The Copper Connection: Identifying Oregon Sunstone

We will explore the role of copper in Oregon sunstone and the processes responsible for its distinctive colour zoning and schiller. We will cover the geology of the deposit and Oregon sunstone mining, before discussing copper diffusion treated andesine and the key features used to distinguish treated material from natural sunstone. Finally, we will compare examples of copper-bearing sunstone from Ethiopia with material from Oregon.

Speaker: Rosie Young, BSc, FGA EG

Rosie is a graduate student at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, where she is pursuing an MSc in Geology. Her research currently focuses on the formation of sapphire deposits.

Rosie previously worked as a gemmologist for GCS Lab in London, certifying diamonds and coloured gemstones. In 2023, she completed a summer research internship at the GIA in California, where she undertook independent research projects on sunstones. Her work included producing a series of photomicrographs of sunstone inclusions, some of which have since been published in Gems & Gemology.

Rosie began her gemmological training with a BSc in Gemmology from Birmingham City University, where her final research project focused on sunstones containing hematite inclusions. She graduated with the highest overall degree grade and was awarded the SGA Prize. She has since earned her FGA, DGA, and FEEG qualifications and received the Anderson Bank Prize for achieving the highest score on the FGA theory papers. She is also completing a degree in Planetary Science at Birkbeck, University of London.

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