For anyone who simply has to know whether Canada's Diavik diamond mines are within driving distance or how far away the Marange diamond fields are, a new free iPhone application allows users to orient themselves in regard to gemstone resources anywhere in the world.

By using GemExplorer's interactive compass, a person in Basel, Switzerland can learn that the Mogok source of rubies is located 8072 kilometers to the east, while Bahrain's oyster beds are 4416 kilometers to the southeast. GemExplorer will also inform the user which six gemstone-producing areas are closest to his or her current location.

GemExplorer, developed in conjunction with The Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF), the application also features an interactive compass and a database searchable by gemstone category.

SSEF Director Dr. Michael S. Krzmnicki said that the organization had developed the iPhone app for "those with an interest in gemstones and their sources."