North American Gemstones
We are finally getting around to creating this page and will be adding gems from North America periodically. One of the pleasures of being in this business is being able to visit many of the locations where gems are found not only in North America but around the world. One of the best references for North American gems is John Sinkankas’ book “Gemstones of North America” which was published in three editions. The earlier editions list locations that may no longer be available or ones that are not included in later editions. Do an internet search for these books and acquire them when you can. You will be most glad you did.
All the gems listed here appear only on this page and nowhere else on the djraregems.com or gemaholics.com websites.
*Indicate a location we have visited. If you are planning to visit one of these areas, feel free to contact us for collecting tips/
NA1016 Almandite Garnet,
Dk Red, 5.18 carats emerald brilliant cut measuring 10.6×7.3×6.3 mm, lightly included, from *Emerald Creek, Idaho. We visited this location a number of years ago and found it operated by the forest service to prevent erosion by indiscriminate digging. Most of what is found is star garnet but some are suitable for faceting. This gem is lightly included but represents a cut gem from this well known location.
Priced at $30/carat or $155.40/gem
Added 2/3/23
Amethysts are found in many locations both in North America and around the world. We attempt to collect and cut rough amethyst from any location when we are aware of rough being available. The following are amethysts from North American locations and as others become available we will cut them and add them to our website.
NA1012 Amethyst,
Dk Intense Purple, 15.29 carats square emerald brilliant cut measuring 14.8×14.6×11.4 mm, v lt incl, from *4 Peaks, Arizona. A top color gem from what may be the oldest gem location in North America. It is reported that the amethyst in the crown jewels of Spain actually were mined at this location. The gem displays the very fine color for which this location in known.
Priced at $30/carat or $458.70/gem
Added 3/13/23
NA1039 Amethyst,
Dk Reddish Purple, 28.00 carats emerald brilliant cut measuring 21.2×15.8×13.2 mm, v lt incl, from *4 Peals, Arizona. A stunning gem of top color for this location. We visited this mine in October of 2014 taking a helicopter ride for the visit. The location is easily spotted from Fountain Hills, Arizona but is very difficult to reach as the hike from the nearest road is 4.5 hours long. Each year the owner opens the mine to visitors. If interested more information can be obtained from Sami Jewelers in Fountain Hills. This mine is privately owned and permission is necessary to visit it.
Priced at $40/carat or $1,120.00/gem
Added 3/29/23
NA1009 Amethyst,
Md Intense Pinkish Purple, 22.44 carats round brilliant cut measuring 18.8×12.9 mm, v lt incl, from Jackson Crossroads, Georgia. This location is one of many in the United States that produces gem quality amethyst. Many people will argue that the finest amethyst in the world if found at this location. however, that can be claimed by the top quality amethyst from many locations. This gem is of medium tone with intense pink highlights and is quite exceptional for a medium tone gem from this location.
Priced at $25/carat or $561.00/gem
Added 1/9/23
NA1035 Amethyst,
Md Intense Pinkish Purple, 8.65 carats emerald brilliant cut measuring 15.4×9.8×9.2 mm, eye clean, from Jackson Crossroads, Georgia. This gem is lighter in tone than the most prized gems from this location but it is still a very attractive and desirable gem with its strong pink highlights.
Priced at $25/carat or $216.25/gem
Added 3/29/23
NA1011 Amethyst,
Md Intense Pinkish Purple, 16.35 carats emerald brilliant cut measuring 20.9×11.4×10.3 mm, eye clean, from the *Little Gem Mine, Montana. The Little Gem Mine is known for its unusual specimens of amethyst that often display multiple crystallization phases and as a result the color is often zoned as in this gem. The color is intense with strong pink overtones. The finest amethyst we have ever seen was cut from rough obtained at the Little Gem.
Priced at $25/carat or $408.75/gem
Added 1/11/23
NA1023 Amethyst,
Md Pinkish Purple, 38.33 carats emerald brilliant cut measuring 21.5×18.7×15.0 mm, v lt incl, from *Peterson Mountain, Nevada. Occasionally during the mining process some fine mineral specimens get damaged. This gem was cut from just such a specimen that had a large clean area of medium purple color. We have seen amethyst gems of over 200 carats cut from this location.
