potentially
at risk for being mixed up with Kashmir sapphires. We have
found the following results.
A) Zircon habit: both origins may contain long zircon
crystals (Figures 10, 16). They can, however, be easily dis-
tinguished from each other. Uraninite crystals are only
present in Kashmir sapphires. Tourmaline inclusions of dra-
vite compositions are exclusive to Kashmir sapphires as of
now (Figure 14).
B) Kashmir sapphires contain a special type of pseudo
secondary fluid inclusion features. These types of inclu-
sions are largely absent in our master stones from the new
deposit in Madagascar (Figure 15).
C) Isolated yellow color zones were found in samples
from the new mine in Madagascar (Figure 8). These yellow
color zones are not present in Kashmir sapphires.
D) The age of Kashmir sapphire zircons was found to be
23 million years old. The sapphires from the new deposit in
Madagascar are older than 200 million years as can be
concluded from the geological set-up of the rock forma-
tions. This can be established using LA-ICP-MS analysis.
E) Al-hydroxide inclusion features, often referred to
as Kashmir-type inclusions, show small differences. These
differences can be seen, if the inclusion features are
sketched and analyzed in detail (example Figure 7).
F) Fluorescence analysis has shown that UV-fluores-
cence criteria reported earlier (Krzemnicki 2013) cannot
be applied (Figures 12a, b).
Implications for the Market
The surfacing of new gemstone deposits is proving to
be a serious challenge for gemological laboratories. A
solution to this problem is to have a reference collection
that has been established over a period of more than 20
years. It took us some time to collect the different types of
Kashmir sapphires with different inclusion properties. Only
two to three Kashmir sapphire samples per year could be
purchased from reliable sources between 1994 and 2015.
Finding reference samples of the new mine from Mad-
agascar was especially difficult, since traders did not co-
operate in selling samples to the laboratory, particularly
those with Kashmir-like inclusion features. It was necessary
for us to get the samples in 2016 anonymously, pretending
to be serious buyers through agents and paying high mar-
ket prices.
Based on our Master Sets, we can confirm that com-
paring the minute details of the sapphires makes it possi-
ble to distinguish the two different origins. Re-checking is
recommended for sapphires in the market between 2016
and 2017, which are claimed to be from Kashmir.
Warning About Potential Origin-Misinterpreta-
tion of Padparadscha Sapphires from the Be-
mainty Deposit
Remarkably large and beautiful padparadscha sap-
phires have been found in this new deposit with sizes that
can exceed 20 carats. We came across cases where they
have been misinterpreted in the trade as originating from
Sri Lanka.
The padparadscha from Bemainty can be identified
based on their characteristic color zoning (Figure 19) in
combination with their distinctive FTIR spectrum (Figure
20). The FTIR spectrum though is not exclusive to this origin.
We have encountered situations where clients con-
firmed a padparadscha’s origin as from this new depos-
it in Madagascar, but declined to accept our gemstone
report since the stone came with other gemstone reports
stating a Sri Lankan origin ass the most probable prove-
nance. This requires a “Trade Alert” to the public in addi-
tion to the that previously published about the new Kash-
mir-like sapphires from Madagascar

Figure 13. An amphibole inclusion in a Kashmir sapphire is accompanied by a fluid inclusion feather. The singly isolated fluid inclusion
voids are arranged in a distinct flat area. When illuminated with an oblique fiber optic light, the fluid inclusion tubes reflect simultane-
ously. This type of fluid incisions is typically found in Kashmir sapphires.
Figure 14. Opaque cubic inclusions found in Kashmir sapphires, identified as uraninite. They are generally absent in sapphires from the
new deposit in Madagascar, but can be found in sapphires from Adranondambo in southern Madagascar (Gübelin and Peretti, 1997,
1998). For the purpose of distinguishing sapphires from Kashmir from sapphires from the new deposit in Madagascar, these crystals
are helpful, although not always present, but serve as an important distinction criteria.
Figures 15 and 17. Clouds of Al-hydroxide are often found in gem-quality Kashmir sapphires. These inclusions were generally believed
to be exclusive to Kashmir sapphires until the arrival of sapphires from the new sapphire mines in Madagascar.
Figure 16. A cluster of long needle-shaped zircons without any tension cracks, found in a sapphire from Kashmir. The inventory of zir-
con habits is relatively complex and includes various types of different zircon inclusions. Comparing zircon habits, corrosion features,
growth zoning inside the zircons and geometry of the tension cracks around zircons provides a key feature for distinguishing the Mad-
agascan sapphires from their Kashmir counterparts.
