Andesine Locales Added to AGTA Seminar Schedule

Andesine & Labradorite from Tibet, Inner Mongolia, Mexico & Oregon: A Tucson Panel Discussion
Moderator: Dana Schorr

Panelists:  Richard Hughes, Ahmadjan Abduriyim, George Rossman, Adolf Peretti with Shane McClure & John Emmett

The mining of natural red and green andesine in Tibet and near-colorless andesine in Inner Mongolia has been a subject of controversy.  Large quantities of diffusion-treated andesine from Inner Mongolia entered the world markets without proper disclosure starting about 2000; however the idea that there might also be a source of natural red andesine in Tibet has been met with extreme skepticism from some quarters.  This has not only polarized the gemological community, but has also created a lack of confidence in natural Oregon sunstone.

This program will present the latest results from field visits to both Tibet and Inner Mongolia, along with advanced testing of stones from each of those deposits. 

Simple tests will be described to separate both Tibetan and Inner Mongolian andesines from Oregon sunstones.  The purpose is to finally put to rest the controversy surrounding these stones.

Free samples will be handed out to all attendees.

Andesine - The Final Chapter

Probably the most significant presentation at the 2010 Tucson Gem Show was from Robert James of the International School Of Gemology.

You may remember that Mr James claimed at the 2009 Tucson Gem Show that the recent flood of Red Andesine was instead treated Feldspar...his report started a rumble in the Industry that has resulted in a trip to the "mine" - lawsuits - the discrediting of an Olympic Games collectible gemstone (did you buy the Chinese Andesine Olympic Gems from DSN as natural?)...and now in 2010 Robert James was back with his latest report "Andesine - The Final Chapter".

This event was attended by a virtual who's who of the gemology field, US feldspar miners, luminaries of the international mining industry and some reporters we haven't seen in quite some time...

I am not going to repeat the information - just give you some of the high points.

Have I peaked your interests? If you are interested in seeing how Robert James and the ISG research team came to these conclusions...complete with emails from the Mongolian Mining Office, see below.

A DVD of the presentation is available from the ISG (proceeds will support future research by ISG). To purchase a copy from the ISG click here.