A type of chalcedony discovered by chance in the islands of Indonesia, this gem is distinctive for its gleaming copper flecks.
In April 2022, a group of local miners discovered a new variety of chalcedony rich in copper minerals in Indonesia’s Maluka islands. The workers uncovered the gemstone accidentally when a bulldozer that was clearing a road hit a rock. The rock split open, revealing the coppery blue-green treasure now known as Aquadité.
Not long after the discovery, gemologist and explorer Yianni Melas came across the arresting image of the gem on a dealer’s Instagram account. He was captivated by its beauty and market potential. They chatted at length, and Melas asked for more samples so he could submit them to several gem labs. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) confirmed it was a new variety, consistent with chalcedony and incorporating well-formed crystals of native copper, red cuprite, blue chrysocolla, and green malachite. One of the most distinctive features of this material is the abundance of dazzling copper flecks that float throughout the chalcedony matrix, giving it its beguiling appearance.
Learn more about this topic by Isabella Yan, as seen in Rapaport Jewelry Connoisseur on JewelryConnoisseur.net.
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