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mom's new sapphire ring
14kt yellow and white gold with one oval sapphire and four round diamonds.
It is a sapphire, set in an heirloom ring of his grandmother's. Darren's uncle's friend stole the original stone for drugs a long time ago. I love a ring with a history!
my engagement ring
Faceted cushion antique cut 2.38 ct. Ceylon Sapphire. A nice deep stone with a deep sky blue color and extraordinary brilliance mounted in a hand-forged 18kt. yellow gold engagement ring with the signature Beattie figure eight twist.
Corundum Locality: Passara Gem Mine, Badulla, Badulla District, Uva Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 1.3 x 1.1 x 0.9 cm Sapphire A bizarre yellow sapphire with a weloganite-shaped body, illustrating either twinning of some kind or just a weird
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 3.0 x 1.5 x 1.1 cm. An unusual crystal in several respects, for both its strong, vivid yellow-orange color; and for its twisted form. This specimen weighs 53 carats and is a complete floater. Its surreal, curving form is graceful and bizarre. As well, I just have never seen such a color-saturated sapphire in this hue, as a natural crystal, before. It is a really stunning piece, in person.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 2.6 x 0.9 x 0.7 cm. Yellow sapphires are rare from the famous gem deposits of Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, but this specimen is particularly rare, because sapphire doublets are extremely rare from this famous locale. The gemmy and lustrous tapered crystals are pristine and have classic, very well-striated crystal faces. Weighs 13.82 carats.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) A gemmy and lustrous, doubly-terminated, transparent-translucent, yellow sapphire crystal from Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. Nice color and exceptional form! 2.9 x 1.1 x 1.0 cm
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 1.6 x 0.9 x 0.7 cm. A classic, doubly terminated, pastel-yellow sapphire from Sri Lanka. This gemmy and lustrous crystal is well-striated and the crystal faces are very lightly frosted. Textbook crystal form and highly representative from this locale. Complete-all-around and pristine. Weighs 7.49 carats.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) A very rare yellow sapphire of unusual size! It is extremely fine, and is transparent to translucent throughout. It is, notably, a complete-all-around crystal but here is the good thing beyond that - many of these larger alluvial sapphires show obvious signs of being rounded and worn but this one is relatively very SHARP with good crystal faces and just a few slight inconsequential dings. 6 x 2.7 x 1.5 cm
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 5.7 x 2.4 x 2.1 cm. Yellow sapphires are among the rarer colors in nature, and large specimens of yellow sapphires that are truly good are very rare. This is an outstanding, dramatic piece with good color that is complete all around. Usually, these sapphires are found in so-called gem gravels, deposits subject to much rolling and erosional forces. Thus, most crystals of this size (38 grams) would be expected to be far more heavily rolled, damaged, broken, and chipped. This is as close as you can ask to pristine and doubly-terminated, making it a rarity.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Passara Gem Mine, Badulla, Badulla District, Uva Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 1.3 x 1.1 x 0.9 cm. A bizarre yellow sapphire with a weloganite-shaped body, illustrating either twinning of some kind or just a weird
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Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: miniature, 5.5 x 3.5 x 3 cm SAPPHIRE/RUBY This specimen hosts a rather large, lustrous and translucent, color-zoned crystal, measuring 3.1 cm across and 2.4 cm in length. Minor contact on the left side of the crystal does not diminish the quality of the specimen, and is not immediately distracting from the front face anyhow. The other faces of this large centrally emplaced crystal are sharp and bright. There is a fair amount of gem material within, as well, though dispersed into small zones. The intense bicoloration of this specimen leans towards the purple, to sapphire, even though the crystal habit is that of the rubies from here (sharper and more pseudo-octohedral). Thus, this is a very dramatic speicmen, both for color and crystal size; as well as interesting for the form/color arrangement itself.
