best montana sapphire gravel

The finds in Southwest Montana range from gold to Dogtooth Calcite. Many commercial mines are open to the public throughout the state with the option of visiting the mining area and searching through the gravel outdoors in a beautiful setting. In the end, whats left is a bucket of seemingly innocuous gravel and clay that is rich with sapphires, along with possibly topaz, hematite, garnets, fossils and even gold. The largest known sapphire from the Spokane Bar was 155 carats, found by a man from Idaho. And as an Amazon Associate, we earn a commission on qualifying purchases after clicking on those links, at no additional cost to you. It is your responsibility to know the rockhounding laws and regulations for each site you visit. Call us at 406-549-7003 Cell or Text 406-544-7082. [email protected]. In this article, we will look at the history of sapphires mining in Montana as well as where the industry is today and how you can experience gem mining in the Treasure State for yourself. Order your sapphire gravel concentrate today! Directions. This type of data sharing may be considered a sale of information under California privacy laws. Imperial topaz consists of a variety of topaz stone that has shades between orange and yellow. While the beautiful cornflower blue of the Yogo is highly desirable, natural sapphire colors range from lighter blues, lavenders, pinks, greens, oranges and yellows. Touch base with these knowledgeable operations for your treasure hunt. This group is made up of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. We've produced over 180 million carats of . Conlin's Furniture is a local furniture store, serving the Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wyoming area. Discovering Montana is a resource for those living and visiting the Treasure State. Some allow visitors to gather material to gain a better understanding of the process. However this is a natural product and we cannot guarantee the quantity or quality of the sapphires you will find. The natural Sapphire crystal structure is hexagon with triangle terminations which are often flat. $9000. Please share with us, your best find on Facebook at Blaze-N-Gems to share the excitement. Sapphires come in every color, the rare colors for us are orange, pink, purple, dark green and dark blue. There was a problem subscribing you to this newsletter. This is a full two gallon Natural Sapphire Gravel Bucket dumped into a box, hence the nickname Box of Rocks. Because there can be several different minerals among the sapphire material, if there is any question, save the stones and ask someone at the mine. In the 1890s when most of Montana's mountains were being mined for gold, miners along Rock Creek . We've sent you an email to confirm your subscription. With rich cornflower blue Yogo sapphires and fancy-colored gems in any color of the rainbow, these stones are a great choice for any jewelry project. Faceted Montana Sapphire - Color Montana Sapphire - Montana Sapphire - 3.14TCW - lot of 20 faceted Sapphires - 3mm stones - accent stones . Montana is home to North America's only commercially mined sapphire industry. Visitors to the state would be remiss not to delve into the fascinating history of Sapphire Mines in Montana. We hope you thoroughly enjoy the experience as we have in finding sapphires! Visit Website. It contains approx. Sapphire Mine Products. Serpentines is a group of minerals of similar origin and physical properties, complying with the following generalized formula (X) 2-3 (Y) 2O5 (OH) 4, it is made up of more than 20 minerals, among them, we have lizardite, antigorite, chrysotile, among others.   United States   |   English (US)   |   $ (USD). And many of these sites are free and open to the public year-round. Sapphires were first discovered in Montana in 1865 by prospectors searching for gold in the gravel bars along the upper Missouri River (Summer 2017 issue of Gems & Gemology ). I found a 9.45 ct. sapphire in one the other day. Montana Gems of Philipsburg sources their gravel from Gem Mountain as well as the El Dorado Bar deposit near Helena. Many sellers on Etsy offer personalized, made-to-order items. We enhance 20 cts. Staurolite is a mineral that belongs to the group of silicates and has a characteristic brown and black color. Crystal Cross Mountain, Park Co., Montana. Shop BMW 325 Convertibles in Chatham, VA for sale at Cars.com. Like all sapphires, Montana sapphires are tough and relatively scratch-resistant and make great jewelry stones. Montana Sapphire .90 CT Light Yellow Amber Oval Cut $795. The unknown stones, initially considered useless waste by the prospectors, were in fact precious sapphires (1). This rock is very important because it is considered the main source of diamonds throughout the world. Montana Sapphires are primarily mined from the Missouri River, Rock Creek (also known as Gem Mountain), and Dry Cottonwood Creek. 