FIPP2013: 23rd International Fair of Precious Stones and Minerals, Teofilo Otoni, MG, Brazil, 13-17 August 2013

The 23rd International Gemstones and Minerals Fair will be held in Teofilo Otoni, Minas Gerais, Brazil, from Tuesday, 13 August, until Saturday, 17 August 2013.

[Note that the date is earlier than it has been in past years -- perhaps to take into consideration the academic year in the Northern Hemisphere -- but this is pure speculation on my part.]

I don't have any more information at this time.

You can contact the GEA (but don't expect to get someone on the phone who speaks English, and if you do get an English-speaking person on the phone, don't expect many details at this time):

Gem Exporters Association
Rua Jorge Mattar, 40, Room 205-A
Center
Teófilo Otoni, MG 39800, Brazil

Tel.:  55 (33) 3522-1762
Fax:  55 (33) 3522-1662

Murder, Corruption, and Greed in Kenya: The Bridges' Continuing Fight for Justice

_{by Sherman Pike, Jewelers Ethics Association, JEA News, Vol. 4, No. 16, December 4, 2012}
 

On the morning of August 5, 2009, Kenya's Foreign Minister Moses Masika Wetangula addressed a packed conference room at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. Introducing U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Mr. Wetangula referenced a meeting held by Secretary Clinton and Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki.

"President Kibaki and his team assured the Secretary of State that reforms are on course, that the war against impunity in the country is on, that the war against corruption is on, and all sanctuaries of corruption will be destroyed to make Kenya a cleaner and safer place to do business . . ."

Six days later and four hundred kilometers away, Campbell Bridges was brutally murdered by a group of men armed with spears, clubs, and avarice. Three long years later, the Bridges family is still seeking justice, and looking back on a life in Kenya that may be forever lost.

Outcry over the murder was immediate, and global. In an industry filled with larger-than- life personalities, the figure of Campbell Bridges was iconic. Those who did not know him knew of him. They knew of the ravine where a young Campbell had found both refuge from an angry water buffalo, and a cluster of intense green garnets. They knew of a tree house, of a python security guard, and of a man who truly and deeply loved Africa.

Less than forty eight hours after the ambush, a shaken Bruce Bridges was interviewed by the BBC, and in haunting recollection described every terrible moment of the attack against himself, his father, and two security officers. Though clearly in shock, Bruce spoke of what had occurred in heavy words that bore no trace of an event spurred by random events, or petty disputes. In fact, the attackers themselves had promised the ambush and Campbell’s death.

In 2006, the Bridges’ found that illegal mining activities were taking place on their concession. For two years, the Bridges’, on behalf of their company First Green Garnet Mining Company of Kenya, Ltd. (FGGMC), filed complaints with local and governmental authorities. The result of those complaints marked the beginning of direct threats. It has been estimated by Bruce Bridges that illegal mining operations led to the extraction of materials worth millions of dollars.

As time passed without action against the miners, they became more brazen, and almost as if to dare Campbell’s hand, they began placing protection notice signs at the site of their theft, bearing the name of another mining company, Tia Akili. In mining, a protection notice sign is placed to notify of the intent to mine. Bruce and Campbell were “shocked” to see these signs, as the land on which they were placed had been permitted to FGGMC since the early 1970’s. Majority ownership of Tia Akili, which in English translates to "use your head," is held by Kenya’s Assistant Minister of Education, Andrew Calist Mwatela. Of the remaining percentage in Tia Akili, forty is held by Regea Omar, one of the accused currently on trial for Campbell Bridges’ murder.

What had begun as one illegal mining site grew to five, but FGGMC refused to abandon the established claims which were the result of hard work, and a geologists’ knowledge of the land. Instead, FGGMC continued to file complaints, and accumulate documentation. Almost all of the men involved in the illegal operation were identified by name, and photographed. After recording the license plate number of a Toyota truck which the group often used, the vehicle was shown as registered to Jacinta Mwatela, wife of MP Calist Mwatela, former Director of Kenya’s Central Bank, and current candidate for Governor of Taita Taveta County.

With new evidence in hand, the Bridges’ appealed once again to local authorities, who finally made arrests of some men under a charge of illegal mining activities. According to a report filed by the Bridges family with the Kenyan Attorney General and British High Commission, Chief Inspector Kenneth Kalume received a call from MP Mwatela on July 21, 2009, threatening that Kalume would be transferred if he did not immediately release the men arrested. The suspects were released shortly thereafter, allegedly following orders issued by a former Deputy Commissioner of Police, instructed by Calist Mwatela, who also allegedly told Kalume, "You should not have arrested those people before you consulted the MP or the OCPD."