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: miniature, 5.5 x 3.5 x 3 cm SAPPHIRE/RUBY This specimen hosts a rather large, lustrous and translucent, color-zoned crystal, measuring 3.1 cm across and 2.4 cm in length. Minor contact on the left side of the crystal does not diminish the quality of the specimen, and is not immediately distracting from the front face anyhow. The other faces of this large centrally emplaced crystal are sharp and bright. There is a fair amount of gem material within, as well, though dispersed into small zones. The intense bicoloration of this specimen leans towards the purple, to sapphire, even though the crystal habit is that of the rubies from here (sharper and more pseudo-octohedral). Thus, this is a very dramatic speicmen, both for color and crystal size; as well as interesting for the form/color arrangement itself.
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: miniature, 5.5 x 3.5 x 3 cm SAPPHIRE/RUBY This specimen hosts a rather large, lustrous and translucent, color-zoned crystal, measuring 3.1 cm across and 2.4 cm in length. Minor contact on the left side of the crystal does not diminish the quality of the specimen, and is not immediately distracting from the front face anyhow. The other faces of this large centrally emplaced crystal are sharp and bright. There is a fair amount of gem material within, as well, though dispersed into small zones. The intense bicoloration of this specimen leans towards the purple, to sapphire, even though the crystal habit is that of the rubies from here (sharper and more pseudo-octohedral). Thus, this is a very dramatic speicmen, both for color and crystal size; as well as interesting for the form/color arrangement itself.
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: miniature, 5.5 x 3.5 x 3 cm SAPPHIRE/RUBY This specimen hosts a rather large, lustrous and translucent, color-zoned crystal, measuring 3.1 cm across and 2.4 cm in length. Minor contact on the left side of the crystal does not diminish the quality of the specimen, and is not immediately distracting from the front face anyhow. The other faces of this large centrally emplaced crystal are sharp and bright. There is a fair amount of gem material within, as well, though dispersed into small zones. The intense bicoloration of this specimen leans towards the purple, to sapphire, even though the crystal habit is that of the rubies from here (sharper and more pseudo-octohedral). Thus, this is a very dramatic speicmen, both for color and crystal size; as well as interesting for the form/color arrangement itself.
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 3.1 x 2.4 x 2.0 cm SAPPHIRE/RUBY This specimen is almost entirely a single large, lustrous and translucent, bicolored sapphire/ruby crystal, measuring 3.1 cm across and 2.4 cm in length. Massive, gemmy ruby serves as the matrix , of which a bit is attached to the backside. Minor contact is present on the back side where it was attached to more matrix, now removed. The termination, however, is startlingly complete and the crystal is otherwise complete on the front and both sides. This is one of the largest sharp, undamaged crystals I have seen and the zoning is particularly attractive due to the rich color contrasts. There is probably not a lot of gem value here (except for cabochons), but the sheer size of the crystal and the colorful beauty of the crystal as a specimen is certainly notable. 138 carats
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 3.1 x 2.4 x 2.0 cm SAPPHIRE/RUBY This specimen is almost entirely a single large, lustrous and translucent, bicolored sapphire/ruby crystal, measuring 3.1 cm across and 2.4 cm in length. Massive, gemmy ruby serves as the matrix , of which a bit is attached to the backside. Minor contact is present on the back side where it was attached to more matrix, now removed. The termination, however, is startlingly complete and the crystal is otherwise complete on the front and both sides. This is one of the largest sharp, undamaged crystals I have seen and the zoning is particularly attractive due to the rich color contrasts. There is probably not a lot of gem value here (except for cabochons), but the sheer size of the crystal and the colorful beauty of the crystal as a specimen is certainly notable. 138 carats
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 2.3 x 1.4 x 1.3 cm RUBY/SAPPHIRE This specimen literally hosts a
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 2.3 x 1.4 x 1.3 cm RUBY/SAPPHIRE This specimen literally hosts a
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 2.3 x 1.4 x 1.3 cm RUBY/SAPPHIRE This specimen literally hosts a
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 2.7 x 2.5 x 1.7 cm RUBY/SAPPHIRE A large, complex, doubly-terminated, crystal. It is lustrous and translucent, lavender to rose-red colored and has a sizable amount of translucent gem rough inside, I would say. The piece leans more to ruby but is obviously zoned and has regions of sapphire as well. 83 carats
