Distinctly Montana Magazine

came from Sri Lanka. Debunking the Crown Jewels myth doesn’t reduce Yogo sap- phires’ value at all. They remain the premier gem- stones from North America, just as Kunz character- ized them in the 1890s, and as some of the very few naturally cornflower-blue stones in the world, their desirability continues to grow. Profitability of Yogo mining operations varied throughout the twentieth century. Work was effectively suspended after a flash flood in 1923 destroyed mine structures, and sporad- ic later efforts were generally unsuccessful. In the early 1970s California investors began Sapphire Vil- lage, a small real estate development that allowed property owners to explore for gems. Diverse mine ownership saw minimal profit for the next 15 years, until the Vortex Mine opened in 1984 and turned a profit for a few years by exploiting two underground sapphire-bearing dikes. In 2004 the Vortex Mine closed because the dike rock was too hard to free sapphires effectively and investors were dissatisfied with production. In 2008, new mine owner All told, Yogo Gulch has yielded some 3.6 met- ric tons of sap- phire so far, a poor second in volume in Montana to Rock Creek’s 65 tons. But Yogo quality is unsurpassed, and the stones compete easily on the world- wide gem market. Mike Roberts gave up on gold mining in Alaska and began to operate the Vortex Mine, establish- ing a bright new future for Montana sapphires. Profitable gem production comes from the 300-foot level in a mine that may be the greenest in Montana. No mine water leaves the site, and all water is recycled. No chemicals help with ore process- ing, and absence of sulfides means there’s no acid formed in the local water system, a dramatic difference from most Montana mines. Montana was built on mining, but today’s residents may focus as much energy on environmental restoration in some areas as the miners did on ore extraction. That won’t be needed at the Vortex Mine. geology—just the right elements and just the right cooling history making a “Goldilocks” gem that is just about perfect. Yogos result from the luck of About 95% of all sapphires are heat treated, so natural cornflower-blue stones are indeed distinctive. The main drawback is that Yogos tend to be small, under a carat. When larger gems can be cut from rough stones, the price goes up dramatically. Quarter-carat cut Yogos range in price from $200 to $700, while one-carat deep blue cut specimens can bring more than $11,000. Bozeman’s Gem Gallery, special- ists in Yogo sapphires, offers a 3.36- carat stone for $110,000. Gem Gallery’s owner, Don Baide, is a major player in the Yogo jewelry business but by no means the only dealer in the popular stones. He works with American Gemological Laboratories and others to educate analysts and jewelers about typical qualities of Yogos and the range of prop- erties expected in natural stones. There is no foolproof technique for distinguishing heat-treated stones from natural gems, but the more information available, the better the judgment of a jeweler or gemologist evaluating and appraising a specimen. Heat-treating sapphires is a common practice in the gem world, and some would say there’s no differ- ence from natural stones. But the demand for high quality without any kind of intervention says natural Yogos are likely to hold their high value. Whether purchased as an engagement ring or for investment, rare Yogos have all the qualities that make for growth in value. While even luxury items such as high-end sapphires suffer during recessions, Yogos seem to be addictive. Baide’s customers may start 42 DISTINCTLY MONTANA • SUMMER 2011

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