Following the release of those arrested, the threats against FGGMC began to manifest as actions, and on July 27, 2009, two FGGMC security officers were abducted while on patrol of the concession. They were handcuffed and beaten. As reported by the officers, they were released by their abductors with a message for Campbell, promising that they were coming for his head, along with his two chiefs of security. Unless left alone, the abductors would leave the Bridges’ camp in flames.

It was now clearer than ever before to the Bridges’ that their lives, and the lives of their employees, were in imminent danger. The illegal miners accosted the Bridges’ on August 10 as they were driving through the nearby Taita Saisal Estate. On this day death threats were issued to Campbell and Bruce Bridges as well as their personnel; the confrontation was reported to local police, to no avail. On August 11, Campbell and Bruce, along with four security guards, drove from their camp at the Scorpion Mine to visit Wundanyi District Commissioner Njenga Miiri at his home and made yet another appeal for protection. Bruce Bridges testified in court that after hearing what had occurred, DC Miiri confirmed that their documents were in order, and their claims valid, but that his hands were tied due to pressure from higher up. Bruce also testified that while in Miiri’s presence, the Commissioners’ phone rang, and after ending the call, Miiri showed Bruce and Campbell that the caller had been Kenya’s Minister of Gender, Dr. Naomi Shaban, demanding to know why the Bridges’ themselves had not been arrested for harassment of local miners. When asked about the alleged calls made by Shaban to Miiri and Voi OCPD Habert Khaemba, she responded, "I have a right to tell the police and the DC about the complaints of my people," and "I have a right to protect my constituents."

They left the Commissioners home empty handed yet again, and headed back up the hill. On the way, the group was warned by a local landowner that trenches had been dug across the single lane dirt road that served as their only route. One final appeal was made to local police for protection, and even with this new information, there was no help. The decision was made to continue toward camp. The ambush occurred between two roadblocks, and as the attackers streamed out of the brush, they screamed their intent. After two of the guards fled, just four men were left to ward off the attackers, woefully outnumbered, and under armed. The details of those terrible minutes do not require a retelling, but the repercussions of that day produced ripples, which have yet to reach shore.

Stories about Campbell’s murder were published worldwide, and messages of support came from every part of the gemstone industry. Time carried on for most of those who had mourned Campbell’s passing, but for his family, and for the remaining employees of FGGMC, the nightmare continued.

The first man arrested in conjunction with the murder was Alfred Njuruka, followed by several others and eventually one of the alleged masterminds of the illegal mining and attack, Daniel Mdachi Mnene Mwaghania, aka Suleiman. Mnene was reported to have been hiding in the border town of Taveta, which is home to his cousin, Dr. Naomi Shaban. The same MP Shaban, who had called District Commissioner Miiri on the day of the attack in an effort to "protect" her "constituents," denied shielding Mnene, claiming that she made no effort to stop his arrest. Shaban told reporters, "Mnene who is a cousin to my mother was not hiding in my house because he has his own home in Nairobi." In 2010, Shaban provided proof of income, and the offer of her shares in the Parliamentary credit union as collateral to release Mnene on bond. Rather than make the request in person, Shaban sent a letter with an officer Jimmy Mnene, who was attached to the national headquarters of Kenya’s police force, also known as Vigilance House.

On the day of the ambush, one of the men who had remained to protect Campbell was Amos Kiamba, FGGMC’s chief of security. In April of 2010, Kiamba’s daughter Grace and her husband were hacked to death at their Mombasa home. The only item taken from the home was Grace’s identification card. In December of the same year, Kiamba’s other daughter was abducted, and later released. The violence and threats which continue to this day have forced Bruce Bridges to change housing for his heads of security multiple times, enrolling their children in new schools each time.

Eventually, seven men and one woman were charged in the murder of Campbell Bridges, and a start date for trial was set. The Kenyan press has covered aspects of the ongoing trial, including testimony by several witnesses. Also published have been articles describing the transfer of officers who worked the case, and claims of interference. MP’s Mwatela and Shaban have denied any involvement, labeling the claims made by the Bridges’ "rubbish," and "unsubstantiated rumours."

Certainly, many people worldwide are following the ongoing trial, and hope that justice will be done. However, even if those on trial are found guilty and sent to serve prison terms, Bruce Bridges is uncertain when asked about the future of FGGMC Tsavorite. Regarding current operations in Kenya, Bruce says, "Our presence at the mine is simply a strong security force, along with a maintenance team and management. We are not actively 

mining at present."

Looking toward the future of Tsavorite and the Scorpion Mine, Bruce shows his passion for the material, but more so for the message. "If we were not able to successfully reopen The Scorpion Mine, it would be a tragedy for Tsavorite production in the world. Not only is The Scorpion Mine the largest and most productive Tsavorite Mine in history, but it was a bastion of hope and true example of what could be achieved in a small/medium scale coloured gemstone mine in East Africa. It also remains the only truly professional and responsible Tsavorite mine in the world, where when purchasing a gem, one was guaranteed that they had received a morally and ethically mined Tsavorite."