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 2.7 x 2.5 x 1.7 cm RUBY/SAPPHIRE A large, complex, doubly-terminated, crystal. It is lustrous and translucent, lavender to rose-red colored and has a sizable amount of translucent gem rough inside, I would say. The piece leans more to ruby but is obviously zoned and has regions of sapphire as well. 83 carats
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 2.7 x 2.5 x 1.7 cm RUBY/SAPPHIRE A large, complex, doubly-terminated, crystal. It is lustrous and translucent, lavender to rose-red colored and has a sizable amount of translucent gem rough inside, I would say. The piece leans more to ruby but is obviously zoned and has regions of sapphire as well. 83 carats
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 2.7 x 2.5 x 1.7 cm RUBY/SAPPHIRE A large, complex, doubly-terminated, crystal. It is lustrous and translucent, lavender to rose-red colored and has a sizable amount of translucent gem rough inside, I would say. The piece leans more to ruby but is obviously zoned and has regions of sapphire as well. 83 carats
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 2.1 x 1.7 x 1.5 cm SAPPHIRE/RUBY This specimen features a SHARP doubly terminated, lustrous and gemmy, lavender and red, bicolored crystal atop, that is about 1 cm across. It is very gemmy and there is a significant amount of cutting material here! Minor contact on the back side is insignificant to the display face (a shot from behind is shown in bottom right photo). When backlit, this crystal shows particularly interesting zonation effects. 50 carats - a large and hefty full thumbnail size!
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 2.1 x 1.7 x 1.5 cm SAPPHIRE/RUBY This specimen features a SHARP doubly terminated, lustrous and gemmy, lavender and red, bicolored crystal atop, that is about 1 cm across. It is very gemmy and there is a significant amount of cutting material here! Minor contact on the back side is insignificant to the display face (a shot from behind is shown in bottom right photo). When backlit, this crystal shows particularly interesting zonation effects. 50 carats - a large and hefty full thumbnail size!
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 2.1 x 1.7 x 1.5 cm SAPPHIRE/RUBY This specimen features a SHARP doubly terminated, lustrous and gemmy, lavender and red, bicolored crystal atop, that is about 1 cm across. It is very gemmy and there is a significant amount of cutting material here! Minor contact on the back side is insignificant to the display face (a shot from behind is shown in bottom right photo). When backlit, this crystal shows particularly interesting zonation effects. 50 carats - a large and hefty full thumbnail size!
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 2.1 x 1.7 x 1.5 cm SAPPHIRE/RUBY This specimen features a SHARP doubly terminated, lustrous and gemmy, lavender and red, bicolored crystal atop, that is about 1 cm across. It is very gemmy and there is a significant amount of cutting material here! Minor contact on the back side is insignificant to the display face (a shot from behind is shown in bottom right photo). When backlit, this crystal shows particularly interesting zonation effects. 50 carats - a large and hefty full thumbnail size!
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: miniature, 3.4 x 2.1 x 2.1 cm RUBY/SAPPHIRE Perched aesthetically on matrix is a lustrous and gemmy, color-zoned sapphire and ruby crystal, measuring 1.5 cm in length. It is completely freestanding with a fully exposed termination, and is thus one of the best matrix crystals I have seen from the find as yet. Absolutely superb! Even the gemstone dealer I got it from understood the special value of a pristine, dramatic crystal on well trimmed matrix and protected it from harm. The crystal is complete all around. It is gemmy, transparent even with minimal backlighting. As with other specimens from this find, the color varies from more red to more purple depending on light spectrum but this leans mostly to Ruby. A SUPERB matrix ruby specimen!
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: miniature, 3.4 x 2.1 x 2.1 cm RUBY/SAPPHIRE Perched aesthetically on matrix is a lustrous and gemmy, color-zoned sapphire and ruby crystal, measuring 1.5 cm in length. It is completely freestanding with a fully exposed termination, and is thus one of the best matrix crystals I have seen from the find as yet. Absolutely superb! Even the gemstone dealer I got it from understood the special value of a pristine, dramatic crystal on well trimmed matrix and protected it from harm. The crystal is complete all around. It is gemmy, transparent even with minimal backlighting. As with other specimens from this find, the color varies from more red to more purple depending on light spectrum but this leans mostly to Ruby. A SUPERB matrix ruby specimen!
