Benitoite

Hello fellow gem enthusiasts, I am after a sample of the rare and
beautiful gemstone Benitoite. Either some rough which could yield
a few stones a carat or so in size, or some faceted stones. It
will be used in our gemmology class for educational purposes, our
only sample currently is a piece of rough the size of a
rice-grain with one window facet! Any leads to sources would be
appreciated (I am in Australia), thanks, L.Veska.

Regarding the benetoite, rough will be very hard to come by, as
the current source is only one mine (I think it’s always been the
only source) and I read an E-mail from them recently on one of
the interest groups and they said they cut all they mined, didn’t
sell rough at all.

I don’t have their E-mail address handy, will try to hunt it up
for you.

Hello fellow gem enthusiasts, I am after a sample of the rare and
beautiful gemstone Benitoite. Either some rough which could yield
a few stones a carat or so in size, or some faceted stones. It
will be used in our gemmology class for educational purposes, our
only sample currently is a piece of rough the size of a
rice-grain with one window facet! Any leads to sources would be
appreciated (I am in Australia), thanks, L.Veska.

This is an ad from the Lapidary Journal which might help you:
BENITOITE! Two grades of rough: crystal, specimens, faceted.
Neptunite too. Lowest prices. Write for free price list.
WHIMSEY MINING CO., Box 171, Paicines, CA 95043. Phone:
408-639-4531., Fax :408-693-4532

Regarding the benetoite, rough will be very hard to come by, as
the current source is only one mine (I think it’s always been the
only source) and I read an E-mail from them recently on one of
the interest groups and they said they cut all they mined, didn’t
sell rough at all.
I don’t have their E-mail address handy, will try to hunt it up
for you.

Try http://www.snowcrest.net/johnveev/trimco.html

I don’t know if he has any benitoite available but it’s worth a
try.

Susie