Anakie Sapphire Gemfields
The Australian sapphire Gemfields of Anakie
Little of the early history of the Sapphire fields has been accurately
recorded. The original discovery of the sapphires near Retreat Creek and
the exact date of that discovery may never be known. But it was almost
certainly in the early 1870's. However, it was not until the early 1880's
that the first commercial production from three deposits took place.
The sapphire industry got off to a slow start because, in its early
years (1881-1890) drought conditions and poor demand severely restricted
mining and marketing of stones. For some years the industry experienced
fluctuating fortunes but a display of stones at an exhibition in London
in 1899 led to an upturn in the sapphire market and the fields enjoyed
a short period of prosperity.
Around this time Australian stones became popular with the Russian nobility
and this added to the demand.By 1903 sapphire mining was considered to
be an established industry centred on the Retreat and Policeman Creek Areas.
Even so, secure markets had not been found and severe fluctuations in demand
and prices continued up to about 1910. The slump during the war years was
alleviated by an unprecedented boom in 1919 but even this was short lived.
Demand for sapphire grew rapidly in 1944 and 1945 with the influx of
American servicemen. The early 1970's marked the beginning of machinery
mining which created the first conflict between machinery miners and hand
miners. Towards the end of 1971, several Thai buyers arrived on the fields
to buy direct from the miners and the prices quadrupled overnight. They
bought large parcels of all grades of blue sapphires. The lower grades
were especially sought after for the new heat treatment process being developed
in Thailand.
Much of the area between Rubyvale and Sapphire was opened up to machinery
mining during that time. In late 1977 there began a downturn which has
continued to the present.Years of over supply and the opening up of Sri
Lankan deposits to mechanised mining, contributed to falling demand in
Thailand.
By 1985 when mining activity was only a fraction of its mid 1970's peak
and access to the fields was greatly improved, the potential for tourism
was seen as being promising.
You are all warmly invited to visit our Gemfields. The links below will
take you to more info on the gemfields, Gemfest-the festival of gems, myself
and my gems.
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For more info email at this addres :
sapphire@tpgi.com.au
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Sapphire@tpgi.com.au
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