Blue Jewel Mine

Bruce had his father and his grandfather run dredges long ago in the are where he is mining.

Bruce shared he worked in Virginia City panning for gold but longed to pan for sapphires and took the leep with the purchase of his sapphire mine.

     The Blue Jewel Mine would be a viable site for Governor Steve Bullock to bring his family and entourage to have their first engagement in sapphire mining because it has so many perfect elements for the Montana treasure seeker. He might just get invited because it has so many good things to offer such as:

• Bruce, the owner guides you every step of the way.
• Digging is easier done than in any other site because the larger rocks are taken out of the gravel bank and it is not virgin ground.
• The dig site is close by, you fill your buckets quickly
• When you shake your gravel you save you’re medium sized rocks in one bucket for washing and then you save your smaller gravel.
• Bruce takes your buckets and runs them through his homemade jig getting the concentrate ready to throw out on the table. Other sites don’t do this; there is a special charge for washing your gravel and he does not. Washing is included in your bucket purchase.
• You’re overall investment in bucket purchases and its services are much less than other sites.
• The local deer visit you while you are working.
• Bruce gives you a tour of his expanded facility where he does his sapphire mining with his brother.
• Bruce tells you many valuable stories while you are working with him.
• Bruce makes sure you are happy with your visit; if you come up empty handed he finds ways to help you go home with some gemstones.
• Bruce’s prices are not static; he negotiates with you which is nice.

Washing two types of gravel was an interesting step never seen before. Bruce's homemade jig and classifiers were the perfect size and height.

Anne Cummins took to digging in the dirt for sapphires like a fish to water. Fun day with Anne!