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 Post subject: cuprian tourmaline mines mozambique?
PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 12:18 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:11 pm
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Location: wicklow Ireland
Hello guys, just wondering if anyone could direct me to an article or post about the copper-bearing tourmaline mining operations in mozambique. Just need a little info on their methods, as I am struggling to find anything with much info. Thx

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PostPosted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 1:14 pm 
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Location: Australia/East Africa
Hi Sticky,

Try this one. Its not a bad article and has pics of alluvial mining operations: http://www.allaboutgemstones.com/gemstones_paraiba.html

It also has a lot of links to other relevant articles in at the bottom of page.

Interestingly, Cuprian Tourmalines were being mined in situ and sold between 1969-75 but the mines were lost after the owners were forced to leave when the country gained independence in 1975. At that time the Tourmalines had not been identified as cuprian, this is not documented until 2004 and the identification of their copper content in alluvial stones can be loosely attributed to Moses Konate of Mozambique Gems.

I have some of the original crystals found in situ and a client/friend of mine who was there at the time has a neon green-blue crystal that is over 600ct and about 90% eye-clean.

There is an old post of mine you might like to have a look at on the subject: http://gemologyonline.com/Forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7561&highlight=

Hope this helps,

Paul

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