“There are only two places in the world you can find Star Garnets – India and
right here on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests
!” The Emerald Creek Garnet Area, an area managed by the U.S. Forest Service, is a popular recreation site open to the public for the purpose of searching for star garnets.
Are star garnets rare?
Star Garnets are
rare gemstone than
Star Rubies or Star Sapphires and are only found in Idaho (northwest region of US) and India.
What is the rarest gem in Idaho?
Well, our state is one of the largest producers of precious gems in the country. But the most unique gem — which happens to be our designated “state gem” — is
the star garnet
. This rare gem is only found in two places in the entire world: Idaho and India.
How much are Idaho garnets worth?
Cut and polished, a ”star garnet” is an attractive burgundy-colored jewel worth
$10 to $125 a carat
. There are only two places in the world where star garnets have been unearthed: northern India and the Emerald Creek area of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.
What gemstones are in Idaho?
Idaho Gemstones. Although Idaho has a variety of gem mineral deposits including
rock crystal and amethyst, jasper, chalcedony, agate, agatized wood, opal, garnet, aquamarine, topaz and zircon
, only a few of the nationally-significant Idaho deposits are discussed in this module.
Are garnets worth any money?
Because they are available in so many different colours, garnet stone prices can vary dramatically. They tend to range from
around $500 a carat with inclusions
, up to around $7000 per carat for the larger, clean stones. The most valuable garnet is Demantoid and it's priced near the top of the spectrum.
What do star garnets look like?
Most star garnets look
blackish red or dark purplish red
. Bright red star garnets are said to cost more than good star rubies! The majority of star garnets from Idaho are very dark, almost black until they are viewed in direct sunlight or strong bulb light where you can see their deep purple color.
Can you find diamonds in Idaho?
Diamonds are
found in Idaho
, but not enough for mining, but rockhounds find a few. The biggest diamond ever found in the U.S. was found between McCall and New Meadows. … Cullinan Diamond Mine in South Africa where the world's largest uncut diamond was found in 1905.
Can you dig for gems in Idaho?
Places to Dig for Gems
Idaho gems can be
found throughout the state
, particularly in mining sites and stream beds. The only other location on the planet which has a greater variety of gems is Africa. Idaho's state gem is the star garnet.
Can you find turquoise in Idaho?
The Turquoise Mountain Mine is
near Big Springs, Idaho
and is part of the Gallatin National Forest. The Turquoise Mountain Mine is a surface mining operation. The Northern Rocky Mountains physiographic province of the Rocky Mountain System characterize the geomorphology of the surrounding area.
Is garnet more expensive than Ruby?
Though both rubies and garnets are beautiful red stones, you really don't want to confuse the two. … However, rubies are considered one of the
most valuable
gemstones whereas garnets are, well, not. Rubies are harder, a much more brilliant red, and much more expensive.
How big is a 1 carat garnet?
| Rounds Squares | Size Weight Size | 6.5 mm 1.0 carat 15 mm | 7 mm 1.25 carat 16 mm | 8 mm 2.0 carat 20 x 15 mm |
|---|
How can you tell a real garnet?
The color of the stone
Garnets are known for their dense, saturated hues. Hence, a great way to distinguish a real gem from a fake one is
to look at the color's richness
. If your stone is lighter, brighter, or more vivid, then it may be a fake.
Where can you rockhound in Idaho?
The best places to rockhound in Idaho are in
streams and river gravels
, particularly in the Clearwater and Salmon Rivers. Old mine tailings in areas like the Seven Devils district are great for finding gemstones, and the Spencer Opal Mine is a great option for finding raw fire opals.
Can you find amethyst in Idaho?
Amethyst. Amethyst is quite amazing to find, and if you are in Idaho, you certainly have to visit
the county of Blaine
. In Blaine County, you can find amethyst specimens near Hailey, and if you are there, you will surely stumble upon copper, silver, lead, and zinc minerals.
Where are opals found in Idaho?
The
small town of Spencer in eastern Idaho
is often referred to as “The Opal Capital of America”. After all, it's here you'll find the largest opal mine in the state—Spencer Opal Mine—where you can dig for your own opals.
