Editor’s Note
This article highlights the growing prominence of Montana’s Rock Creek sapphires in the global market, driven by Potentate Mining’s successful operations and client development over the past decade.
Sapphire, both rough and faceted, from the Rock Creek deposit in Montana has become one of the pillar gems of American origin in the global colored gemstone market. Over the past 10 years, Potentate Mining, the company operating the mine and marketing Rock Creek sapphire, has successfully developed a solid clientele base in North America. The rough sapphire business has been robust, including successful sales at this year’s AGTA show.
The company’s mission is to bring Montana sapphire to a wider retail market in the United States. To accomplish this goal, steady sizable production of rough sapphire and a more diverse global clientele are prerequisites.
Potentate Mining has secured both the Eureka Gulch and the Rock Creek mining properties over the past 10 years in the Gem Mountain District near the historic town of Philipsburg, Montana. This includes the old alluvial workings and the surrounding hilltops, the largest privately held sapphire mining claim since the late 1800s. The newest development at the mine occurs in the “meadow” area that has not been worked on for decades. To increase processing capacity, a new washing plant was recently added to the site. The new plant features 10 jigs and a water recycling system. Six of the jigs work on sapphires of a normal size range, two process oversized sapphires, and the last two manage tiny sapphires and a limited amount of fine gold. The new mining area produces sapphire rough ranging from 2.5 to 12 mm, and the production looks similar to that of older mining areas on the hilltops. With this new area in operation, the production of rough sapphire has increased.
In an effort to expand the Montana sapphire market globally, Potentate Mining, in collaboration with the Bonas Group, a reputable diamond and gemstone tender company, hosted an inaugural Montana sapphire tender in December 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. As the global hub of colored gemstone trading, Bangkok attracts buyers from all around the world and is a crucial location for Montana sapphire trading. The tender offered nearly 80 kg of Montana sapphire rough.
This inaugural tender provided a good learning opportunity for both buyers and hosts. Most buyers were not very familiar with Montana sapphire; it will take them time to learn about the potential of these stones and their reaction to heat treatment. The seller will also need time to learn the preferences of these new buyers to provide proper goods.
The success of the inaugural tender moved Potentate Mining one step closer to bringing Montana sapphire to more consumers and becoming a key supplier of sapphire in the global marketplace. More tenders have been planned for the next few years. The increased sapphire production from this deposit will be able to supply both the North American market and the newly developed global clientele base.