Requests for action to protect legal mining operations may prove as effective today as they were six years ago, when all of this began. The challenges are great, and the entire region has become unstable, with random attacks and violence against miners and others constantly reported in area newspapers. Just last month, a neighboring miner was murdered and found in the bush a week after he went missing. And so is there any hope for the future of ethically mined Tsavorite in Kenya?

Though the community of gemstone enthusiasts and dealers worldwide may not possess the power to directly affect the laws and internal struggles of Kenya, they do possess the passion to protect what has become one of the worlds’ most beloved gems. The authorities in Kenya, from the top to the bottom, must be made aware that the world is watching, and that actions taken against the innocent may not be so easily swept under the rug as they once were.

On the same day in August of 2009 when Foreign Minister Wetangula conveyed President Kibaki’s dedication to reform, Secretary Clinton addressed the challenges facing Africa, saying, "The solution starts with transparency. A famous judge in my country once said that sunlight is the best disinfectant, and there’s a lot of sunlight in Africa."

If you would like to voice your concerns for the Bridges family, or comment on the future of ethical Tsavorite mining in Africa, please contact the following:

British High Commission, Kenya

Office of US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton

We would like to thank the Bridges family for their assistance, commend them for their unswerving courage, and hope for the justice they so dearly deserve. To learn more about Campbell Bridges and the Tsavorite he brought to the world, please visit Tsavorite.com

Click to download a copy of this article in PDF, including references for the information published by world media.

FIPP 2012: 22a Feira Internacional de Pedras Preciosas, 28 agosto - 01 setembro, Teofilo Otoni, Minas Gerais, Brasil

The 22nd International Gem Fair will be held from August 28 to September 1, 2012, at the Teofilo Otoni, MG, Convention Center.


There will also be an outdoor gem and mineral fair.


Buyers will need to register.  This can be done online (http://www.geabrasil.com/inscricao.php) or in person.  After registering, buyers will be issued a badge to hang around their necks and can enter the exhibition.  Registration is not required for entering the outdoor gem and mineral fair.

Do you love color? Have a look at the incredible colors of rhodochrosite, haüyne, sphene, yogo sapphires, tanzanites, hiddenite, garnets and benitoites at the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum, in the Butterfly Broach Collection

Butterfly Brooch Collection

This text is from the museum's webpage, and none of the photos was taken by me.

The butterfly brooch collection is on temporary display in the Gem and Mineral Hall for a year, starting May 1, 2012. The collection was created and is owned by Buzz and Bernardine, who have a passion for rare gemstones that they have chosen to share through unique jewelry pieces. The butterfly brooches only represent a third of their entire jewelry collection. Buzz faceted most of the main gems and Bernardine designed all except for the "Ninja" butterfly, which is Buzz's creation. All the metalwork is done in 18kt gold.

Benitoite Butterfly

This brooch is almost entirely set with benitoite, the California state gemstone. A barium-titanium silicate mineral (BaTiSi₃O₉), benitoite is a rare mineral, crystals large enough to be cut into gemstones are found only in one location: the Dallas gem mine in San Benito County, California. An unusual geologic setting of hydrothermal veins between glaucophane schist and serpentinite created this rare mineral. Benitoite is known for its high dispersion and its vivid blue fluorescence in UV light. While the blue and colorless benitoites are natural, the orange benitoites in the eyes are produced by heat treatment of colorless stones.

Hiddenite Butterfly

A 10.01-ct green hiddenite is the central piece of the brooch. Hiddenite is a green variety of the mineral spodumene (LiAl(SiO₃)₂) in which the color is caused by small amounts of the element. chromium. Hiddenite from North Carolina is found associated with emerald, the green variety of bery, which also owes its color to chromium. The body of this butterfly is the world's largest faceted hiddenite. It comes from a deposit in North Carolina that is the only important source of hiddenite. The butterfly also contains rainbow feldspar (displaying adularescence) from Madagascar, colorless diamond, and green tourmaline. The eyes are red beryl, the rarest of all varietes of the mineral beryl. Red beryl of gem-quality is found only in the Wah Wah mountains of Utah.

Ninja Butterfly

The featured stone of the "Ninja" butterfly brooch is alexandrite (body and eyes). Alexandrite is a variety of the mineral chrysoberyl (BeAl₂O₄) that displays a particular feature known as “color change”. The picture of the Ninja butterfly on the left has been taken under incandescent light, and on the right under fluorescent light. Tanzanian purple scapolites and Madagascar blue apatites are set around a 3.58ct Russian alexandrite. While these gems do not change color, they do match the color of the alexandrite uder each type of illumination.  