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: miniature, 3.4 x 2.1 x 2.1 cm RUBY/SAPPHIRE Perched aesthetically on matrix is a lustrous and gemmy, color-zoned sapphire and ruby crystal, measuring 1.5 cm in length. It is completely freestanding with a fully exposed termination, and is thus one of the best matrix crystals I have seen from the find as yet. Absolutely superb! Even the gemstone dealer I got it from understood the special value of a pristine, dramatic crystal on well trimmed matrix and protected it from harm. The crystal is complete all around. It is gemmy, transparent even with minimal backlighting. As with other specimens from this find, the color varies from more red to more purple depending on light spectrum but this leans mostly to Ruby. A SUPERB matrix ruby specimen!
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 2.0 x 1.3 x 1.2 cm SAPPHIRE/RUBY This lustrous and gemmy, lavender colored crystal is also doubly terminated. Two smnall spots of Minor damage or contact is present but do not materially affect the display of the specimen. The color is oddly zoned between part sapphire and part ruby; and in particular more purpley under fluorescent lights and more reddish in sunlight. There is a significant amount of medium-purple colored cutting rough inside this crystal. 33.3 carats
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 2.0 x 1.3 x 1.2 cm SAPPHIRE/RUBY This lustrous and gemmy, lavender colored crystal is also doubly terminated. Two smnall spots of Minor damage or contact is present but do not materially affect the display of the specimen. The color is oddly zoned between part sapphire and part ruby; and in particular more purpley under fluorescent lights and more reddish in sunlight. There is a significant amount of medium-purple colored cutting rough inside this crystal. 33.3 carats
Corundum Locality: Ganesh Himal deposit, Somdang, Rasuwa District, Bagmati Zone, Nepal (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 2.3 x 1.1 x 1.0 cm Gem Ruby with Sapphire core In 1984 Charlie , along with John Barlow , sponsored a collecting trip to Nepal for these. I have his note on the back of an old business card that states, in his opinion, this was the best crystal found. Note the winding core in the middle which is a sapphire core, something rarely seen and in need of some study to figure out why this is going on! There is probably some neat gem rough to be cut from this, with the ruby rind around a purple sapphire core. The specimen is completely WEIRD, in that it tapers from a narrow base to a wider termination which shows multiple trigonal faces. The termination has some damage on the back edge, but not in front. Note there IS one repair about the middle, so its not perfect by any means; but it IS a beautiful and very intense gem crystal that leaps out from a showcase, and the flaws are noted in that context. It is repaired at the midpoint but, you do not really mind so much in person, when the gemminess and intense color impact is taken into account (and otherwise this would be a 10k thumbnail anyhow). The color is not intense, it is almost metallic in
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) For both size and quality, this is one of the very best examples of the recently found bicolored Corundums from Madagascar. I exchanged it directly from Dr. Federico Pezzotta who collected it while doing research there. It features a 1.0 cmlong crystal perched smartly on matrix. These corundums are generally called sapphires on the market but to me, I cannot decide which to label them as. They go varying shades of red/purple and even to blue-purple depending on which lighting source you use to look at them. The effect is not subtle, either - its pretty obvious. 6.0 x 3.8 x 2.7cm
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 6.0 x 4.3 x 2.9 cm. This specimen features a 1.7 cm-long crystal perched smartly on matrix. These corundums are generally called sapphires on the market when blue and rubies when more red, though most show some zoning...but the mineralogists tell me all are
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 6.0 x 4.3 x 2.9 cm. This specimen features a 1.7 cm-long crystal perched smartly on matrix. These corundums are generally called sapphires on the market when blue and rubies when more red, though most show some zoning...but the mineralogists tell me all are
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 7.3 x 6.0 x 4.0 cm. This is one of the best examples of the recently found polychrome sapphire specimens from Madagascar, for both size and quality. I exchanged it directly from Dr. Federico Pezzotta who collected it while doing research there. It features three excellent, sharp, lustrous, prismatic, hexagonal crystals of a bluish-purple color with distinctive pink zones perched smartly on schist matrix. The striking, doubly terminated crystal with the pink termination is 2.6 cm. There are also pieces of reddish-brown sapphires next to the purple ones.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 7.3 x 6.0 x 4.0 cm. This is one of the best examples of the recently found polychrome sapphire specimens from Madagascar, for both size and quality. I exchanged it directly from Dr. Federico Pezzotta who collected it while doing research there. It features three excellent, sharp, lustrous, prismatic, hexagonal crystals of a bluish-purple color with distinctive pink zones perched smartly on schist matrix. The striking, doubly terminated crystal with the pink termination is 2.6 cm. There are also pieces of reddish-brown sapphires next to the purple ones.