Magical Montana: My Visit to a Sapphire Mine with Parle Gems

When it comes to sapphires, few places in the world can match the allure of Montana. This August, I had the incredible opportunity to visit the Potentate Sapphire mine in Montana as a guest of my partners, Parle Gems—a trip that left me not only mesmerized by the beauty of these gemstones in a picturesque part of Montana, but also with a profound appreciation for the intricate process of mining and sourcing these natural wonders.

Day 1: Pre-Mine Activities & Exploring Philipsburg

Parle Gems welcomed us to Philipsburg in grand style, starting with a delightful welcome dinner and personalized goodie bags that made us feel truly special. The next day was all about adventure, offering a choice between fly fishing, horseback riding, or a Ghost Town tour with shopping. I opted for horseback riding, and it turned out to be an unforgettable experience.

I met my horse, Casino, and together with a small group, we set off to explore the stunning Montana landscape. The views were breathtaking, and the weather was absolutely perfect. Riding through the rugged terrain with the sun shining overhead was nothing short of magical.

After our morning adventure, we gathered for lunch where we met Warren from the Potentate mine. He provided an insightful introduction to the mine’s operations and gave us a sneak peek of what to expect during our visit the following day.

We wrapped up the day at Montana Gems, sifting through bags of material from local mines. This hands-on activity allowed us to simulate the mining process by hand—talk about getting your hands dirty! It was a messy endeavor, but incredibly rewarding. After a few hours of searching, I ended up with a little stash of sapphires. Here’s a glimpse of my loot from just an afternoon of treasure hunting!

Day 2: The Journey to the Potentate Sapphire Mine, the Largest Sapphire Mine in the World. 

Nestled in the rugged wilderness of the Rock Creek district, the Potentate Sapphire mine is a gem of its own. The journey there was an adventure, winding through breathtaking landscapes that felt like stepping back in time. So much so, that we saw the original living quarters of the mining from the 1920’s. As we approached the mine, the excitement in our group was palpable.

Rock Creek, near Philipsburg, is one of the most abundant sources of Montana Sapphires. It’s a treasure trove for gem enthusiast. Potentate Mining is a privately owned corporation currently mining Montana sapphires and gold from the Gem Mountain district near Philipsburg, MT. In 2011, Potentate secured the Eureka Gulch Sapphire and Gold mine on the north side of Gem Mountain and began mining gold and Montana sapphires. By 2014, they had secured approximately 3,000 acres of sapphire-bearing ground in the famous Rock Creek sapphire mining district on the south side of Gem Mountain. The Potentate mine is one of the few places in the world where you can find natural sapphires in a stunning array of colors, from the classic deep blue to vibrant greens and yellows.

We were initially greeted with the cutest Mine Dog, Mick, excited to see our group of 15 of us all while being stunned by the noise of the loud machines shooting out rocks left and right. We got a tour of where the processing takes place and the large machinery that processes 150 cubic yards of gem gravels per hour. A fact that amazed me was learning that miners only need to dig about 30ft maximum to bedrock to reach sapphires. The sapphire rich gravels are dropped into a hopper and initially washed for clays and oversize rocks through the 40-foot long Trommel.

The gem rich slurry is fed into a series of 8 density separation jigs that use flowing water and pulsation to separate out the heavy minerals including sapphires. The wastewater & gravel proceed to the screening tables, then to the hydro-cyclones that remove the water from the waste. The final stage for the processing through the centrifugal concentrator which for the finer sands and gravels that assist in the recovery of the very small sapphires & the fine gold component. All wastewater is then pumped into the huge 60-foot-long Water Clarifier which, with the help of benign flocculants, remove the suspended clay from the water. Clean water from the clarifier is then pumped into the water holding tanks which returns the clean water back to the beginning of the gravel processing circuit. At the end of every 8-hour shift, with the jigs and water shut off, the sapphires and heavy mineral concentrates are scooped into buckets, the balance are sucked up into an industrial vacuum and trucked to the sorting facility, where we headed to next!

Ethical Mining Practices

One of the highlights of the visit was learning about the ethical practices employed at the Potentate mine. The mine operates with strict regulations to protect the local ecosystem and supports the surrounding community through fair labor practices. The mine recycles 80-100% of the water that they use which is held in large retention ponds so that the “dirty” water doesn’t go back into the nearby creeks and disturb the natural habitat. They also replant the area once the mining is complete. They want to maintain the beauty and original state of the land.

At the sorting facility, we spent considerable time sifting through the gravel to uncover these natural beauties. What we found were small sapphires, approximately 3.5mm-5mm in size. These rough stones were far from their polished counterparts, but it was fascinating to learn that this Montana rough typically yields only about 50% or less from the original rough stone, with an average of about 30-40% remaining after the cutting and polishing process. This means the majority of the stones are under 0.50 carats, making larger, faceted sapphires of 2 carats or more truly special finds. Months can go by before miners discover a rough stone large enough to cut a high-quality gem in a considerable size. Take a look at what we found from the previous day of mining!

A Rare Opportunity

During our visit, we had a rare chance to purchase unheated rough sapphires directly from the mine in small batches—a practice that’s nearly unheard of. Typically, such rough stones are sold only to partners in larger quantities, never directly to designers and retailers. I was thrilled to bring home about 8-10 pieces of various colors, each one unique and filled with potential. These stones will be a fantastic addition to my collection, and I can’t wait to transform share them with you and one day have them cut and turned into stunning jewelry. Next time you see me, ask to see them—I’d love to share these treasures with you! I also purchased various large and small loose gemstones to create special Mine to Market collection of Nicole Mera Montana Sapphire Jewels…. stay tuned for the launch of the collection!

A Memorable Experience

My visit to the Potentate Sapphire mine with Parle Gems was more than just a trip—it was a journey into the heart of the earth and a deeper understanding of what it takes to create the stunning pieces of jewelry that we cherish. It was a reminder that behind every gemstone is a story of nature’s artistry, human ingenuity, and ethical responsibility.

As I look at the sapphires in my collection now, I see them with new eyes—not just as beautiful stones, but as symbols of the earth’s wonders and the care that goes into creating jewelry that celebrates our special moments in life. Whether you’re a gemstone enthusiast or simply appreciate fine jewelry, I hope this experience will leave you with a newfound respect for the treasures from our very own backyard of Montana!

I can’t thank the Parle team enough for such an incredible experience, one that I will never forget. A huge shout out to Brecken, Jonathan, Stephanie, Kate, and Jenn! Thank you for such a top-notch trip with such a fabulous group of other creatives, jewelry lovers, and retailers!

Professional Photos: Spotted Stills