Carmeltazite the World's Newest Gemstone

Carmeltazite, the newest gemstone discovered in Israel. Also known as Carmel Sapphire.   The world's newest gemstone, Carmeltazite, was found in Israel near Mount Carmel. The mining company Shefa Yamim found the new mineral in their corundum mines. Not surprisingly, they named it after the location it was found - Mount Carmel - and three distinctive minerals that comprise it - Tanzanite, Aluminum, and Zirconium.  

The Great Discovery

While the International Mineralogical Association registers new minerals every year, Carmeltazite caused a sensation. To date, the mine in the Haifa District of Israel remains the only source of the new gemstone. Its rarity and potential as a gemstone prove exciting news for the mining company and the jewelry industry. The gemstone forms within veins of corundum (sapphire). Experts believe Carmeltazite and its host sapphire formed deep beneath the earth, near the crust-mantle boundary. At a depth of nearly 18 miles, extreme heat and pressure forced fluids out of the molten corundum. From these free-agent fluids, a new mineral formed. Together, Carmeltazite and sapphire erupted into the earth's crust through the many volcanic vents in the region. Eons later, Shefa Yamim discovered the metallic black-green veins running through the larger blue sapphire vein. The mining company recognized an important opportunity and sent the specimens for analysis. After that, the Mineralogical Association approved its registry as a new mineral.  

Carmeltazite Characteritics

The Mineralogical Association classified the new stone as a complex zirconium-aluminum-titanium-oxide. It also contains trace amounts of scandium, calcium, and magnesium. While it shares a similar chemical composition to rubies and sapphires (corundum), Carmeltazite possesses properties uniquely its own. In the rough, it ranges from black, to blue-green, to orange-brown. In light of the similarities it shares with its blue sapphire host, Shefa Yamim patented the new gemstone with the name Carmel Sapphire. From the beginning, they hoped to market it for jewelry. On February 26th, the mining company announced a collaboration with jewelry designer Yossi Harari.  

The Heaven On Earth Collection

In addition to Carmeltazite, Shefa Yamim has discovered 30 more unique gemstones in their mines. Yossi Harari worked closely with leaders of the mining company to design a suite of jewels using these exciting new gemstones. Harari designed 31 jewels using the new gemstone minerals. Of course, Carmeltazite, as their Carmel Sapphire, features prominently in the suite of jewels. He designed and handcrafted each jewel in the Heaven on Earth Collection in 24K 'Gilver'. An alloy combining 24K gold with oxidized silver, Gilver provides a gorgeous setting for the exceptional jewelry. Conceived with the historicity of the Hebrew Promised Land, the jewels resonate with a Mediterranean aura. Following ancient goldsmithing techniques, Harari fashioned each piece by hand in his Istanbul atelier. He drew inspiration from the sacred sites of Israel, as well as from archeological Mediterranean jewelry of old. Working without the use of casts or molds, Harari ensures the uniqueness of each jewel. Every piece in the collection merges the modern with the ancient. Two of the rarest and newest gemstones on earth, Carmel Sapphire (Carmeltazite) and Moissanite, establish the collection as truly Heaven on Earth.   ~ Angela Magnotti Andrews