Priced at $20/carat or $766.60/gem
Added 2/2/23
NA1025 Amethyst,
Dk Intense Purple, 9.77 carats cut corner triangle cut measuring 14.8×14.6×9.7 mm, very lightly included, from Deer Hill, Maine. Deer Hill was the location of a major find of amethyst in 1993 that produced over 1,000 pounds of mine run rough. We acquired a small parcel from that discovery during the late 1990’s and cut this gem from one of the remaining pieces of rough. This discovery brought so much attention to the location that it has been closed to digging.
Priced at $30/carat or $293.10/gem
Added 2/2/23
NA1026 Amethyst,
Md Lt Purple, 12.44 carats emerald brilliant cut measuring 17.8×10.5×9.8 mm, very lightly included, from Vera Cruz, Mexico. This location is know for producing lighter tone amethyst. Most of the crystals are included with phantom crystal or gas bubbles and rarely produce clean areas for cutting gems of this size.
Priced at $15/carat or $186.60/gem
Added 2/2/23
NA1040 Amethyst,
Md Purplish Pink, 7.05 carats square emerald brilliant cut measuring 11.5×11.5×8.7 mm, v lt incl, from Guerrero, Mexico. Mexico has numerous locations where gem grade amethyst is mined with Guerrero and Vera Cruz being the best known. Guerrero by far produces the finest and years ago when it was first discovered it was mined for rough with the finest mineral specimens being cobbed for that rough. This gem although included is of fine color and prices accordingly.
Priced at $20/carat or $141.00/gem
Added 3/29/23
NA1041 Axinite,
Md Dk Orange Brown, 4.13 carats emerald brilliant cut measuring 10.5×7.6×6.5 mm, v lt incl, from Baja California, Mexico. This gem was cut from rough mined many years ago in the northern part of the Baja California not far from the border with the United States. Many of these mines are now worked out and rough comes from old collections or accumulations. The rough this gem was cut from was acquired many years ago in Tucson. Occasionally we see old parcels of this rough being made available from cutter’s inventory but as far as we know no new production has occurred.
Priced at $80/carat or $330.40/gem
Added 3/29/23
NA1033 Barite,
Md Yellow, 29.32 carats square emerald brilliant cut measuring 15.5×15.5×11.3, v lt incl, from Carlin, Nevada. During the early 1990’s a cavern of fine barite crystals was opened in one of the gold mines in the Carlin area. Many fine specimens were produced from the pocked as well as a number of pieces of rough. John was contracted to cut some of the rough and receive payment in the form of additional rough material. This gem was cut from one of the pieces of rough he received.
Priced at $25/carat or $733.00/gem
Added 3/9.23
NA1013 Citrine,
Lt Yellow, 33.60 carats double hexagon brilliant cut measuring 20.5×20.2×15.9 mm, eye clean, from *Mt Antero, Colorado. The rough this gem was cut from was mined during the 1990’s by John. It appeared to be a medium brown smoky quartz but that coloration was only in the skin that when cut away revealed a light yellow, natural citrine. This is an original cut design by John.
Priced at $20/carat or $672.00/gem
Added 2/2/23
NA1003 Fluorite,
Md Green, 29.31 carats emerald brilliant cut measuring 21.5×14.0x12.4 mm, lt incl, from Colorado. The rough this gem was cut from was mined at the Lost Trail Mine located not far from Crestone, Colorado on the west side of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. The fluorite from this location is reminiscent of the fluorite from the Westmorland area of New Hampshire. Most of this material is lightly included with veils so it appears hazy. This is a unique Colorado location for facet grade fluorite.
Priced at $15/carat or $442.65/gem
Added 1/13/23
NA1994 Fluorite,
Md Lt Green, 22.17 cts square emerald brilliant cut measuring 15.6×15.6z12.5 mm, lt incl, from Colorado. Another gem from this historic location for fluorite. Light veils occur within the gems giving it a hazy appearance.
Priced at $10/carat or $221.70/gem
Added 1/15/23
NA1020 Goshenite,
Colorless, 3.86 carats square emerald brilliant cut measuring 9.4×9.2×7.0 mm, light inclusions, from *Mt Antero, Colorado. During September of 1991 a friend and I discovered a seam of beryl in the California Mine area of Mt Antero, a well know location for aquamarine in the US. During the course of three weekends week we recovered quite a few pounds of beryl, most of which was colorless goshenite. The largest gem from this discovery cut out at 13 carats and was donated to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The remain cuttable material was cut and sold during the past 30 years. This gem was cut from193.00/gem one of the pieces remaining from this discovery.