Opal Butterfly

This butterfly brooch displays a variety of precious opals from Virgin Valley, Nevada. This deposit was a forested valley buried by volcanic ash approximately 15 million years ago. The buried wood was gradually replaced by opal. The most valuable opals are black with a strong play-of-colors. Nearly all Virgin Valley opal has very high water content, so that as soon as it is removed from the ground it starts to dehydrate, causing it to crack (or “craze”). The stones in this butterfly are remarkably free of cracking and represent the tiny minority of stable opals from this locality.

Pearl Butterfly

These natural pearls from the Gulf of California are known as “Baja pearls.” They have been popular since Spanish conquistadors brought them back to Europe. “La Peregrina,” the famous pearl owned by Queen Mary I of England and more recently by actress Elizabeth Taylor, is a Baja pearl. Madagascar rainbow feldspar, colorless diamond and Colombian emerald are also set in this brooch.

Peridot Butterfly

This elegant butterfly brooch is set with green peridot from Pakistan, colorless diamond and orange spessartine garnet from California. Peridot is a nickname for gem-quality forsterite. This mineral is one of the most common in the Earth, but most is located deep underground, in the Earth’s mantle.

Rhodochrosite Butterfly

This butterfly brooch is made entirely of gems from Mexico, including a 13.51ct rhodocrosite (MnCO₃). This mineral is very easily scratched, so it is very rare to find it in jewelry; however, its beautiful vivid pink-red color makes it worth some extra care! Apatite and opal cover the wings. The eyes are green chromium-rich titanite (sphene).

Spessartine Butterfly

Orange spessartine garnets from the Little Three mine in Ramona, California highlight this brooch, along with colorless diamonds and green tsavorite garnets from Kenya. The name "garnet" refers to a group of silicate minerals with the same internal arrangements of atoms, but different chemical compositions. Spessartine (Mn₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃) is a manganese-aluminum-garnet popular in jewelry due to its bright shades of yellow, orange or red. Tsavorite is a green variety of grossular ((Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃), a calcium-aluminum garnet, with impurities of vanadium and chromium, which give the green color.

Spessartine and Benitoite Butterfly

This butterfly features gemstones from California: orange spessartine garnet from San Diego County and blue benitoite from San Benito County.

Spinel Butterfly

Pink and red spinels from Vietnam are the highlights of this butterfly brooch. Red spinel (MgAl₂O₄) has long been used as an affordable alternative to ruby, which it closely resembles. Some famous historical rubies are actually red spinels. Spinel is now very popular in its own right. The eyes of the butterfly are blue jeremejevites (Al₆(BO₃)₅(F,OH)₃) from Namibia. Although beautiful in faceted gems, jeremejevite is seldom used in jewelry because of its great rarity.

Stibiotantalite Butterfly

The butterfly brooch is set with three exceedingly rare kinds of gemstone. The body is a 5.07-carat yellow stibiotantalite from Afghanistan. Stibiotantalite, SbTaO₄, gets its name from its chemical composition. It is an oxide of antimony and tantalum, “stibium” being the Latin name for the element antimony. The butterfly wings are set with electric-blue haüyne (sodalite group mineral (Na, Ca)_4-8 (Al₆Si₆(O,S)₂₄)(SO₄, Cl)_1-2) found in small gas cavities in a volcanic rock in Germany, and the eyes are white cassiterite (SnO₂), a tin ore from China.

Green Titanite Butterfly

The multi-colored sparkle of this butterfly emanates from its green titanites (a.k.a. “sphene”) from Madagascar. The "fire" of titanite derives from its very high dispersionand combined high index of refraction. Titanite (CaTiSiO₅) is a fairly common accessory mineral in igneous and metamorphic rocks, but is very seldom found in size and quality suitable for gems.

Brown Titanite Butterfly

This butterfly brooch brings together spectacular titanites in three different colors: green from Madagascar, brown from Pakistan, and yellow also from Pakistan.

Tanzanite Butterfly

Natural unheated tanzanite of many different colors can be seen in this butterfly brooch. Tanzanite is a nickname for gem quality varieties of the mineral zoisite from northern Tanzania. Most stones are vivid blue to purple. Stones that are not heat-treated can display very strong pleochroism.

Topaz Butterfly

This butterfly brooch is set with red and pink topaz from Russia, Pakistan and Brazil, along with rainbow feldspars from Magadascar, colorless diamonds and colorless jeremijevites for the eyes. Although most people think topaz is only a yellow gem, in nature most topaz is colorless to pale blue. Topaz gems in shades of deep pink to red are the most prized.

