Inaccurate Production Figures

The official records show $1,340,000 production from the sapphire fields up to 1960, but this figure is incorrect, as many stones had been taken from the field and not officially recorded. Many miners, while on prospecting assistance, would not reveal their true production for fear of losing the 'grant', as the prospecting assistance was known locally.

The field received much assistance from the government and, although sapphire production does not appear to have justified the cost of this assistance, it is possible the field has justified this help by its contribution to employment.

For the year 1969, the value of production was officially given as $1,000,000 and there is evidence to indicate the actual production could have been double this figure. The main question now is whether the future value of this field lies in the commercial mining of sapphires or as a tourist attraction. Unrestricted commercial mining of sapphires would no doubt quickly lead to the complete working out of shallow ground and rob it of its tourist interest. On the other hand, there are large areas of deep ground which have little attraction to tourists but could be exploited commercially.