The following collection are stones from more than 10 years of work.  The library of stones are available for sale to help understand Kashmir sapphire inclusions.  The assortment includes J&K Auction rough and and certified faceted stones.
Link to stones or click on photographs:
Classic Kashmir Diagnostic Inclusion Photographs Contemporary Kashmir Sapphire Inclusion Photographs
Rough Kashmir sapphire is recognized by its mode of occurrence.  Most crystals have a white clay on their surface. The crystals found alluvial or crystals broken from the vein may lack this clay.  This kaolin (clay) is usually distinctive in seperating Kashmir from all other localities such as Burma or Cambodia, although a similar clay has recently been seen in stones from Madagascar and older material from Sri Lanka.  The clay can be on the outside or in matrix as a diagnostic inclusion. Our heat treated samples show a significant change in clay texture and or color which easily identifies thermal enhancement.

A large quantity of crystals have corroded surfaces leaving uneven sections of blue color. You can see the corrosion in the pyramid below Figure 1. We've seen crystals over 1000cts in size that will cut small gem size stones because of surface pitting. Figure 5 below is an unusual sample without corrosion. It is just over 330 carats. A friend our ours documented a crystal more than 1250 carats cut into a handful of top stones. One 10ct stone was sold to Cartier immediately.

Original accounts suggest the 19th century stones were more evenly colored, less corroded and larger. Some people suggest and old stream may have washed through the deposit removing the smaller broken fragments. The geology we have seen in person suggests otherwise. . Interestingly, larger top quality stones are more available than stones below 3cts in size.

The material dug in the past 30 years is indistinguishable from the older material. However, the majority of recent material cuts a small percentage of top quality stones. The recent J&K Auctions produced very little "gem" material. The governments operation is very simple today and very little money invested. I hope they will privatize the operation in the future and or hire outside consultants.

I micro-photographed some of the "Classic" and more "Contemporary" inclusions. You can view the photographs at the following links: : Diagnostic Inclusions in Kashmir Sapphire (Photographs) Contemporary or Classic
     
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(Figure 3)
(Figure 4)
(Figure 5)

Figure 2 above shows the range of color found in the series of deposits. The purplish pink stone is extremely rare. Few pink or purplish pink stones are found. They come from the back-slope diggings. The reddish orange stone was an exciting discovery until further examination. This stones color is a result of iron-oxide staining.

Figure 3 is a collection of other minerals found on the mountain. Black tourmaline and red garnet are found co-existing with the sapphire in feldspar. Kyanite and aquamarine are found nearby. We have a 16" doubly terminated 99% transparent crystal of aquamarine. Rubellite and indicolite is mentioned in original accounts, but we have not been able to confirm it's existence.

Figure 4 shows pink and green tourmaline. These stones are found in the Zanskar range. My team and I have spent 10 years scouting the Zanskar mountain via motorcycle or back-pack. We plotted aquamarine deposits, tourmaline deposits, evidence of ruby, plenty of kyanite, a lot of garnet, and quartz.

The political situation in Kashmir is sometimes extremely difficult. So, few people explore and fewer try to dig.

It is January 1, 2009 and the new government was elected. The National Conference party took power under the leadership of Omar Abullah, the son of the former Chief Minister Farooq Abudullah.

We hope the new government will take advantage of the states proven mineral wealth and begin to allow mineral and mining rights of known locations to legal companies such as ours may invest.

Please Visit Our Photo Library of Diagnostic Inclusions