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Mogok, Pyin Oo Lwin District, Mandalay Division, Burma (Myanmar) (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 1.7 x 0.8 x 0.5 cm. A fine sapphire from Burma. The piece is gemmy and lustrous, doubly terminated and has classic, stepped-growth faces. The color is purple/lavender. Ex. Irv Brown Collection.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 6.0 x 4.8 x 2.6 cm. A 2.5 cm, lustrous, doubly terminated, deep lavender sapphire crystal jauntily set in matrix from Madagascar. The crystal has sharp, stepped growth faces. This is an excellent and very showy specimen, with just a bit of contacting on one termination.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Hunza Valley, Gilgit District, Northern Areas, Pakistan (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 6.0 x 5.2 x 3.2 cm. Here we have an excellent matrix Sapphire specimen that came out of Pakistan last year. The crystal on this particular specimen is a fine quality, very sharp, lustrous, well formed, gemmy crystal of a fine purplish color aesthetically sitting atop Calcite matrix. I haven’t seen many specimens of this material on the market in recent years, so I was very happy to obtain this piece. The Sapphire crystal does a color shift from purplish in indoor lighting to more of a pure purple color outdoors. These specimens are not coming out nearly as frequently as they have in the past, and they are definitely commanding very high prices on the market today, as are all fine Sapphire specimens from all world localities.
Pink Sapphire ring
Corundum Locality: Dattaw Hill, Mogok, Sagaing District, Mandalay Division, Burma (Myanmar) (Locality at mindat.org) Size: miniature, 3.8 x 3 x 1.7 cm Pink Sapphire Most sapphire crystals are long prismatic and terminate in pyramids. This glowing, bubble-gum pink, translucent and very lustrous sapphire is really unique and special. It is short and prismatic, and doubly terminated - a floater all around. The specimen clearly exhibits hexagonal shape.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Luc Yen, Yenbai (Yen Bai) Province, Vietnam (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 3.6 x 2.1 x 1.6 cm. Recently, the various gem tracts around Luc Yen have produced some impressive Sapphire crystals. These are easily some of the most attractive Sapphire crystals to come out of any locality. The crystals on this specimen have lustrous, translucent, sharp faces with an eye-catching pink color. Despite a few contacts and some intergrown Phlogopite, it is still a very good size crystal group for Sapphire, especially since the faces are so sharp, and not at all rounded. This locality has the potential to produce some superb Sapphires. This is a good specimen from this up and coming locality. Ex. Brian Kosnar Collection.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ganesh, Hunza Valley, Gilgit District, Northern Areas, Pakistan (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 5.4 x 5.2 x 4.0 cm. Here is an excellent matrix Sapphire specimen that came out of Pakistan about 10 years ago. The locality at Ganesh is one of the oldest and more renowned Sapphire/Ruby localities in the world, and has long produced some amazing specimens. The crystals on this particular specimen are sharp, lustrous and well-formed with pinkish color and are aesthetically sitting atop Calcite matrix. The largest crystal measures up to 1.2 cm long. The Sapphires show a color shift from a purplish-pink in indoor lighting to more of a pure pink color outdoors. These specimens are not coming out nearly as frequently as they have in the past. Ex. Richard Kosnar Collection.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 1.1 x 1.0 x 0.8 cm. A pretty, salmon-pink sapphire crystal from an uncommon locale in Tanzania. The translucent, sharp, hexagonal crystal is lightly frosted and is nicely accented by a smaller sapphire crystal. Ex. Jaime Bird Collection.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Luc Yen, Yenbai (Yen Bai) Province, Vietnam (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 3.6 x 3.2 x 2.3 cm. This specimen features a nice lustrous, translucent, sharp pink sapphire crystal group on calcite matrix. The largest crystal on the specimen measures 2.3 x 2.1 cm, and is very aesthetic.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Luc Yen, Yenbai (Yen Bai) Province, Vietnam (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 5.7 x 3.7 x 3.3 cm. A sculptural upright, cluster of beautiful pink sapphire crystals stacked one upon the other from now-classic finds at Luc Yen, Vietnam. These sharp, gemmy and lustrous crystals have some beautifully striated faces.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Luc Yen, Yenbai (Yen Bai) Province, Vietnam (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 5.7 x 3.7 x 3.3 cm. A sculptural upright, cluster of beautiful pink sapphire crystals stacked one upon the other from now-classic finds at Luc Yen, Vietnam. These sharp, gemmy and lustrous crystals have some beautifully striated faces.
