Associated Minerals
Neptunite
Natrolite
Joaquinite
BENITOITE MINING
DESCRIPTION :
Benitoite is a barium titanium silicate. It is one of the world's rarest gemstones and possesses many unique qualities compared to other gems. It has a high index of refraction and a dispersive power that is higher than diamond, making the stone extraordinarily bright and fiery when cut. Benitoite's color is usually a medium blue/violet, but can range from colorless to dark blue. It was first discovered in 1906 near the San Benito River in California. It is very rare, and therefore popular amongst gem collectors. Blue is by far its most common color. Crystals and cut stones of benitoite tend to be small and quite expensive.
This gemstone is often confused with
Azurite, Iolite
Spine, Tourmaline
Sapphire, Scapolite
Cortanite, Tanvolite
Glass, Plastic
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BENITOITE AND SAPPHIRE :
The most highly coveted color of benitoite is a magnificent sapphire blue. These beautiful stones are actually sometimes mistaken for sapphire. However, benitoite has a marked blue and colorless analogue which sapphire does not. The stone can appear blue or colorless when viewed from different angles. The most beautiful blue color is seen when looking through the side of the crystals, rather than from top to bottom. When untreated, the blue color of benitoite is natural, and the stone has a stable reaction to light.
The chemical formula for benitoite is BaTiSi3O9. The mineral is thought to have been derived from the surrounding wall rock during a phase of low temperature and high-pressure metamorphism. The elements that comprise benitoite are thought to have been mobilized from the host rock and deposited in a late stage cooling of hydrothermal fluids in veins fracturing the wall rock of serpentine. All benitoite found at the Benitoite Gem mine is confined to blueschist rocks. The last phase of mineralization was confined to natrolite that was injected into the vein system. It is found to encase most, but not all, of the minerals deposited in the earlier phases.
38 plus benitoite makes 39 known minerals or only about one-tenth of one percent of all known mineral species.
COMPOSITION AND FORMATION OF BENITOITE:
The mining of platinum ores is alike gold mining. The platinum orebody is a thin, tabular reef covering a vast area. This enables a progressive method of mining which includes the drilling of the reef and blasting it to advance the face. It combines the increased use of industralization and trackless-mining methods in steps. Platinum mining, however, differs from gold mining in different ways. Platinum reefs are igneous rocks. They were invaded into the upheld area as molten volcanic magma rising from below the earth's crust, later cooling and solidifying. This phenomenon created a layer control environment differing from that of gold mines.
Production of benitoite has recently stopped, as the mine in which the crystals were found has been exhausted. It is therefore becoming even more difficult to find. We will definitely not be able to find this crystal at our local jewelry store. Cut stones of benitoite up to 0.25 ct (carat) are available, but stones over one carat are extremely rare. In fact, the largest crystal ever found was only nine carats. Benitoite has been confirmed from several locations around the world, but gem quality crystals have only been found at the historic Dallas claim (popularly known as the "Benitoite Gem mine") and the nearby Junnila claim, both located in the New Idria district, San Benito County, California. In 1985, the State of California officially named benitoite the State Gemstone.
The Benitoite Gem mine is located on a small mining claim (the Dallas claim) in San Benito County, California, about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Access to the mine is via either a roughly sealed trail that is privately controlled or by two alternate dirt roads that approach from the west and north of the gem mine. General approach to the local roads is either from the northwest from Coalinga, southeast from Paicines, or northeast from King City. This area of the coastal range is sparsely populated and there are no facilities within miles of the Benitoite Gem mine. The Benitoite Gem mine is located on 16.2 hectares of private patented mining property. Four other benitoite prospects in the district are claimed as follows: (1) The Junnila claim; (2) The Mina Numero Uno claim; (3) The Victor claim; and (4) The Santa Rita Peak property. All of these mineral prospects are closed to the public. However, only the Benitoite Gem Mine has produced gem quality benitoite in commercial quantities. The Junnila mine located about 7-8 km to the northwest of the Benitoite Gem mine has also produced some gem benitoite but it is a very small and insignificant amount. Three other known deposits containing benitoite are located near the Benitoite Gem Mine. They are: the Numero Uno Mine, the Victor Claim and Santa Rita Peak Property. Benitoite from these three locations, all within a 10 km radius of the Benitoite Gem mine is generally very poor in quality but the classic triangular shaped crystals are found at each locality. Verified occurrences of benitoite have documented from the following localities: in Japan, in serpentinite along the Kinzan-dani River; at Broken Hill in New South Wales, Australia. It is highly probable that benitoite occurs elsewhere in the world and it is only a matter of time until new occurrences for the mineral are found. It is also likely that additional localities for benitoite exist in the local area of the Benitoite Gem mine.
Benitoite is used for some different purposes. However, its rarity limits these uses :
? This beautiful mineral is used as a gemstone for making jewelry.
? Another important use of Benitoite is as a mineral specimen. The unique crystals of this mineral are highly valuable as collectable specimens.
? It is also used as a minor barium and titanium ore.
TOP BENITOITE MINING PRODUCING COUNTRIES :
Benitoite is a rare gemstone that is only found in one place in the world: San Benito County in California. The only commercial benitoite mine in the world is the Benitoite Gem Mine in San Benito County, which is owned and operated by the Dallas Gem Mine.
Since its discovery in 1907, benitoite has been mined in San Benito County for many decades. The peak of production was in the 1960s and 1970s, when the mine was producing hundreds of carats of benitoite each year. The mine has since been closed, but small-scale operations still occur in the area.
Today, the United States is the world's only benitoite mining and producing country. Although benitoite can be found in other parts of the world, it is not mined commercially anywhere else.
ANNUAL BENITOITE MINING USAGE :
Benitoite is a rare gemstone that is only found in San Benito County, California. It is mined from the Blue Cloud Benitoite Mine, which is located in the New Idria District. Benitoite has a deep blue color and is often used to make jewelry and other decorative items. It is also used to make sculptures and other artwork. The gemstone is so rare that it is classified as a restricted material, meaning that it cannot be exported from the United States.
The process of mining benitoite involves digging pits and tunnels to reach the gemstone-bearing material. The material is then carefully sorted and the gemstones are separated out. The sorting process is done by hand by experienced gem cutters. Once the gemstones have been sorted, they are then cut and polished to enhance their beauty. The gemstones are then set into jewelry pieces or other decorative items.
Benitoite is an expensive gem due to its rarity, so it is typically used in high-end jewelry and decorative items. It is also used in scientific research as it has unique properties that make it ideal for various types of studies.