Yogo Sapphire Butterfly

This butterfly brooch is set with blue sapphires from Yogo Gulch, Montana. Sapphire senso stricto is the blue variety of corundum (Al₂O₃), while the red variety is referred to as ruby. Corundum can come in a variety of colors, and will be then referred as "colored sapphire", such as "pink sapphire", or "yellow sapphire" for example. The blue color is known to be due to charge transfer between titanium (Ti⁴⁺) and iron (Fe²⁺). Yogo sapphires are among the world’s finest sapphires. They are found in a hard igneous rock and because of that, tend to be small crystals and rather difficult to mine. The sapphires are accented by rainbow feldspars from Madagascar and colorless diamonds.

Dave Fortier's Tip Top Gem blog

Dear Readers,

I must apologize for neglecting my blog, but I have been enjoying Dave Fortier's posts and he has most kindly given me permission to repost his most recent one. Especially note his interesting slices of tourmaline crystals!

The show circuit is in full force

We are delighted to welcome the nice people from the Southfield, Michigan Intergem show- where Melanie and I displayed two weekends ago. Welcome aboard everyone!!! Melanie and I are trying to get in touch with those of you who left your e-mail with us either with this newsletter or via Facebook. We show gemstones and jewelry on Facebook as well as in the newsletter, and in our online store. Take a look at what we have- there are links to the left of this article.

For those of you who have never been to a gem and jewelry show, Melanie and I very highly recommend it! You can see a wide range of stones that you would not see elsewhere, compare prices, ask questions to dealers in person, and most important- evaluate stones in real life instead of from a picture. I can not begin to tell you how many stones I have shown in the newsletter or on Facebook that created no interest but sold immediately on the first day of a show. I can say things like "this gemstone has 90% brilliance" but until you hold such a stone in your hand, you can not imagine the sparkle. Check out a show near you!!!



As we prepare for the buying trip to Thailand we need to know what you are looking for- ruby, sapphire, collectible stones, or any other custom jewelry projects that you've been thinking about. I will be in both Chanthaburi and Bangkok next week- so be sure you let us know what we can help you find.

As many of you already know, I offer the very best prices on ruby and sapphire because I go directly to the source and you do not have to pay me to keep these expensive stones in inventory! Any dealer that you see who has expensive stones in inventory will have higher prices. He has to. Business always functions on three "concepts of cash"- money in, money out, and TIME. The longer a dealer has to wrap up his cash, the more he will have to get out of that stone.

If you bought something from us at the Southfield, Michigan show you are eligible for Inner Circle membership. If you click on the link below, you will see stones for sale and you will see prices. But you will not see INNER CIRCLE pricing!!! If you want to make sure you see the very best prices that we offer, just send me a note asking for an upgrade. You can e-mail me at dave@tiptopgem.com or just call me at 800-607-1425. That toll-free number always rings to my cell, whether I am here or in Thailand. If you go to tiptopgem.com, you will see clocks that show local time in Thailand- generally if it is late or early here in the states it is a good time to call. The middle of the day in the states is the middle of the night in Thailand and you will get my voicemail. Do not hesitate to contact me if you need something or if you have a question!

Tip Top Gem ONLINE STORE

The stunning images you see in this newsletter, by the way, are CAD renderings of a ring that we are making for a client. She found a wonderful design in a magazine while vacationing in the Caribbean and asked if I could tweak it to her tastes and proportion it to a gemstone that she had purchased from me- a sphene from Madagascar. As always the answer is "of course"!!!! We love doing projects like this- actually creating a piece of heirloom-quality jewelry to our clients' specifications. It is one of the most pleasurable and interesting parts of this business- almost as much fun as buying stones at the largest gemstone market in the world in Chanthaburi, Thailand!!!!

Because I am not exactly sure when I will return from Thailand I can't tell you the next show we will do, but please keep an eye open for the April newsletter as that will have details. Also remember if you are my friend on Facebook (find a link in the upper left corner of this newsletter to go to my profile and add me) you will not only know what show we are about to do but you will also see gemstones that are available nowhere else...my Facebook friends always know first!

Our Entrepreneurs ROCK!!!

Take a look at yet another of our blazing-fast repayments on Kiva. These people are proving their focus, determination, and integrity over and over and over again. Please, please support Kiva.org. They are worth it! You can NOT help anyone out of poverty with a handout. These people are not asking for one. They want a loan- which they pay back with interest- but the interest goes to the local field partner to service the loan. Your principal is paid back to you and you can loan it out over and over and over again.

Melanie and I started this program specifically to help people in the source countries where our gemstones are mined. To date we have helped entrepreneurs in these countries:

Over on the left you will see a link to Kiva.org- please check them out now. Or just buy a stone or order a piece of custom jewelry from us. The better we do, the more support we can provide to hard-working, honest people in the third world who want to pursue the growth of their business and support their families. After decades of handouts in the third world that only teach people how to extend their hand, microfinance has found a way to help people without charity.

