ICA reports ruby find in Madagascar

Following the discovery of a deposit of pink sapphire in Madagascar last December, the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) reports that there is a newly discovered ruby deposit in the island nation's Andilamena mining district.

The deposit has yielded rubies that are mostly small, dark red and well-formed with hexagonal platelets, according to an ICA statement issued Wednesday.

Andilamena has been producing ruby since 2000, and recently became well-known within the jewelry industry for the "ruby star" material commonly filled with lead glass to improve its clarity. The new deposit is producing better gem-quality material than that found in the "ruby star" deposit, and should be appearing in quantity in the marketplace right about now, ICA Ambassador to Madagascar Tom Cushman said in the organization's release.

Also recently reported was another corundum find, about 62 miles south of Mahajunga, but its quality and quantity have yet to be appraised.

"There seems to be no end in sight for new corundum deposits and production," Cushman said of Madagascar in ICA's statement.

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