Carmeltazite chosen as Mineral of the Year 2018

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Shefa Gems Ltd.

("Shefa Gems" or the "Company")

Carmeltazite was chosen to be Mineral of the Year 2018

by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA)

Shefa Gems (LSE: SEFA), a company focused on advanced exploration and development of multi-gemstone projects in Northern Israel, is delighted to announce that the International Mineralogical Association ("IMA") Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification has chosen Shefa Gems' Carmeltazite as its Mineral of the Year for 2018 (https://www.shefagems.com/ima-mineral-of-the-year-2018).

Carmeltazite is a complex oxide (ZrAl2Ti4O11) which forms black inclusions in blue corundum crystals from Cretaceous pyroclastic rocks and associated alluvial deposits at Kishon Mid-Reach in northern Israel. Its name alludes to its discovery at Mt. Carmel and the three principal metals in its formula (Titanium, Aluminium and Zirconium). Carmeltazite was discovered as part of an academic collaboration involving distinguished geologists from Macquarie University, the University of Western Australia, the Università degli Studi in Italy and Shefa Gems.

Since the Carmeltazite description was published in Minerals (Griffin et al., 2018), Carmeltazite has gained significant publicity online as "the world's newest gemstone" (EraGem, 2019), and even as an "extraterrestrial mineral harder than diamonds" (Flatley, 2019). Although in fact it is perfectly terrestrial in origin, Carmeltazite contains Ti3+, which is rare in the geological environment, and has a peculiar crystal structure, which is reminiscent of the close-packed arrangement of spinel.

Vered Toledo, CEO of Shefa Gems, said: "I am excited, happy and thankful for the great honour we have received from the IMA and the recognition of our unique Carmeltazite. The association of Carmeltazite with other Ti3+ and carbide minerals, indicates very unusual geological conditions in our volcanic source rocks which presages new and exciting discoveries in the future. Carmeltazite is an integral part of our unique and rare gemstone Carmel SapphireTM." 

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About Shefa Gems Ltd

Shefa Gems Ltd (LSE: SEFA) is an explorer and developer of precious stones deposits operating in Northern Israel. Exploration activity is managed by professionally skilled and technically competent personnel and is accompanied by an international team of geological experts with decades of proven experience in their fields. It has two flagship projects, Mount Carmel and the Kishon Reach.

With its international geological consultant team, Shefa Gems has established a "Source to Sink" geological model and the presence of a Target Mineral Assemblage of gemstones ("TMA Suite") in both primary volcanic sources and in secondary alluvial deposits lying within the Kishon catchment, on Mount Carmel and in the Zevulun and Yizre'el valleys and their margins. The TMA suite comprises Precious Stones (Diamond, rare natural moissanite, sapphire, ruby, Carmel Sapphire™, garnet, hibonite, spinel, ilmenite) and heavy minerals including zircon and rutile.

All exploration activities are conducted under international standards and the internationally recognised SAMREC 2016 Code. Its three permits, granted to it by the Commissioner of Mines at the Ministry of Energy, Natural Resources Administration, Israel, extend over an area of approximately 488,366 Dunams (48,836 hectares) that includes the Kishon River, the volcanic bodies on Mount Carmel, the Zevulun and Yizre'el valleys and their margins. 

Alongside its exploration activities, the Company is building on the launch of the "Heaven on Earth" jewellery collection and developing the Company's "Mine to Market" strategy to promote unique jewellery collections utilising Shefa Gems' suite of precious gemstones.

The Company upholds environmental values and protects the nature in the areas where it operates, cooperating fully with all authorities.  

The exclusive "Heaven on Earth" collection is now available to view online on the website of the designer Yossi Harari at: https://www.yossiharari.com/collections/heaven-on-earth-1

For further information please visit the website at www.shefagems.com