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Shown above is a parcel of water-worn sapphire crystals from El Dorado Bar on the Missouri River near Helena, Montana. The gravel bars along this section of the Missouri River have produced both gold and sapphire. In the 1930's and 40's sapphires were a byproduct of the gold dredges that were working the area. The El Dorado Bar sapphires have traveled some distance from their source, their surfaces are often rounded and frosted by abrasion. This nice parcel shows the range of color typical of this location. Most common are light blues and bluish-greens, but lavender and orangish colors are also encountered. Some of the crystals show the hexagonal outline characteristic of sapphire. These crystals are just the way they came from the river gravel. Although a few of the above crystals are facet grade, this parcel was assembled for the mineral collector. The total weight of this parcel is 30 carats. (#M445, $12.50 Sold)
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