Written by Carolyn Doyle for customers of
The Dorado Company
and other visitors to the azgem.com website who subscribe.

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Usable Gems... and a little opinion.

Gem Origins - South America

South America is very important in the world of gem origins. Our recent reviews of Colombia and Brazil as gem producing countries show this.

Other South American countries are also important producers of gems as well.

Bolivia is a land locked country between Brazil and Peru. It's not surprising that Bolivia produces significant quantities of amethyst, citrine.

What is surprising is that it also produces ametrine.

For those not familiar with this gem, ametrine is a bi-colored quartz gem stone exhibiting both amethyst and citrine in the same stone.

A single mine in the whole world produces this gem stone, the Anahi mine in Bolivia.

Peru, on the Pacific Ocean produces several gems, including opal. Peru's variety of opal comes in blue, pink, rose, green, and blue-green hues.

Argentina, located on the southern Atlantic Ocean,  is a producer of  garnet and amethyst. And, of course all producers of amethyst are assumed to also produce citrine, the yellow variety of this quartz gem stone.

Surprisingly, Argentina's western neighbor Chile, isn't a significant gem producer. Small amounts of lapis lazuli are exported from Chile.

Uruguay is perhaps the most significant gem producer in South America behind Brazil and Colombia. 

Located south of Brazil on the Atlantic coast, Uruguay supplies some fine quality amethyst to the gem world.

This completes our review of South America gem origins. As we've seen, South America is a major supplier of gem material.

Most gem material mined in South America goes to India, China, and Thailand to be faceted into gems, or made into beads or other products.

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Industry News

The news publications for the jewelry industry is dominated by headlines such as these:

• Diamond jewelry sales up 10% in fourth quarter
• Retailers report strong February sales
• Neiman Marcus reports strong sales and profits
• Chain stores post 6.7% sales gain

When jewelry sales are up significantly, you know the economy is hot... although you wouldn't believe it by watching TV news shows.

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The Las Vegas gem and jewelry shows are coming in early June! http://www.vegas-show-guide.com/vegas/

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Jewelry Dealers

Are you making up new pieces of jewelry to rebuild and upgrade your inventory depleted by holiday sales? Now is a good time to work at this fun and vital task.

We've recently received some new emerald, morganite, sapphire, peridot, and chrome diopside from our cutters.

As usual, all these gems are in sizes appropriate for center stones in  rings  and pendants.

Send me an email for information on gems that interest you.

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Jewelry Dealers Program

Do you enjoy jewelry and gems?

Do you enjoy talking with friends and co-workers?

Take a look at our great Jewelry Dealers Program.

Carolyn Doyle

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