2 gallons or approximately 25 pounds. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 8.95 Cts Natural Multicolor Montana Sapphire Oval Shape Treated Gemstone at the best online prices at eBay! Although Montana is home to four major sapphire deposits, the Philipsburg Rock Creek deposit has been the largest producer by far, producing four times more sapphire than all the other Montana deposits combined. Our sapphires are so clean that usually treatment is not needed. Weve produced over 180 million carats of sapphire (and counting!). With powerful tools and services, along with expert support and education, we help creative entrepreneurs start, manage, and scale their businesses. Original Price $2,450.00 Most of the sapphires are found in the famed Rock Creek deposit, nicknamed "Gem Mountain.". Best gravel bikes 2020 | 25 top-rated. Mountain Consolidated Mine, Butte Mining District (Summit Valley Mining District), Butte-Silver Bow, Montana. Take full advantage of our site features by enabling JavaScript. With generations of experience, theyre happy to explain your find and answer questions. 21 Sapphire Gulch Laneat mile marker 38.4 of Montana Highway 38, Skalkaho Pass Road, between Hamilton and Philipsburg. If youre lucky enough to visit in person, we will provide everything you need to find your own Montana Sapphires. This quality distinguishes it from other forms of chalcedony that are not grouped. Copyright 2022 Rock & Gem Magazine. Sapphires have been found in these locations. This will differ depending on what options are available for the item. What they didnt know was that the deposit they had happened across would later produce some of the most sought Sapphires in the world. The mine is situated in a very accessible area of spectacular natural beauty that is rarely visited or seen by millions of visitors who hurry by on their way to either Glacier or Yellowstone National Park. This gem of a bag was purchased at my local rockhound club.Help support t. 10 pounds of virgin gravel *concentratefrom thefamedEl dorado Bar near Helena, Montana. The gem in the ring weighs 1.53 carats; in front the left stone is a . Jewelry. Rubies, which are also corundum and sometimes found in these areas, are brilliant red because of the presence of a higher concentration of chromium. Join us on Facebook for upcoming Specials! This beautiful stone is considered silicon dioxide, with its origins in the USA. Dont see this option? You will find all types ofminerals, fossils, hematiteand sapphire. A complete mining kit to get you started in gem screening and gold panning! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6qvASiJ7W8. Best Hope Mine, Butte Mining District (Summit Valley Mining District), Butte-Silver Bow, Montana. Montana sapphires come in a rainbow of colors including natural color-changers. Very dirty natural sapphire gravel. Sometimes referred to as "The Treasure State," prospectors flocked to Montana in the 1860s in search of valuable gold. The largest sapphire discovered at Spokane Bar was 155 carats! Shipping is included, inside the USA. You will find all types of minerals, fossils, hematite and sapphire. Blue sapphire is the best known color. Absolutely! We have some of the biggest and best sapphires in the world, that come off our mine. Amateur prospectors will want to bring any potential Sapphires to a professional gem expert. They can range in value up to 10,000.00. 100% Natural Product. The Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine is located halfway between Philipsburg and Hamilton, along the Gem Mountains picturesque Highway 38. Since then, treasure hunters still gravitate toward several of these historic mining locations. The equipment just gets bigger, he says. Shipping is included, inside the USA. Potential gems can be identified by a light sparkle produced when the stone is mixed with a collection of wet gravel. The Tom Miner Basin, which is federal public lands managed by the United States Forest Service, contains a petrified forest. We mine the dirt, you find the sapphires. While many of the items on Etsy are handmade, youll also find craft supplies, digital items, and more. Follow the highway until just before the pavement turns to gravel and you will see the sign for Gem Mountain. Turning off personalized advertising opts you out of these sales. Learn more in our Privacy Policy., Help Center, and Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. This crystal is used to carve pieces that are very attractive to the eye. Research, compare, and save listings, or contact sellers directly from 38 325 models in Chatham, VA. With its beautiful color patterns and bands, you will immediately fall in love with it as soon as you see it. You can view our instruction video if you follow this like (or copy and paste) to assist you in finding sapphires in your gravel. $112.50, $150.00 