Gemstones cache discovered in Wyoming

Eagle-Hawk Exploration of Lyons, Colorado exposed several thousand carats of gem-quality cordierite (known as iolite) along with some sapphire in a shallow trench on their Palmer Canyon prospect. The deposit was discovered by the Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) during field reconnaissance in 1995. Following up on the geological interpretations made by the WSGS, the company intersected a rich pocket of the gemstones. The locality predicted by the WSGS, yielded an estimated 10,000 to 100,000 carats of gem-quality cordierite (much of it of probable facet grade), within about a cubic yard of material.

Following the initial discovery of gemstones, specimens of transparent gem-quality cordierite were collected by the WSGS weighing from 1.5 to >3000 carats. The cordierite ranges from smoky-gray, to a pleasing violet, to a very light-blue color. When cut into iolite, the stone produces violet to light sapphire-blue gems that change shades as the stone is rotated in natural light. A few of the stones faceted to date rival the highest quality iolite stones found anywhere in the world. The presence of fist-sized stones suggests that some large iolite gemstones are likely to be produced in the future.

Corundum is also locally abundant and includes opaque, translucent, and transparent specimens that are white, pink, and red--some of which have been faceted into sapphires. The largest corundum specimens found on the property to date weigh about 25 carats.

For more information on this topic please contact:
W. Dan Hausel, dhausel@uwyo.edu
Phone: 307 766-2286 x229

Sales: (307)766-2286 x224
Fax: (307)766-2605
Email: sales-wsgs@uwyo.edu

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