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 Sold
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 Sold
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
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 Sold
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 Sold
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 Sold
Added 1/13/23
NA1004 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 Sold
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 Sold
Added 2/2/23