Madagascar Gems and Rough
Bulletin

March 16, 2007

Madagascar Sapphires

Hello all,

Here is the latest edition of the Madagascar Gems and Rough Bulletin. We hope you find it informative and entertaining.

We are working hard to bring you the best of the many varieties of gem rough mined in Madagascar.

I have mentioned to you that weather conditions on Madagascar are severely hampering gem mining and Gilbert's travels to the mines.

Madagascar endures a long cyclone season, beginning in November and lasting into March.

The cyclone pictured above is over Madagascar as I write this. I have lost accurate count, but I believe this one is number 8 to hit the island this season. These cyclones buffet the island with 140 kph winds and drench it with heavy rain for several days, washing out roads, damaging homes, destroying rice crops, and flooding the mines.

So what does this weather report mean to you?

It means that soon the flooded mines of Madagascar can begin to clean up, pump out, dig out, and produce some rough.

It also means that Gilbert can better travel the muddy, washed out roads and trails to visit some of the mines. He has recently been able to journey to the south between storms and buy a few parcels.

He just returned home from a week in the bush and will be shipping small quantities of good rough to me at the end of March... but first he will make a trip to another part of Madagascar to visit a sphene mine. He will also attempt to locate a couple of new sapphire mines along the way.

The fine quality sapphire pictured above is priced at $1500.

The one below is priced at only $400.

This sawable 1.1 gram polychrome rod is also priced at $400.