Change is Good!
Kenyan Color Change Garnets
A new find of Color Change Garnets has been uncovered in the village of Kamtonga,
Kenya, between Tsavo Park and the Tanzanian border. News of the find has spread
quickly by word of mouth and now the mine site is active with independent miners
from Kenya, and Tanzania.
Lee Horowitz, from Peru Blue Opal Ltd., Sinking Springs, PA, and his partner, Okeno
Gichuchu, of Brayogo Safaris Co. Ltd., in Voi, Kenya, shared information, images
of the mine site, as well as gems to photograph.
”Only 5% of what is being found is the best color,” notes Horowitz. “Of that, about
half is found in 1 to 2 gram sizes. Rough weighing 4 grams or more is rare.”
Weight yield from cutting is approximately 25-30%, leaving us with a 1-caratto 1.25-carat
finished stone for every 1 gram piece of rough.
Horowitz tells us that the Tanzanian Umba River Valley color change garnet is found
nearby, “right below this area.” Inclusions are similar for both localities, and
it is very rare to find gems without the typical rutile and hematite inclusions.
There are gems of good quality, good color change, but quantity is limited – just
enough for a few good stones to make their way to the States.
Gichuchu is a gemstone dealer licensed to buy, sell, and export, as well as a miner,
and tour operator. He is currently mining sapphire near the new garnet find, and
has been to the garnet deposit to purchase rough. Horowitz oversees their cutting
operation, and represents the finished goods here in the U.S.
To contact Horowitz
e-mail: lshorowitz@yahoo.com
by phone - 610-750-6444
To contact Gichuchu
e-mail:
okenog@brayogosafaris.com
by phone - 254 43 30455
[More details may be found currently in Colored Stone Magazine, “Kenya’s New Double-Barrel
Color-Change Garnet,” and soon to be on www.PalaGems.com, as well as possibly in
the upcoming Fall issue of GIA’s Gems & Gemology. - gr]
RGNR
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