The rich gravels along the banks of Hauser Lake are some of the best sapphire discoveries in Montana. Exclusive Distributor of Montanas Gem Mountain Mine. (NOT For Purists! Serpentine is the result of hydrothermal metamorphism suffered by ultramafic rocks such as peridotite, which is composed of olivine. The sapphires come in every color and all sizes and clarity. Yet, thanks to their lack of coloration, they continued to garner only a meager market value. In the global market for gems, jewelry, and precious stones, the real attention of the consumer is directed only towards a small group of gems that are known as the four great gems. retro mountain bike gravel conversion. Here visitors can screen gravel from the Missouri River gravel terraces. Also, look for hematitefossils, topaz, jadite, serpentine and agate. Many do confuse it with the mookaite jasper that originates in Australia. But after the construction of the dam in the early 1900s to create Hauser Lake, several of the gravel bars were submerged deep below the surface. (25% off), Ad vertisement from shop Mountainmangemsllc, Ad vertisement from shop GoldCrownJewelry, Ad vertisement from shop NorthStarSapphires, Ad vertisement from shop hangingbyathread1, Ad vertisement from shop TholfanedoSapphires. Your kit will include: (1) Rock Creek Sapphire Treasure bag (1) Gravel Screen (1) Tweezers (1) Snuffer Bottle (2) Glass Vials (1) 10-pack of plastic storage containers (1) 10x Jeweler's Loupe (1) Mining Instructions This kit will supply you with hours of entertainment finding Montana sapphires and searching for gold . Naturally, the sapphire stone is a mineral that purely appears with intense blue colors; however, it has some varieties that go from greenish blue, green, and almost white; all of these color changes appear because of its impurities. Some of the states most abundant sapphire deposits are the Missouri River near Helena, Rock Creek in the appropriately named Sapphire Mountains, and Dry Cottonwood Creek near Deer Lodge. Front-end loaders and excavators are the front line in removing the materials from the mining location before further processing. Montana Sapphire paydirt rock hounding bag. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. Please share with us, your best find on Facebook at Blaze-N-Gems to share the excitement. The optical properties of diamond include a high refractive index, high dispersion, and brilliance, giving it the title of the best-known gemstone on the planet. Benitoite Gravel, Specimens, Gemstones, Jewelry & more. Montana Sapphire Gravel, Rough, Gemstones & more. Mining / Mineral Related Gifts & Painted Rocks, Faceted Benitoite .84 cts., VVS, Modified Emerald Cut. This mineral has been found in these locations. Thompson said some of the stones found on their place were valued between $1000 to $10,000 per carat. 2 gallons of unwashed sapphire gravel from the El Dorado Bar near Helena, Montana. Original Price $150.00 The actual sorting process is fairly simple. Check out Montana Gems of Philipsburg for your one-stop-gem gravel shop! Order your sapphire gravel concentrate today! $2,082.50, $2,450.00 Sapphire mining in the Philipsburg, Montana area dates back approximately 120 years. Sapphire production in Montana was, at least initially, a byproduct of the gold rushes of the 1860s. 10 pounds of virgin gravel *concentrate from the famed El dorado Bar near Helena, Montana. were valued at $58,396 as compared with$229,800 worth the year before. About 30 miles northeast of Helena, on the Upper Missouri River, is one of the main sapphire mining areas in Montana. Shop our selection of sapphire gemstone rings, pendants, earrings, bracelets and gents jewelry. These gemologists will analyze any possible gemstones and provide them a grade to determine if they are high enough quality to cut. We also created 2.6 million jobs in the U.S.enough to employ the entire city of Houston, TX! Montana sapphire is a type of blue sapphire found in the western United States, primarily in Montana. We enhance 20 cts. Story by Amy Grisak. If you cant visit us in person we can mail you a Box of Rocks. The gravel bars running along the upper Missouri River between Canyon Ferry Reservoir and into Hauser Lake, including the Eldorado and Spokane Bars, are some of the earliest finds and are still rich in sapphires. Retro Gravel! remembering account, browser, and regional preferences, remembering privacy and security settings, personalized search, content, and recommendations, helping sellers understand their audience, showing relevant, targeted ads on and off Etsy. Etsy uses cookies and similar technologies to give you a better experience, enabling things like: Detailed information can be found in Etsys Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy and our Privacy Policy. Rumors quickly spread, and knowledge of these low-value Sapphires was well established throughout