Corundum Locality: Hunza Valley, Gilgit District, Northern Areas, Pakistan (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 5.9 x 5.9 x 1.8 cm. On a stark white marble matrix is perched a large (2 x 1 centimeters), translucent, pretty lavender-pink crystal of corundum - call it ruby or sapphire, as you will, though the
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 1.6 x 1.1 x 0.6 cm RUBY A near floater, this doubly terminated SAPPHIRE/RUBY crystal is lustrous and translucent, with a rose red color. It is complete, but irregular in form due to contact constraints during growth. Note the particularly sharp zoning within this crystal. 11 carats
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 1.6 x 1.1 x 0.6 cm RUBY A near floater, this doubly terminated SAPPHIRE/RUBY crystal is lustrous and translucent, with a rose red color. It is complete, but irregular in form due to contact constraints during growth. Note the particularly sharp zoning within this crystal. 11 carats
Corundum Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 1.6 x 1.1 x 0.6 cm RUBY A near floater, this doubly terminated SAPPHIRE/RUBY crystal is lustrous and translucent, with a rose red color. It is complete, but irregular in form due to contact constraints during growth. Note the particularly sharp zoning within this crystal. 11 carats
Corundum Locality: Passara Gem Mine, Badulla, Badulla District, Uva Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 1.3 x 1.1 x 0.9 cm Sapphire A bizarre yellow sapphire with a weloganite-shaped body, illustrating either twinning of some kind or just a weird
Corundum Locality: Dattaw Hill, Mogok, Sagaing District, Mandalay Division, Burma (Myanmar) (Locality at mindat.org) Size: miniature, 3.8 x 3 x 1.7 cm Pink Sapphire Most sapphire crystals are long prismatic and terminate in pyramids. This glowing, bubble-gum pink, translucent and very lustrous sapphire is really unique and special. It is short and prismatic, and doubly terminated - a floater all around. The specimen clearly exhibits hexagonal shape.
Corundum, Sapphire Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: miniature, 3.0 x 1.5 x 1.1 cm Sapphire (Corundum) An unusual crystal in several respects, for both its strong, vivid yellow-orange color ; and for its twisted form. This specimen weighs 53 cts and is a complete floater. Its surreal, curving form is graceful and bizarre. As well, I just have never seen such a color-saturated sapphire in this hue, as a natural crystal, before. It is a really stunning piece, in person
Corundum, Sapphire Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: miniature, 3.0 x 1.5 x 1.1 cm Sapphire (Corundum) An unusual crystal in several respects, for both its strong, vivid yellow-orange color ; and for its twisted form. This specimen weighs 53 cts and is a complete floater. Its surreal, curving form is graceful and bizarre. As well, I just have never seen such a color-saturated sapphire in this hue, as a natural crystal, before. It is a really stunning piece, in person
Corundum, Sapphire Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: miniature, 3.0 x 1.5 x 1.1 cm Sapphire (Corundum) An unusual crystal in several respects, for both its strong, vivid yellow-orange color ; and for its twisted form. This specimen weighs 53 cts and is a complete floater. Its surreal, curving form is graceful and bizarre. As well, I just have never seen such a color-saturated sapphire in this hue, as a natural crystal, before. It is a really stunning piece, in person
Corundum, Sapphire Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: miniature, 3.0 x 1.5 x 1.1 cm Sapphire (Corundum) An unusual crystal in several respects, for both its strong, vivid yellow-orange color ; and for its twisted form. This specimen weighs 53 cts and is a complete floater. Its surreal, curving form is graceful and bizarre. As well, I just have never seen such a color-saturated sapphire in this hue, as a natural crystal, before. It is a really stunning piece, in person
Corundum Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 3 x 2 x 1.2 cm SAPPHIRE on SAPPHIRE (twinned) This incredibly unusual specimen features a 1.7-cm blue sapphire crystal perched atop an inverted, twinned sapphire crystal! Or, if you display it another way, a twinned crystal with a crossing normal sapphire at its base (probably the best viewing angle in person as the narrow end of the twin has a missing point though it is hidden from view by tthe crossing sapphire crystal). Either way, its neat and weird at the same time. A gemmy, bright sapphire with excellent form, interesting and highly attractive striations , and pale but distinct blue color! DOUBLY-TERMINATED FLOATER and quite nice for the price, I thought!
