WORLD'S LARGEST IOLITE DEPOSITS & GEMSTONES DISCOVERED

During exploration for colored gemstone deposits, several significant discoveries including three iolite (gem-quality cordierite) deposits in Wyoming. Iolite is a beautiful and rare gemstone mined almost exclusively in Sri Lanka, and there is NO STEADY supply for this gemstone. The deposits I found are large enough that one could easily control the world supply for years to come! Iolite gems sell for $20 to $350/carat.

It is difficult to find iolite gems in most jewelry stores because of a lack of steady supply and large stones > 1 or 2 carats. But imagine, that one can get iolite gemstones faceted for <$US1.00/carat. Quite a profit!

I found 3 deposits (and evidence for more) including the largest iolite gemstones ever found! During reconnaisance, I first recovered the largest iolite gemstone on earth - a 1,750 carat flawless gemstone, then this was eclipsed by a 24,250 carat gemstone. This was then dwarfed by a gemstone (still out in the hills at an undisclosed location) that is massive and very large. This was followed by a possible discovery of another deposit that could contain more than 2.4 trillion carats of iolite!

Iolite gemstones with some rubies and sapphires

from the Palmer Canyon deposit, Wyoming

A 1,750-carat iolite gemstone found at Palmer Canyon.

The world's largest iolite in captivity - 24,280 carats!! This gemstone is worth a

fortune and currently on display at the Wyoming Geological Survey.

The WORLD'S LARGEST IOLITE. The gemstone forms much of the rock outcrop seen directly behind the geologist.

The massive stone sits vertically; one contact is directly above his head and countinues

upwards for another 6 feet. The other contact lies above the backpack.

AFTER breaking off some of the weather surface of this mammoth gemstone, one can see the very high quality of this material.