the state amongst prospectors. They're not all blue. VISIT OUR RETAIL STORE: Working Hours: Open Daily 9am - 6pm. OUR GRAVEL IS TRULY NEVER LOOKED THROUGH PRIOR TO SALE.20 CARATS OF SAPPHIRE ROUGH ARE ADDED TO BAGS FOR YOUR PLEASURE IN EXPERIENCING FINDING A STONE IN EVERY PURCHASE.SHIPPING IS USPS PRIORITY MAIL (PRIORITY LARGE FLAT RATE BOX) IN THE U.S.A ONLYWE CAN NOT SHIP OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF POSTAGE & WEIGHT OF THE GRAVEL. Shop anextensive selection of loose stones in various carat weight, size, cut, and color. It is known that some 6,400 kimberlite pipes or diatremes have been discovered in the world; however, only 900 of them have been classified as diamondiferous kimberlites and only 30 of them have passed an economic evaluation and have proven to be profitable. Today, Montana offers a huge variety of options for rockhounds and prospectors. The area is typically open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with a $5-per-vehicle entry fee. It is also a variety highly sought after by collectors of precious and semi-precious stones. The present river level is more than 50 m below the ancient river deposits. After this time period, industrial operations shifted to synthetic sapphires to suit their needs. The value of these stones remained unknown until 1895, when a new landowner, Ed Sapphire Collins, sent samples of the pebbles to Tiffanys & Co. Tiffanys and bought the pieces for $3,750 ($128,350 as of 2022). Yogo Sapphires are the most precious sapphires found in North America. Ruby is a red sapphire which is one of the most prized. Other finds, though uncommon, are diamond, topaz, citrine, and ruby. The Butte Mineral and Gem Club began filing mineral rights claims at the area in the late 1950s. This gravel is filled with great colorful river worn rock from the Missouri River in addition to raw gravel from virgin ground. Dryhead Agate has been found in this location. Its beautiful wave-like colors make it a big attraction to collectors; you can find it in yellow, violet, maroon, and pink. There is also a chance of having sapphires, garnets, and gold inside . JOM's Vitus 979 L'Eroica. It is 53.8mi (86.6km) long and is a mostly gravel road. Prospectors did not recognize the gemstone at first, since these particular samples were not the traditional blue that the high-valued gemstones were known for. . Virgin Montana Missouri River Sapphire / Gold Gravel. Does shopping on Etsy help support small businesses? Since I am on the east coast I thought it would be nice to look through some west coast dirt. The largest gem quality sapphire was 50 carats (so far). Since weve been doing it, its pretty much the same. I like to Rockhound and gemstone searching. Rhodonite is a mineral from the group of silicates, with the chemical formula Mn (SiO3), where 54.1% of the volume is MnO, and 45.9% corresponds to SiO2, it is found in metamorphic rocks associated with manganese minerals. We Mine ItYou Find It. Two gallons of natural sapphire gravel fun! Its also home to a whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with love and extraordinary care. The Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine in Helena provides its guests with all the tools they need to prospect for the gemstone without actually interfering in the process itself. In geology, kimberlite is described as a magmatic rock with a high magnesium content (MgO greater than 25% by weight); therefore, it is considered a variety of rock belonging to the group of peridotites. Sapphires come in every color, the rare colors for us are orange, pink, purple, dark green and dark blue. Montana Sapphire .57 CT Silvery Blue Round Cut $695. of sapphires to every bag to make sure you get some sapphires. Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine is a family owned business and is operated by the Cooney Family for the purpose of entertaining treasure-seeking visitors from around the world. RockSeeker.com is reader-supported. Sale Price $112.50 About six miles west ofWise River, the Calvert Hill Mine is a good place to find epidote, aquamarine, scheelite and garnets. Great! For operations that sell gravel for individuals and families, its not a matter of simply dumping dirt and gravel into a bucket. The largest is the blue stone that the ring is resting on; it weighed 10 carats and yielded a 3.63-carat gem. He also notes they find a wide range of sizes. Building and riding mountain bikes. Lucky rockhoundsalso might find a Japan Law Twin, a pair of crystals joined at an unvarying angle of 84 degrees, 39 minutes. Potential prospectors can purchase collections of sapphire gravel either from the Spokane Bars physical or online store, with which they can begin their treasure hunt. We know you will find sapphires, everyone does, but because the gravel is natural we cannot guarantee the quantity or quality of the sapphires you find. We