It was not until 2014 when deposits
suitable for jewelry production were discovered. Surprisingly, traders discovered that
the resources on the Mabila plateau, in the country's east, produce sapphires of high
grade. They are often a very deep blue and beautifully pure, similar to their Thai
cousins. Their blue, on the other hand, is more defined and does not blend into the ink
blue.
When this is the case, they trade at prices comparable to those of
Ceylon or Madagascar sapphires. Due to the fact that these reserves have only recently
been exploited, it is impossible to forecast future production. However, it is
anticipated that more stones from Nigeria will enter the market in the coming years.