Corundum Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 3 x 2 x 1.2 cm SAPPHIRE on SAPPHIRE (twinned) This incredibly unusual specimen features a 1.7-cm blue sapphire crystal perched atop an inverted, twinned sapphire crystal! Or, if you display it another way, a twinned crystal with a crossing normal sapphire at its base (probably the best viewing angle in person as the narrow end of the twin has a missing point though it is hidden from view by tthe crossing sapphire crystal). Either way, its neat and weird at the same time. A gemmy, bright sapphire with excellent form, interesting and highly attractive striations , and pale but distinct blue color! DOUBLY-TERMINATED FLOATER and quite nice for the price, I thought!
Corundum Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: miniature, 4.5 x 2 x 1.2 cm SAPPHIRE (floater) A gemmy, bright sapphire with excellent form, interesting and highly attractive striations , and pale but distinct blue color! DOUBLY-TERMINATED FLOATER and quite nice for the price, I thought!
Corundum Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: miniature, 4.5 x 2 x 1.2 cm SAPPHIRE (floater) A gemmy, bright sapphire with excellent form, interesting and highly attractive striations , and pale but distinct blue color! DOUBLY-TERMINATED FLOATER and quite nice for the price, I thought!
Corundum Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 1.5 cm Sapphire This attractive mixed lot of sapphire crystals showcases the diversity of habit and color styles of this corundum species. A very interesting assortment of a dozen crystals, all floaters. The largest is to 1.5 cm.
Corundum Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 1.5 cm Sapphire This attractive mixed lot of sapphire crystals showcases the diversity of habit and color styles of this corundum species. A very interesting assortment of a dozen crystals, all floaters. The largest is to 1.5 cm.
Corundum Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 1.5 cm Sapphire This attractive mixed lot of sapphire crystals showcases the diversity of habit and color styles of this corundum species. A very interesting assortment of a dozen crystals, all floaters. The largest is to 1.5 cm.
Corundum Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 1.5 cm Sapphire This attractive mixed lot of sapphire crystals showcases the diversity of habit and color styles of this corundum species. A very interesting assortment of a dozen crystals, all floaters. The largest is to 1.5 cm.
Corundum Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 3.3 cm Sapphire This attractive mixed lot of sapphire crystals showcases the diverse habits and color styles of this corundum species. A very interesting assortment of a dozen crystals, all floaters. The largest is to 3.3 cm. Note there are several crystals of highly unusual habit here including both color and termination styles; and two very rare butterfly twinned crystals (upper row, rightmost and 3rd from right). Alone, those two twins, and the two or three larger ones, are well worth the price of the lot.