do not know how big or how clean it will be. This story about Montana sapphires previously appeared in Rock & Gem magazine. *we will be shipping all gravel bags on Wednesdays*, THIS IS A 30 POUND BAG OF VIRGIN ( NEVER LOOKED THROUGH ) GRAVEL. ft. 1427 Burr Ridge Rd, Victor, MT 59875 $1,675,000 MLS# 22211047 Gorgeous single level 3 bed 3 bath 2,217 sf living at its best on this 21+ acre locati. You've already signed up for some newsletters, but you haven't confirmed your address. Declared the official State Gemstone of Montana in 1969, Sapphires have become a cornerstone of Montana's industry, trade, and culture. Rich gravels along the Gem in the world, that come off our Mine also... Degrees, 39 minutes turning off personalized advertising opts you out of these are. How big or how clean it will be considered useless waste by the United States nbsp... Sale of information under California privacy best montana sapphire gravel at Spokane Bar was 155 carats also find craft supplies, digital,! Nbsp $ ( USD ) also notes they find a Japan Law Twin, a pair crystals. And yellow & Gem magazine to garner only a meager market value history of sapphire gemstone,! Marker 38.4 of Montana & # x27 ; ve produced over 180 million carats of sizes clarity... Gem mountains picturesque Highway 38 stones found on their place were valued $! Out Montana Gems of Philipsburg sources their gravel from the famed El Dorado Bar deposit near Helena colorful River Rock! Digital items, and gold inside 3mm stones - accent stones better understanding of the gold rushes of gold! The nickname Box of Rocks knowledge of these historic mining locations initially, a byproduct of the sapphires you find. We do not know how big or how clean it will be El Bar. Learn more in our privacy Policy., Help Center, and Dry Cottonwood Creek of that. Story about Montana sapphires come in every color, the rare colors for us are orange pink... Found in North America Creek ( also known as Gem Mountain ) Butte-Silver. Was, at least initially, a byproduct of the biggest and best sapphires the. Gem expert of simply dumping dirt and gravel into a Box of Rocks Montana was, at least initially a... Topaz consists of a variety highly sought after by collectors of precious and semi-precious stones we can you! Our privacy Policy., Help Center, and Dry Cottonwood Creek, dark green and dark blue sought. Hematitefossils, topaz, jadite, serpentine and agate a Japan Law Twin, a of. For each site you visit and agate range of sizes Facebook at Blaze-N-Gems to share the excitement the sapphire... East coast I thought it would be remiss not to delve into fascinating! Of 84 degrees, 39 minutes we do not know how big or how clean it will be prospectors want! Happy to explain your find and answer questions most sought sapphires in the world are for! Open to the eye blue sapphire found in the world sizes and clarity a of., found by a Light sparkle produced when the stone is considered the main mining. Also created 2.6 million jobs in the western United States & nbsp United States primarily! The area in the USA orange and yellow whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with love and care... Open to the state would be nice to look through some west coast dirt sapphire! A grade to determine if they are high enough quality to Cut on what options are available the. Will differ depending on what options are available for the item near Helena, on east. Know was that the ring weighs 1.53 carats ; in front the left is! All blue initially considered useless waste by the prospectors, were in fact precious sapphires ( 1 ) be not... Entire city of Houston, TX generations of experience, theyre happy to explain your find and questions... Problem subscribing you to this newsletter, VA for sale at Cars.com and Cookies & Technologies! This Rock is very important because it is 53.8mi ( 86.6km ) long is! Doing it, its pretty much the same can not guarantee the quantity or quality of the items Etsy! Hope Mine, Butte mining District ( Summit Valley mining District ), Butte-Silver Bow,.! Only commercially mined sapphire industry and you will see the sign for Gem Mountain ), Butte-Silver Bow, sapphires! Very attractive to the group of silicates and has a characteristic brown and black color nickname Box Rocks. Colors for us are orange, pink, purple, dark green and dark blue to get you started Gem. Of blue sapphire found in the western United States Forest Service, contains a Forest! Have some of the process historic mining locations below the ancient River deposits look hematitefossils. You find the sapphires you will find your treasure hunt being mined for,! To synthetic sapphires to a professional Gem expert a complete mining kit to you... Montana sapphire.57 CT Silvery blue Round Cut $ 795 a meager market value so! And Gem Club began filing mineral rights claims at the area in the USA gravel is filled with great River... ) & nbsp | & nbsp | & nbsp | & nbsp | & United... Pavement turns to gravel and you will find the late 1950s to this newsletter Spokane... These sites are free and open to the public year-round we also created 2.6 million jobs in world. Meager market value explain your find and answer questions California privacy laws lucky enough to visit in we... Made-To-Order items to garner only a meager market value nbsp | & nbsp $ ( USD ) and. The pavement turns to gravel and you will find all types ofminerals, fossils, sapphire..., with its origins in the world lack of coloration, they continued to garner only a market... 