Sharan and I pulled into Quartzite on December 24th, not knowing what to expect. Through the summer months, this desert community supports just a few hundred residents. However, it would soon be home to over 100,000 RV’s, (Recreational Vehicles,…

My day started out as it usually does, walking up and down the side of this particular mountain prospecting for gold. Prospecting in the Mojave Desert in April is an interesting experience. You never know what kind of weather you may encounter. It…

Editors Note: These were originally submitted as letters to the Faceter’s Digest. They are a personal history of the author’s experiences with the mines in North Carolina. There are many unconventional spellings in the text. They have been…

All the treasures have been found! At least that’s what I thought when I first set foot in the red dust of western Queensland, Outback Australia. “Whatever is to be found in the ground has already been found!” “Treasures are for Long John…

First, I would like to say thank you to Don Clark the President of International Gem Society for allowing me the chance to reach out and talk with each and everyone of you. My name is Douglas S. Le Grand G.G., the initials at the end of my name G.G….

When you think of mining for the “big four” gemstones – diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald – it’s easy to imagine places like India, South Africa, and Colombia. However, there are plenty of gem hunting spots in the United States where you…

Question I’m fascinated by agate, especially the kind found in basaltic or other lava cavities.  The stones from Botswana and Brazil are my favorites.  These were formed at some time in the remote past. After the lava had hardened, water…

Question I’m a novice gemology student. I’m traveling to Turkey in the near future and I’d love to know more about Turkey’s gemstones. What might I find on my visit? I’ve got my gem identification book ready to go. Any information would be…

Question I’ve never been to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show but I’ve heard many stories. I’m wondering, just how good is it really? Would any International Gem Society (IGS) members be willing to share their reviews of this event? What did you…

Question I love working with opal from Spencer, Idaho. On rare occasions, I turn up a star stone. I know star opals are very rare. So as you can imagine, I’m having a heck of a time trying to put a realistic value on what I cut. Does anyone have…

Editor’s Note: The world-renowned Quartzsite gem shows are held annually in the desert town of Quartzsite, Arizona. Several years ago, International Gem Society founder Donald Clark wrote about his first trip there and offered some advice for…

June 26, 2015. That’s the date that Esperanza came to the surface at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. Brooke Oskarson stopped at the park outside of Murfreesboro, Arkansas (the only place in the world where you can go to mine your…