Latest Research

Discovery of the sapphire source rock at Rock Creek, Montana!

Belley & Broders (2025) A significant gem corundum deposit in rhyolitic ignimbrite: the enigmatic Rock Creek sapphire deposit, Montana, USA. Mineralium Deposita. Link to Article

< Image: Heavy minerals separated from rhyolite tuff.


Amethyst genesis and inclusions, La Manche, NF, Canada

Maloney, Belley & Conliffe (2024) Amethyst from Newfoundland, Canada: Geology, internal features, and fluid inclusion microthermometry. Gems & Gemology 60(3), 348-367. Link to Article

Cobalt-blue spinel from Canada + spinel chemical discrimination

Belley, Schollenbruch, Groat & Wilson (2024) Cobalt-blue spinel from Baffin Island, Canada: Comparison to other Mg-Al spinels and a chemical discrimination approach for the colouration of spinel. Journal of Gemmology 39(3), 168-188. Link to Issue

Cr-Ni-bearing corundum in Ni-sulfide ore

Belley, Onodenalore & Bleeker (2024) Corundum in sulfide ore at the Thompson Mine, Manitoba, Canada: An unusual occurrence of Cr- and Ni-bearing corundum. Canadian Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology, Vol. 62, 479-488. Link to Article


Microperthitic star orthoclase from Canada

Belley & Lake (2023) Microperthitic star orthoclase from Quebec, Canada. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 38, issue 8 - Link to issue

Gem cordierite from Thor-Odin dome, BC, Canada

Belley (2023) Gem-quality cordierite (iolite) from the Thor-Odin dome, British Columbia, Canada: Geology, chemical composition, inclusions, and cause of chatoyancy. Gems & Gemology - Link to Article

End-member oxy-dravite from Beluga sapphire deposit

Skřápková, Cempírek, Belley, Groat & Škoda (2023) Physical properties and structure of near end-member oxy-dravite from the Beluga occurrence (Nunavut territory, Canada). Mineralogical Magazine - Link to Article

Corundum characterization in gem placers & other sediments

Belley (2023) A method for detrital corundum characterization in sediments: Case study of the Gem Mountain Mine placer sapphire deposit (Rock Creek, Montana, USA). The Canadian Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology 61, 61-85. - Link to Article

Corundum genesis at the Blue Jay occurrence, BC, Canada

Abdale, Belley, Groat, Cempirek, Skoda & Wall (2023) Corundum genesis at the Blue Jay Sapphire occurrence (British Columbia, Canada) as a record of metamorphism and partial melting in the Monashee Complex. Lithos - Link to Article

New variety of purple gem spinel

Belley & Palke (2021) Purple gem spinel from Vietnam and Afghanistan: Comparison of trace element chemistry, cause of color, and inclusions. Gems & Gemology 57, 228-238. - Link to Article

UAV exploration for peridot

Belley, Shang & Lake (2020) Gem exploration using a camera drone and geospatial analysis: A case study of peridot exploration in British Columbia, Canada. Journal of Gemmology - Link to Article

Gem genesis in metacarbonates (Nunavut)

Belley & Groat (2020) Metamorphosed carbonate platforms and controls on the genesis of sapphire, gem spinel, and lapis lazuli: Insight from the Lake Harbour Group, Nunavut, Canada and implications for gem exploration. Ore Geology Reviews - Link to Article

Gem spinel genesis (Nunavut)

Belley & Groat (2019) Metacarbonate-hosted spinel on Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada: Insights into the origin of gem spinel deposits and cobalt-blue spinel. Canadian Mineralogist - Link to Article

New sapphire deposit model (Nunavut)

Belley, Dzikowski, Fagan, Cempirek, Groat, Mortensen, Fayek, Giuliani, Fallick & Gertzbein (2017) Origin of scapolite-hosted sapphire (corundum) near Kimmirut, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada. Canadian Mineralogist -  Link to Article