Priced at $50/carat or $193.00/gem
Added 2/3/23
NA1008 Labradorite,
Lt Yellow, 7.22 carats emerald brilliant cut measuring 17.4×8.4×7.1 mm, eye clean, from *Oregon. The state of Oregon put aside 2 square miles of land in the heard of the sunstone area and preserved it for public collecting. This area is located in south central Oregon about 24 miles north of the small town of Plush. Sunstone is the state gemstone of Oregon and ranges in color from an intense red and green to the light yellow of labradorite which is the same mineral. This gem was cut from a piece of the yellow rough although it does exhibit a pinkish cast resulting from microscopic inclusions of copper.
Priced at $30/carat or $216.30/gem
Added 1/13/23
NA1032 Labradorite,
Md Lt Golden Yellow, 11.93 carats cut corner triangle brilliant cut measuring 15.2s15.2×10.9 mm, v lt incl, from *Oregon. Another fine gem from the sunstone area of south central Oregon. This cut is suitable for a pendant and display very very well. Remember this material and the massive material called labradorite that displays a play of color is the same mineral but that formed under different circumstances.
Priced at $30/carat or $357.90/gem
Added 3/9/23
NA1010 Labradorite,
Md Yellow, 8.87 carats oval brilliant cut measuring 16.4×11.7×8.9 mm, eye clean, from *Idaho. We saw a reference to gem grade labradorite in John Sinkankas’ second edition of Gemstones of North America and attempted to visit the location. Unfortunately it required a heavy duty 4 wheel drive vehicle which we did not have access to. While leaving the location we noticed the road sparkled and upon checking them out discovered they were fragments of gem grade labradorite. This gem is quite exceptional for labradorite from any location as the yellow hue is much stronger than labradorites from other North American locations we have visited and collected.
Priced at $40/carat or $354.80/gem
Added 1/11/23
NA1017 Labradorite,
Lt Yellow, 2.52 carats split sided brilliant cut measuring 14.1×5.9×5.2 mm, eye clean, from *Sunstone Knolls, Utah. This location is a state recreation area for Utah and is open to the public. It is also referred to as Clear Lake, Utah. Most of the rough is found scattered on the surface and collecting is best when the sunlight can be directed off the labradorite fragments. Most gems are small with the largest John has cut being just over 5 carats. A fun place to visit for the family.
Priced at $40/carat or $100.80/gem
Added 2/2/23
NA1001 Opal,
Md Dk Orange, 22.20 carats emerald brilliant cut measuring 18.6×16.8×14.1 mm, eye clean, from *Juniper Ridge, Oregon. This location is know for producing transparent common opal of colors ranging from brown, yellow, orange, and red. As far as we are aware no opal that displays a play of colors has ever been found at this location. This gem was faceted from rough that had been mined at this location many years ago and has remained stable all these years.
Priced at $40/carat or $888.00/gem
Added 1/9/23
NA1002 Phenacite,
V Lt Yellow, 1.19 carats emerald brilliant cut measuring 7.8×4.7×4.0 mm, v lt incl, from *Mt Antero, Colorado. This location is the highest gem location in North America and thus is open to mining only a few months out of the year. This location was featured in the Weather Channel’s show “The Prospectors”. Our home town of that Salida, Colorado is located only ten miles as the crow flies from Mt Antero and thus we were able to visit it and search for its gems many times over the years. Phenacite is a rare beryllium silicate that has been found occasionally in gem qualities on Mt Antero. During the early 1990’s a deposit of fine gem grade crystals was located in a pocket referred to as “The Chimney”. These crystals were quickly bought up by collectors and few were sacrificed by cutting.
Priced at $150/carat or #178.50/gem
Added 1/9/23
NA1019 Quartz w/ Inclusions,
Colorless w/ Green Needles, 13.48 carats emerald brilliant cut measuring 16.6×12.2×10.3 mm, moderate inclusions, from the *Calumet Iron Mine, Colorado. The Calumet Iron Mine produced the iron ore for the CF&I steel mills in Pueblo, Colorado until another deposit at the Orient Mine in the San Luis Valley replaced it. During the contact metamorphic mineralization of the deposit pockets of quartz crystals formed, many of which contained fine needles of actinolite and fuzzy balls of an unidentified mineral, possible epidote. This gem was cut from one of the pieces of quartz recovered from the old tailings piles. This is definitely a gem for the collector of inclusion gems.
