New Corundum Discoveries in Madagascar

Madagascar is once again the site of new corundum discoveries reports Tom Cushman, ICA’s Ambassador to the country. After a new source for pink sapphire was reported in December, he says that a new ruby discovery was made in the Andilamena mining district.

Andilamena has produced rubies since 2000. For the first two years the Andilamena rubies were mined from the riverbed and adjacent banks.  In late 2003/early 2004 shaft mining reached the level of the primary deposit of the “ruby star”.

Another new corundum find about 100 km south of Mahajunga was recently reported, however, its quality and quantity were not appraised yet. ICA member Vincent Pardieu, director of the Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences Laboratory in Bangkok, and member of the ICA Communications Committee, is currently in the field in Madagascar visiting the new finds and studying the gem material found.