Figure 18. Dravite inclusions in a sapphire from Kashmir are still considered a strong indication for their origin (see their occurrence at
the primary deposit, Figure 3b). Further inclusion analysis in sapphire from the new deposit is currently underway to test this argu-
ment.

References
1) E.J. Gübelin and Adolf Peretti, 1997. Sapphires from the
Adranondambo mine in SE Madagascar: evidence for
metasomatic skarn formation. Journal of Gemology, 25,7,
pp. 453-516.
2) E.J. Gübelin and Adolf Peretti, 1998. Die Saphire von
Adranondambo Eine neue Lagerstätte auf Madagascar.
NZZ Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Forschung und Technik, Nr. 86,
page 65.
3) Krzemnicki, M.S., 2017. ‘Kashmir-like’ sapphires from
Madagascar entering the gem trade in large sizes and
quantities. SSEF Trade Alert, [Online]. Available at: http://
w w w.ssef.ch/fileadmin/Documents/PDF/SSEF_TRADE_
ALERT_-Kashmir-like__sapphires_from_Madagascar__en-
tering_the_gemtrade_in_large_sizes_and.pdf [Accessed
22 May 2017].
4) Pardieu, V., Vertriest, W., Weeramonkhonlert, V., Ray-
naud, V., Atikarnsakul, U., Perkins, R., A, 2017. Sapphires
from the gem rush Bemainty area, Ambatondrazaka
(Madagascar). GIA Bangkok News from Research, [On-
line]. 1-45. Available at: https://www.gia.edu/gia-news-
research/sapphires-gem-rush-bemainty-ambatondraza-
ka-madagascar [Accessed 22 May 2017].
5) Peretti, A., 2008. Winza ruby identified. Contributions
to Gemology, No. 7, page 90 (available at www.gemre-
search. ch)
6) Peretti, A., Hahn, L., 2013. Record-breaking Discovery of
Ruby and Sapphire at the Didy Mine in Madagascar: In-
vestigating the Source. GRS - Contributions to Gemology,
13, 2-15.
Figure 19. Microphotograph taken of the interior
structure of a padparadscha sapphire (over 20 cts
in size) from the new mine in Madagascar. Pink,
yellow and orange color zoning is revealed with
occasional isolated blue zones that are not shown
in this picture (40x microscope magnification using
transmitted light). These features, in combination
with the infrared spectrum (Figure 20) as well as
additional chemical and spectroscopic data, are
characteristic of padparadscha sapphires from this
new deposit. This allows the determination of the
origin of this new type of padparadscha sapphire
from the Bemainty deposit near Ambatondrazaka.
Fig. 20 FTIR-transmission spectra of an unheated
Padparadscha sapphire from the new mine in
Madagascar (Bemainty, Ambatondrazaka). Note
the prominent line at 3160 cm-1. Similar spectra
were described for rubies from Winza, Tanzania
(Peretti 2008).
%T
3160 cm-1
7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000
cm-1
7) Peretti, A., J. Mullis and R. Kündig, 1990. Die Kaschmir-Sa-
phire und ihr geologisches Erinnerungsvermögen. NZZ
Neue Zürcher Zeitung. Forschung und Technik, 15.August,
Nr. 187, page 59.
8) Peretti, A. et al., 2017. Gems from Mogok (including spi-
nel) and Kashmir and identification against their natural
counterparts, textbook with 558 pages, more than 900 fig-
ures (release September 2017, Hong Kong Jewellery and
Gem Fair, GRS Seminar).
9) Carte Métallogénique et de Prédiction des Gisements,
Métaux de Base et Métaux Précieux, Feuille No 6-Toama-
sina (2008) (J. Ramarolahy, D. Rakotomanana, B. Moine, E.
Ortega, L. Chevallier, F. Hartzer, G. S. de Kock, S. W. Strauss
et, A. F. Randriamanantenasoa, J. Naden, L. Noakes,
Editée par: British Geological Survey Keyworth, Notting-
ham, UK) MINISTÈRE DE L’ÉNERGIE ET DES MINES Projet de
Gouvernance des Ressources Minérales (PGRM).
GRS Gemresearch Swisslab AG, Baumschulweg 13, 6045
Meggen, Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland.
Contact: adolf@peretti.ch