Priced at $12/carat or $161.76/gem
Added 2/3/23
NA1029 Quartz,
V Lt Brown, 7.43 carats emerald brilliant cut measuring 14.3×9.3×8.4 mm, eye clean, from *Crystal Park, Montana. Crystal Park is best known for its scepter crystals. It is a public collecting area located approximately 45 minutes northwest from Dillion, Montana. Parking is $5/day and digging is allowed only with hand tools and under the rule that you fill in any digs. Most of what is found is colorless quartz but smoky quartz, citrine and amethyst are also found at the location. Collecting is available from late May until the first snows usually in early September although it can snow almost any time of year as we were inundated with snow on July 26th one year. This gem was cut from a fragment of smoky quartz we found some years ago.
Priced at $20/carat or $148.60/gem
Added 3/9/23
Quartz Gems Taylor Mountain, Colorado
Few reference books refer to *Taylor Mountain in Chaffee County, Colorado as a source for fine, gem grade quartz. We have visited this location many times during the past 35 years but only recently discovered the variety of gem grade quartz that it has to offer. These varieties include gem grade colorless quartz which we refer to as Chaffee County “Diamonds, smoktrine which is a smoky quartz with very strong yellow overtones, lemonade quartz which is a yellow quartz with inclusions that give it the appearance of lemonade, citrine which is a medium light to light yellow in color, smoky quartz, platinum quartz with has a silvery hue similar to the metal platinum, quartz with actinolite inclusions and more to be discovered. We will continue to mine and search this area for additional varieties of quartz in the coming years and will offer them on this page when we find them.
NA1038 Quartz
Colorless, 32.83 carats double hexagon brilliant cut measuring 20.2×20.1×15.9 mm, eye clean, from *Taylor Mountain. Colorado. Colorless quartz gems from this location are also known as Chaffee County “Diamonds”. This stunning gem would fool your friends and family into thinking you are incredibly rich. This gem is a larger size from this location.
Priced at $15.carat or $492.45/gem
Added 3/29/23
NA1028 Quartz,
Very Light Platinum, 30.38 carats round brilliant cut measuring 20.8×14.8 mm, eye clean, from *Taylor Mountain, Colorado. This large and well cut brilliant gem displays a subtle steely color and thus the reference as “platinum” quartz. We have been amazed by the variety of colors of quartz found at this location with this one being one of the most attractive.
Priced at $15/carat or $455.70/gem
Added 2/3/23
NA1037 Quartz,
Md Lt Golden Brown, 38.75 carats square emerald brilliant cut measuring 20.2×20.0x15.9 mm, eye clean, from *Taylor Mountain, Colorado. This gem displays a beautiful golden color in a very large size for this location. A great collector gem or the center piece of a stunning pendant.
Priced at $20/carat or $775.00/gem
Added 3/29/23
NA1030 Smoktrine,
Md Yellowish Brown, 10.91 carats round brilliant cut measuring 14.8×10.2 mm, eye clean, from *Taylor Mountain, Colorado. This gem was cut from rough mined at the Lucky Dog claim. It is a very brilliant gem with a strong yellow accenting hue.
Priced at $20/carat or $218.20/gem
Added 3/9/23
NA1027 Smoktrine,
Md Golden Yellow, 10.93 carats emerald brilliant cut measuring 15.6×11.4×9.8 mm, eye clean, from *Taylor Mountain, Colorado. Smoktrine was named by the claim holder where the rough this gem was cut from was mined. The strong yellow color indicated natural citrine but with the brownish overtones it could be smoky quartz. This is one of the finest examples of this quartz varieties we have offered.
Priced at $20/carat or $218.60/gem
Added 2/3/23
NA1036 Smoktrine,
Md Yellow Brown, 9.25 carats double hexagon brilliant cut measuring 13.2×13.2×10.4 mm, eye clean, from *Taylor Mountain, Colorado. This gem is one of John’s most popular original designs. It make a great pendant gem and the strong yellowish brown color adds to its appeal,
Priced at $20/carat or $185.00/gem
Added 3/29/23
NA1031 Quartz,
Colorless, 11.55 carats hexagonal bar brilliant cut measuring 17.7×12.6×10.2 mm, eye clean, from *Taylor Mountain, Colorado. This is an original facet pattern by John that won a first place in the Cutting Edge awards in 1995 when he first used it on an amethyst. It has proven very popular as a pendant gems and has sold very well at recent shows.
