(Fitandrahana safira tany Andranondambo, Kaominina Maromby, Distrikan'i Amboasary, Faritra Anosy, Faritanin'i Toliary, Madagasikara)
Gem sapphires was rediscovered in 1991 close to the small village of Andranondambo. Earlier workings for phlogopite and thorianite already existed close to the village. The discovery caused a huge safire fever, and the village housed at times (1993-1997) nearly 100.000 people. The Andranondambo sapphire deposits covers an area about 3 km long and 0,5 to 1 km broad. Local miners has by mechanical and human power digged out a large number of small holes. They are often visible as 2-3m narrow sinkholes into the ground with underground shafts, some as long as 20-30 m.
Most of the claims and diggings are now more or less abandoned (2009)
The sapphires are found in high-grade granulites in metamorphic rocks belonging to the Proterozoic Tranomaro group. They are formed in Th-U skarns belonging to the Pan-African granulitic formations
References:
- Schwartz, D. and Petsch, E. (1996): Sapphires from the Andranomdambo region, Madagascar. Gems and Gemology 32 (2): 80-99
- de Grave, J., de Paepe, P., de Grave, E. , Vochten, R. and Eeckhout, S.G.: (2002): Mineralogical and Mössbauer spectroscopic study of a diopside occurring in the marbles of Andranondambo, southern Madagascar. American Mineralogist 87: 132-141
- Giuliani, G., Fallick, A., Rakotondrazafy, M., Ohnenstetter, D., Andriamamonjy, A., Ralantoarison, T., Rakotosamizanany, S., Razanatseheno, M., Offant, Y., Garnier, V., Dunaigre, C., Schwarz, D., Mercier, A., Ratrimo, V., and Ralison, B. (2007): Oxygen isotope systematics of gem corundum deposits in Madagascar: relevance for their geological origin. Mineralium Deposita 42, 251-270
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Map Reference: 24°25'S , 46°35'E
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Mineral List:22 entries listed. 16 valid minerals.
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