At Press Time

AZCO Mining Inc., Vancouver, B.C., Canada, acquired a $2,000 option to conduct a feasibility study and mine material from the only known benitoite deposit - located in San Benito County, CA - until February 1999. "On or before that date, AZCO may purchase the mine for $1.5 million," says Jim Paterson, a company spokesperson. Gems collected during the evaluation period may offset the purchase price of the mine.

William Rohtert, a geologist and gemologist formerly with Kennecott Exploration Co., is in charge of the mine and marketing the gemstone.

Benitoite is featured in the fall 1997 issue of Gems & Gemology, the Gemological Institute of America's quarterly journal. The article covers the history, occurrence and gemological properties of this bright blue gem.

- by Robert Weldon, G.G.

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