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Madagascar: Ilakaka Sapphire Mines

Madagascar's 'sapphire rush' boomtown of Ilakaka is located on the Ilakaka River, aproximatly 60km north-east of Sakaraha, on the highway from the port city of Toliara (Tulear) on south-west coast.

The Ilakaka sapphire field, also known as the "Swiss Bank" deposits, is one of the most productive sapphire mining regions in Madagascar, and the landscape surrounding Ilakaka is covered with thousands of excavated pits (photo below).

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