Grandidierite

Grandidierite From Madagascar.48 CT

Grandidierite from Madagascar is one of the world's rarest and most highly prized gemstones. First discovered in 1902, it is an extremely scarce magnesium aluminum borosilicate that became more accessible after major discoveries in the Anosy region (Tranomaro) in 2014 and 2015. 

Key Characteristics

• • Color: Typically features a stunning bluish-green, greenish-blue, cyan, or lagoon-blue. The more blue the tone, the higher its iron content. 
  • Pleochroism: It exhibits trichroic pleochroism, meaning it can show three distinct colors depending on the angle from which it's viewed: dark blue-green, dark green, or colorless. 

• Hardness: 7.5 on the Mohs scale, making it durable enough for certain types of jewelry. 

• Primary Source: While micro-crystals exist elsewhere, gem-quality grandidierite is almost exclusively mined in southern Madagascar, specifically near the remote village of Tranomaro.
• Mining Conditions: Extraction is highly labor-intensive, relying on artisanal mining with pickaxes and shovels, often followed by a remote half-day trek.