What are sapphire and rubies composed of?

What are sapphire and rubies composed of?

corundum
Properties. Ruby and sapphires are both made of corundum (aluminium oxide – Al2O3). Corundum is one of the hardest known natural substance after diamond. In addition, because corundum is so hard and resistant to weathering, it can also be found in sedimentary deposits and sedimentary rocks.

Where do rubies and sapphires come from?

Rubies have historically been mined in Thailand, the Pailin and Samlout District of Cambodia, Burma, India, Afghanistan, Australia, Namibia, Colombia, Japan, Scotland, Brazil and in Pakistan. In Sri Lanka, lighter shades of rubies (often “pink sapphires”) are more commonly found.

What causes rubies to form?

Rubies are made from the mineral corundum or aluminum oxide. When rubies are treated to extreme heat and pressure, they are formed under the earth’s surface. Corundum is made of densely packed oxygen and aluminum atoms. This is how the ruby is formed and gets its deep red hue.

How are sapphire formed?

Corundum is found in igneous rocks. When those are cooling slowly, large crystals of minerals can form from those that are present within the magma. The purest sapphires are formed during the transformation of igneous rocks. The more slowly the magma cools, the larger the sapphires will be.

Where do Burmese rubies come from?

Burmese rubies come from Burma, a Southeast Asian country. Although Burma is now known as Myanmar, the industry still refers to these rubies as Burmese. Most Burmese rubies come from the districts surrounding Mogok and Mong Hsu, regions in the north and north-east of Burma respectively.

Where do the best rubies in the world come from?

Burma
The source of the world’s finest rubies is Burma, or present-day Myanmar, and for more than 800 years the Mogok Stone Tract mine has produced the most beautiful examples, thanks to the unique geological conditions.

What element is ruby made of?

Rubies are scientifically known as corundum, a rock-forming mineral and crystalline form of aluminium oxide which is two aluminium atoms and three oxygen atoms (Al2O3) in a close packed hexagonal structure. Corundum typically contains traces of iron, titanium, vanadium and/or chromium.

What element makes ruby red?

Chromium
Chromium is the trace element that causes ruby’s red, which ranges from an orangy red to a purplish red. The strength of ruby’s red depends on how much chromium is present—the more chromium, the stronger the red color. Chromium can also cause fluorescence, which adds to the intensity of the red color.

What is the rarest color of sapphire?

pink
The rarest sapphire is the Padparadscha, an extremely rare pink and orange stone that is stunning to behold. However, the most valuable sapphires are the Kashmir variants, which are blue.

Where do the best rubies come from?