Geologists and the general public are both amazed by the discovery of a totally new mineral this week by the precious stone mining business Shefa Yamim in northern Israel.
The mineral was discovered encrusted in sapphire while
mining in volcanic rock in northern Israel's Zevulun Valley near Mt. Carmel and
was appropriately dubbed "carmeltazite" after the location of its
discovery. It was discovered to be tougher than diamond during density testing.
Carmeltazite resembles ruby and sapphire in appearance and
chemical makeup, yet it is unlike any other sapphire found in the globe. In
fact, the material had previously only been discovered in outer space.
Image description: Carmeltazite, often known as "Carmel
Sapphire," could be marketed as a mineral more valuable than diamonds. |
It was difficult to mine and identify since the business
discovered it trapped within or in the fractures of jewels within volcanic rock
on Mount Carmel.
Carmeltazite has a distinct crystal structure.
It was formed by volcanic explosions in Cretaceous,
dinosaur-ruled Israel along the Carmel crest, when 14 volcanic vents were
regularly shooting out lava that eroded and drowned the Mediterranean.
So far, the largest stone discovered weighs 33.3 carats.
The material has been patented as "Carmel
sapphire" by the Israeli business, and it has also been approved as a new
mineral by the International Mineralogical Association's Commission on New
Minerals. While the approval of new minerals is not uncommon, the discovery of
this mineral has surprised many due to its remarkable rarity.
Though the business has mentioned certain prospective
locations along Mt. Carmel for additional exploration of the mineral, it is
still rarer than diamonds. "Gemstone pricing are frequently a function of
rarity," said Abraham Taub, CEO of Shefa Yamim, an Israeli gemstone mining
company. Carmeltazite, if delivered to the mineral market, will very certainly
be far more expensive than them.
Reference: Mining Weekly
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