Priced at $20/carat or $231.00/gem
Added 3/9/23
NA1014 Smoky Quartz,
Md Dk Brown, 8.68 carats emerald brilliant cut measuring 15.5×9.4×8.7 mm, eye clean, from *Topaz Mountain, Colorado. This location is privately held by Pinnacle 5 Minerals and the Doris family. We collected the rough this gem was cut from during one of the invited digs frequently held. We do have quite a bit of topaz rough from this location and will cut it as time allows.
Priced at $15/carat or $130.30/gem
Added 2/2/23
NA1024 Smoky Quartz,
Md Lt Brown, 12.86 carats round brilliant cut measuring 15.7×10.7 mm, eye clean, from *Crystal Park, Montana. Several year ago we had the good fortune of discovering a pocket of quartz at Crystal Park that contained both smoky quartz and natural citrine. We cut the damaged pieces from this pocket and this gem is one of them. A beautiful gem from a classic location and would make a fine souvenir for someone who has visited and dug at this location.
Priced at $15/carat or $192.90/gem
Added 2/3/23
NA1015 Smoky Quartz,
Md Dk Yellowish Brown, 9.70 carats oval brilliant cut measuring 16.6×12.2×9.4 mm, very lightly included, from *Crystal Park, Montana. This location is a public collecting area open to hand digging only. It was established as a join venture between the forest service and a local gem and mineral society. Crystal Park is best known for its scepter crystals, the finest being a clear stem and topped with fine amethyst. By far the most common mineral found at this location is clear, colorless quartz but occasionally citrine, amethyst, and smoky quartz is found. One of the most attractive smoky quartz crystals we have ever seen was mined at Crystal Park.
Priced at $15/carat or $145.50/gem
Added 2/2/23
NA1018 Smoky Quartz,
Lt Brown, 25.12 carats round brilliant cut measuring 19.6×13.9 mm, eye clean, from *Peterson Mountain, Nevada. This location is also known as Hallelujah Junction which is the closest reference location to the deposit. Several areas of mining occur on the Nevada side of the mountain and are privately held. This gem came from the Krystal Tip Mine which produces exceptional scepter specimens of smoky quartz, light yellow citrine and amethyst. This is a fee area when open to the public but it is well worth the cost to visit and collect at this location.
Priced at $15/carat or $376.80/gem
Added 2/2/23
NA1005 Sunstone,
Dk Orangish Red w/ Green, 5.08 cts emerald brilliant cut measuring 11.5×9.3×7.2 mm, v lt incl, from *Oregon. The sunstones from Oregon are colored by trace amounts of copper inclusions. Some are so small the color is uniform while others are large enough to be seen with the unaided eye and results in a “schiller” effect. The sunstones area in Oregon is the only verified location to produce these gems. Other locations were reported to be producing similar gems but were discovered to have been artificially diffusion treated. The state of Oregon has put aside two square miles of this deposit for public collecting. This area also has a dry camping area and picnic tables, however, if you visit this area go as far away from this area as it is heavily collected and sunstone and labradorite as scarce close by.
Priced at $200/carat or $1,016.00/gem
Added 1/15/23
NA1007 Topaz,
Lt Sherry, 6.12 carats round brilliant cut measuring 11.2×7.3 mm, eye clean, from Colorado. During the first half of the 20th century Ed Over located a deposit of fine topaz west of Colorado Springs in the vicinity of Pike’s Peak. This location became lost and for years collectors and miners sought out the location. It was rediscovered earlier this century and the mining of rough from this locations was featured on the Weather Channel’s show “The Prospectors”. The rough this gem was cut from was obtained in a trade for cutting some of the material.
Priced at $60/carat or $367.20/gem
Added 1/13/23
NA1034 Topaz
Md Golden Orange, 4.05 carats round brilliant cut measuring 9.5×6.5 mm, v lt incl, from Mexico. There are a number of locations in Mexico that produce topaz so we are not sure which produced the rough from which this gem was cut. It is a very attractive gem with the look of a fine imperial topaz from Brazil.
Priced at $80/carat or $324.00/gem
Added 3/29/23
NA1006 Tourmaline,
Md Orangish Pink, 3.32 cts round brilliant cut measuring 9.2×6.6 mm, v lt incl, from Maine. Maine has long been known to produce various gemstone but most notably tourmalines. First discovered as a gem source during the early 1800’s it has consistently produced rough gems ever since although there have been periods of time where production slacked off. This is a fine, round brilliant gem and well suited for setting in jewelry.
Priced at $100/carat or $332.00/gem
Added 1/15/23