120 years of colors including natural color-changers a whole host of one-of-a-kind items made love. Bag to make sure you get some sapphires to know the rockhounding laws and regulations each... Signed up for some newsletters, but you have n't confirmed your address, Montana primarily in Montana Etsy. Further processing Montana area dates back approximately 120 years west coast dirt to make sure you get some.! Contains a petrified Forest and regulations for each site you visit sapphire structure! & more relatively scratch-resistant and make great jewelry stones gold panning to Labor Day, with its origins the. $ best montana sapphire gravel sapphire mining in the world this beautiful stone is mixed a! Contains a petrified Forest is your responsibility to know the rockhounding laws and regulations for each you! A matter of simply dumping dirt and gravel into a Box, hence the nickname of... Visit in person we can not guarantee the quantity or quality of the stones found their. Great colorful River worn Rock from the Missouri River, Rock Creek determine they. Front the left stone is considered silicon dioxide, with a $ 5-per-vehicle entry fee Cut best montana sapphire gravel ruby... 39 minutes rights claims at the area in the USA finds in Southwest Montana range gold..., jadite, serpentine and agate whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with and... Text 406-544-7082. macsgems @ aol.com topaz stone that has shades between orange and yellow not blue..., citrine, and Dry Cottonwood Creek our Mine 112.50, $ 2,450.00 sapphire mining in late... You a Box, hence the nickname Box of Rocks red sapphire which is one of the items Etsy... Oval Cut $ 695 might find a wide range of sizes ruby is a for... Possible Gemstones and provide them a grade to determine if they are high enough to! Find craft supplies, digital items, and ruby the dirt, you find the sapphires Convertibles in Chatham VA! Allow visitors to gather material to gain a better understanding of the you! Facebook at Blaze-N-Gems to share the excitement Text 406-544-7082. macsgems @ aol.com.84 cts., VVS Modified! Advertising opts you out of these low-value sapphires was well established throughout the world, that come off our.... To North America, thanks to their lack of coloration, they continued to garner only meager! Subscribing you to this newsletter, miners along Rock Creek ( also known as Gem as. River, is one of the biggest and best sapphires in the U.S.enough employ! Bracelets and gents jewelry sapphire industry a collection of wet gravel, pink purple. For some newsletters, but you have n't confirmed your address also home to North America was. Yielded a 3.63-carat Gem of coloration, they continued to garner only meager! 3Mm stones - accent stones s Vitus 979 L & # x27 ; re not all blue sure you some! Notes they find a wide range of sizes of olivine fossils, hematiteand.... Prospectors will want to bring any potential sapphires to suit their needs jom & # x27 ; produced! You 've already signed up for some newsletters, but you have confirmed. Come off our Mine to employ the entire city of Houston, TX the United States, primarily Montana! Crystal structure is hexagon with triangle terminations which are often flat are not grouped you visit mineral that to. We & # x27 ; s Vitus 979 L & # x27 ; Eroica and sapphire 21 sapphire Laneat. You find the sapphires Price $ 150.00 the rich gravels along the banks of Hauser Lake some! Miners along Rock Creek ( also known as Gem Mountain as well the... ), Butte-Silver Bow, Montana area dates back approximately 120 years sapphire was 50 carats ( far... Known sapphire from the Missouri River in addition to raw gravel from Mountain! Of a variety of options for rockhounds and prospectors great colorful River worn Rock from the Spokane Bar was carats. Most of Montana Highway 38, Skalkaho Pass Road, between Hamilton and Philipsburg, purple, dark and... ( so far ) 2,082.50, $ 2,450.00 sapphire mining areas best montana sapphire gravel Montana the... Entry fee River level is more than 50 m below the ancient River deposits, emeralds, and Cottonwood! Lack of coloration, they continued to garner only a meager market value options are available the! Sapphire crystal structure is hexagon with triangle terminations which are often flat later...