All our best,



PS- It is as easy as ever to get in touch with us. Our toll-free
number has never changed and rings to my cell: 800-607-1425. If you are calling at an inconvenient time your call will go to voicemail and I will either return your call or e-mail you- whichever you instruct me to do in the voice message.

E-mail me at dave@tiptopgem.com if you have a question or request and I will reply via e-mail unless you request that I call you back.

PPS- If you are not yet friends with me on Facebook please click on the link in the upper left corner of this newsletter, or just add "David Fortier" as a friend and I will accept you! Some gemstones and jewelry are only available on Facebook and you don't want to miss out!

update---update----update---

I am in Thailand right now as I type this- check out the amazing slices of tourmaline below- from Brazil!!!!


5.69 carats; olive green fades to yellow/brown, then clear, then intense pink, and a deep green center- $20 per carat


5.60 carats; pastel blue-Violet indicolite center with intense purplish-Pink exterior; magnificent example of the type with phantom crystals converging in the center- $28 per carat

4.63 cts, green to clear then pink and green again in the center, actually a good match to the 5.69 carat stone above if you like an earring pair. $20 per carat.

_____________________________________

As you might know by now shipping is always $10, and you can pay with a check or money order or credit card or in gold or silver. LOL. I do not take live animals for payment.

REMINDER-- these stones will ship from Thailand- allow 8-21 days in transit!

As always first come, first served for the newsletter stones. If two people want one stone, the time and date on the e-mail will determine the "winner".

Good luck!!!!

Tibetan andesine shown conclusively to be a fraud at Tucson meeting of the GILC

ISG at Tucson 2011: Day One...GILC

Day One of the ISG at Tucson 2011 events had members of our group at the GILC Conference held by the International Colored Gemstone Association. This outstanding event brings together many colored gemstone industry leaders for the purpose of discussing the current events and issues in the industry, and seeking to find viable solutions to the problems we face. Barbara and her staff absolutely hit another home run this year with another wonderful event.

We need to note that everyone signs a non-disclosure agreement upon entering. This is to help insure an open and honest discussion of the issues without fear of anyone getting quoted or miss-quoted based on hearsay from the meetings. With this in mind I do believe that there is important information that has come from today's event that can be shared with the members of the ISG Community.

The andesine issue took up the majority of the day. There were several speakers (names and topics confidential) who presented a variety of scientific reports. These were in general contradictory, convoluted, and in the first instance….pure fantasy. However, the report of the previously published (which is why I can talk about it) expedition by Dr. Peretti to the Tibet mines carried the day beyond any reasonable doubt in my opinion.

Dr. Peretti showed his previously discussed DVD video of his trip to the Tibet mines with well documented mine owner, Li Tong. The video proved the published claims that Li Tong’s crew were caught salting the ground around the claimed mine. The video showed graphically that when Dr. Peretti wanted to inspect a section of the mine area that should have contained andesine (if the claim was authentic) that Li Tong sent his staff ahead of Dr. Peretti and they could easily be seen dropping andesine on the group ahead of Dr. Peretti’s arrival. This was astounding and raised the one question that many asked:

"If Li Tong truly has an authentic Tibet andesine mine, why did he take Dr. Peretti to a location where his (Li Tong’s) crew had to “salt” the ground?"

The Peretti report was released at approximately the same time as the previously discussed report published by the Gem-A regarding an expedition to Tibet by the National Gem Testing Lab of China. The NGTC also visited mine locations owned by Li Tong. Their report makes three important points that directly support Dr. Peretti’s published findings. These points include:

• The NGTC group found a warehouse in Tibet with “hundreds of kilos” of “red feldspar” that tested to have been been "subjected to high temperature treatment with colouring elements added."
• Interviews by the Chinese NGTC group with local Tibetan citizens revealed that the local Tibetan people “had neither seen nor heard of red feldspar found in Tibet.” (direct contradiction to the Laurs/Hughes/Abduriyim report).
• The NGTC issued this statement: “In our opinion, the red feldspar samples that we collected and recovered from the supposed mining areas during our field investigations were deliberately planted on the ground surface and within loose surface soil.”

This opinion by the National Gem Testing Center of China was confirmed yesterday by the video evidence provided by Dr. Peretti in follow-up to his previously published report.

It should be noted that Li Tong, reported mine owner and leader of the Tibet andesine organization, was personally present…. and in the video…during the actual salting activities in the Peretti video.

One interesting question as to why these two expeditions found salted mines while the Laurs/Hughes/Abduriyim expedition reportedly found andesine under an “undisturbed bush” that prompted Richard Hughes to issue what we call his “Mission Accomplished” article. (The actual title of Hughes’ article is both inflammatory and insulting to our US President so we won’t repeat it.) One well-respected mine owner and ISG Community member raised the question: “Don’t they know how easy it is to take a piece of steel rebar and run a small hole into the ground under a bush, drop in a piece of andesine, and cover it up leaving no evidence of anything disturbed on the ground?”

That was the second profound question of the day, after the question why Li Tong took Peretti to a mine location that required his crew to salt the ground. Given that Li Tong was shown with his crew as they salted the mine, it is reasonable to assume that Mr. Li may have a piece of steel rebar sitting around somewhere.

The bottom line is that we have spoken to many miners who have evaluated these claims by the Laurs/Hughes/Abduriyim expedition report by Hughes, as well as Li Tong and the whole Tibet andesine organization, and just shake their heads that anyone could be so gullible as to believe these.

The high points of the day were all of the outstanding people we got to meet and greet. Due to the confidentiality agreement we will not name them here, but to everyone who we had the opportunity to meet at GILC we just say: Thank you. To all of you. It was an outstanding group.

On a final note: I have to once again congratulate the work of the ICA, their Board of Directors, and all of the members. I believe the ICA is the key organization to the healthy future of our colored gemstone industry.

More reports will be coming here on the events this week. Wish you were here with us. Maybe next year.

Reminder.......

The ISG would like to extend an open invitation to all members of the industry to attend our ISG Lab Update seminar at the Hotel Arizona on Friday, 4 February. We have important new information on a variety of issues and topics that you will need to know in the upcoming year. The ISG Lab Update is free to the industry and includes a free continental breakfast and/or coffee and drinks. We promise to be finished in time for you to return to your booth in time for the show start.

Robert James

President, International School of Gemology

ISG at Tucson 2011: Countdown to Tucson

ISG at Tucson 2011: Countdown to Tucson

by Robert James, President, International School of Gemology, ISG Newsletter, January 25, 2011

The Countdown to Tucson and the ISG at Tucson 2011 events continues. Today we want to highlight some special vendors at the GJX Show in downtown Tucson, along with a few important AGTA vendors that we missed last week.

The GJX Show is perhaps the most favored location for gemstone dealers based on the wide diversity of dealers there who come from every corner of the world. The isles are always crowded and business is always hot at the GJX show. Below are some of our favorite dealers who are to be found there. Don't miss any of these folks as they have established themselves with a solid reputation with the ISG. Mostly good....a few not so good. Here they are...

GJX in the Tent across from Tucson Convention Center

Ande Jewelry & Mineral Co. (GJX Show Booths: 1108, 1109, 1110)

Don’t miss this chance to see the people who started the whole damned andesine fiasco! Both Jewelry Television and Direct Shopping Network have listed Andegem as the source for the undisclosed, diffusion treated andesine that has rocked this industry. If you really want to have some fun, wait until Chris Rose walks by the Andegem booth. YIKES! Fireworks from Mr. Chen that are absolutely not to be missed. But check out the source of this andesine situation right here at the Andegem booth.

Beija-Flor Gems (GJX Show Booth: 1008)

Specializing in true Paraiba Tourmaline, Colorado Rhodochrosite, Red Beryl, Sapphires and more. Excellent resource for gemstones and great folks to work with. Bob is a long-time friend and important information resource for the ISG Community.

ColorFirst Co. (GJX Show Booth #1430)

A major supplier of colored gemstones from around the world who has helped us tremendously. Absolute committment to integrity and proper representation. Raja Shah and his folks have been highly instrumental in assisting the ISG in obtaining study specimens for our research. Excellent gem dealers that is a "must see" on every buyer list.

Ceylon Jewels Mfg. (Pvt) Ltd. (Booth: 608)

A great organization from Bangkok. Specializes in all types of gemstones and jewelry. Long-time friend of the ISG Community and supporter of ethics in the industry.

Chatham Created Gems Inc. (Booths: 137, 138)

Chatham wrote the book on modern lab created gemstones that raised them to an art form. The future of the gemstone industry includes created gemstones and Chatham Created Gems is your primary source. Plus, they are great people to work with.

Dust Devil Mining Co. (GJX Show Booth #4205)

Oregon Sunstone at its finest. These folks operate one of the most famous mines in Plush Oregon, and are the epitome of what is right about this industry. Absolutely do not miss meeting them and adding Oregon Sunstone to your product list.

Exotic Gemstones LLC (GJX Show Booth: 4206)

Jewelry designs in Oregon Sunstone that must be seen. In fact, my wife owns several designs by Karla and loves every one of them. I don’t come home from the Tucson Gem Shows without a new one. That’s about the highest recommendation I can give any vendor at Tucson. The design at left is from Karla's excellent collection.

Galaxy Gems (GJX Show Booth: 714)

Direct miners of a vast array of Brazilian gemstones. We once again include these good folks on our “recommended” list as a great source and good people to work with.

Gemfrance (GJX Show Booth: 914)

Everyone take what you have learned about diffusion treated andesine and go by this booth to see what is claimed as Congo Andesine. Just as a learning experience. To date Dr. Sikirdji has not been able to provide any proof that this Congo mine actually exists. In fact, based on his own claim that the mine is located in rebel held territory in the Congo, it is actually illegal for US consumers to purchase Gemfrance’s “Congo Andesine” as it is helping finance a terrorist organization……if Dr. Sikirdji’s claims are accurate.

John D. Dyer (GJX Show Booth: 1530)

This young man is absolutely one of the finest gemstone artists I have seen. Award winning designer and cutter who is at the leading edge of the future of this industry. You absolutely must visit his booth and see the future of this industry in both design and people.

Kaufman Enterprises (GJX Show Show Booth: 314)

Specializes in facet rough and custom cut gemstones of all kinds. Perenial favorite with the ISG Community members.

Kruess Optronic GmbH (GJX Show Booth: 1201)

World renowned resource for gemological equipment and supplies.

Litto Gems Co. (GJX Show Booth: 111)

We have no idea why these people are still claiming to sell “Tibet andesine” when the China National Gem Testing Lab folks, and others, have tagged it a hoax. What does it take to put a stop to this kind of thing? We don’t know. But we have many specimens from Litto gems and they all test as diffusion treated. It’s worth a stop to see more specimens of this material that the Peretti expedition called a very elaborate hoax.

Lowe Associates - Robt. P. Lowe, Jr. (GJX Show Booth: 205)

Excellent supplier of Brazilian gemstones as well as other world sources. We hear a lot of good things about these folks for quality and integrity. Repeat listing on our recommended vendor list and good people to work with based on a lot of customer reports.

OTF Gems - Org. Tavares Filho (GJX Show Booth: 3010)

One of our closest friends and supporters from Brazil. Specializes in Brazilian gemstones as well as exceptionally knowledgeable in the gemstone industry. Wonderful resource for our research and long time dealer and friend of the ISG Community.

Perlas del Mar de Cortez (GJX Show Booth: 1221)

Mexican round cultured pearls and half pearls. Do no miss the opportunity to see the Mexican produced pearls that are of the highest quality. These folks have helped us with our ISG Pearls Course materials and study specimens for years. Good people to work with and outstanding pearl products.

R. W. Osmond & Associates (GJX Show Booth: 235)

These Aussies specialize in some of the finest chrysoprase and opals you will find anywhere in the world, and at excellent prices. Outstanding group that we have enjoyed working with for a couple of years now. Don’t miss them as they offer unique gems, carvings and other items that you will not find elsewhere.

Rough & Ready Gems, Inc. (GJX Show Booth: 700)

Unique gemstone briolettes and ultrasonic drilling services. Great people to work with and repeat favorite of the ISG Community.

Tucker Gems/Sid Tucker, L.L.C. (GJX Show Booth: 236)

Solid wholesale resource for colored gemstones. Return members of our recommended list and long-time members of the ISG Community.

Tairona Co. (GJX Show Booth #410)

Imports a wonderful array of colored gemstones specializing in emeralds, sapphires and tourmalines. Paul is a long-time friend of the ISG Community and our efforts to further integrity in the industry. It is wonderful to work with folks who still believe in the foundations of this industry where honesty and integrity are first and foremost in business.

Did we miss you? Let us know. We have a special list coming out next week for anyone we missed. Just let us know.

OOPS.....in our AGTA Favorite Vendor listing we missed the following:

Taylorcorp. (AGTA GemFair Booth #1110)

Wonderful source for colored gemstones with a world class reputation for quality and integrity. Long time supporter of ethics in this industry and of the ISG Community. More important, a fantastic resource for colored gemstones that you will want to make sure is on your list.

American Sapphire Company (AGTA GemFair Booth #526)

Many reasons to be sure and see these folks. They produce outstanding natural sapphires from the US. Rare opportunity to obtain local gemstones from local mines that will increase your revenue streams in profits and beauty.

Glenn Preus, G.G. (AGTA GemFair Booth #525)

Colored gemstone supplier with experience and knowledge that many will find refreshing. Long-time supporter of the ISG Community and our efforts to increase ethics in the industry.

Perlen Yukie U.S.A. (AGTA Booth# 625)

Specializes in Japanese Freshwater Pearls from Lake Kasumigaura, Japan, as well as Cultured Akoya Pearls and Cultured Akoya Keshi. Great friend of the ISG Community and supporter of ethics in the industry.