Corundum Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 3.3 cm Sapphire This attractive mixed lot of sapphire crystals showcases the diverse habits and color styles of this corundum species. A very interesting assortment of a dozen crystals, all floaters. The largest is to 3.3 cm. Note there are several crystals of highly unusual habit here including both color and termination styles; and two very rare butterfly twinned crystals (upper row, rightmost and 3rd from right). Alone, those two twins, and the two or three larger ones, are well worth the price of the lot.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Mogok, Pyin Oo Lwin District, Mandalay Division, Burma (Myanmar) (Locality at mindat.org) Most sapphire crystals are long prismatic and terminate in pyramids. This glowing, hot-bubble-gum pink, translucent and super-lustrous, sapphire is really unique and special! It is short and prismatic, and doubly terminated - a floater all around! The specimen clearly exhibits hexagonal shape. This could be cut into a cabochon, just for its color. If transparent, this specimen would sell for tens of thousands of dollars. As a specimen, it will leap out amongst any corundums, rubies, sapphires. It is REALLY intense...the rightmost pic is more accurately colored and even that pales in comparison to the actual piece. Out of hundreds of these I have seen, this ONE is most special. 3.8 x 3 x 1.7 cm
Corundum Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 2.1 x 1 x 1 cm Sapphire (floater) Beautiful and gemmy crystal with a lovely blue to amber color. The luster is EXCEPTIONALLY good, with the form and aesthetics on this crystal being exactly what you would want from any uncut sapphire. ( This is natural and unheated!) 2.1 x 1 x 1 cm
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 2.5 x 0.9 x 0.7 cm. An outstanding
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) 1.5 cm (largest). This attractive mixed lot of sapphire crystals showcases the diversity of habit and color styles of this corundum species. A very interesting assortment of a dozen crystals, all floaters. The largest is to 1.5 cm.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) 3.3 cm (largest). This attractive mixed lot of sapphire crystals showcases the diverse habits and color styles of this corundum variety. A very interesting assortment of a dozen crystals, all floaters. The largest is to 3.3 cm. Note there are several crystals of highly unusual habit here including both color and termination styles; and two very rare butterfly twinned crystals (upper row, rightmost and 3rd from right).
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 1.4 x 0.7 x 0.6 cm (largest). This interesting collection took a long time to assemble. It consists of a lot of sharp sapphire crystals, all floaters, most very different from one another in color or form. This illustrates the diversity of corundum crystals, from this classic locality.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 1.4 x 0.7 x 0.6 cm (largest). This interesting collection took a long time to assemble. It consists of a lot of sharp sapphire crystals, all floaters, most very different from one another in color or form. This illustrates the diversity of corundum crystals, from this classic locality.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 1.4 x 0.7 x 0.6 cm (largest). This interesting collection took a long time to assemble. It consists of a lot of sharp sapphire crystals, all floaters, most very different from one another in color or form. This illustrates the diversity of corundum crystals, from this classic locality.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 3.5 x 2.5 x 2.2 cm. A fantastic, complete and doubly-terminated, huge crystal of purple sapphire (corundum) from the finds in Madagascar. This wonderful floater crystal weighs 55 grams. It has fine luster both on the prism faces and terminations. As with other crystals from this find, it is very slightly translucent to opaque.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 3.5 x 1.8 x 1.4 cm. This crystal is doubly-terminated and complete, a floater. However, unlike like most crystals from Sri Lankan gem gravels, it is not rounded on its edges, but is super-sharp, with textbook form. Both ends of the crystal are gemmy: one is colorless, the other a very desirable cornflower blue. Some iron staining in the middle gives a red due in between. Weighs 15 grams. Ex. George Elling Collection.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Chaungyi, Mogok, Sagaing District, Mandalay Division, Burma (Myanmar) (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 4.4 x 3.1 x 1.3 cm. A floater cluster of THREE large, complete sapphire crystals! Many parts of these crystals show good transparency and fine cornflower blue color. Two of the terminations have natural contacts. The end of the third is quite gemmy and the termination is sharp, with just a tiny bit of contact. A very impressive gem crystal specimen, as you can see!
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 8.8 x 8.4 x 3.1 cm. For both size and quality, this is one of the very best examples of the recently found Corundum specimens from Madagascar. I exchanged it directly from Dr. Federico Pezzotta who collected it while doing research there. It features several excellent quality, very sharp, lustrous, prismatic, hexagonal crystals of a bluish-purple color (with slight pink zones) measuring up to 2.6 cm long perched smartly on schist matrix. Some of these specimens show an obvious color change from indoor lighting to sunlight, but I can't see much of a change in this piece.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 8.8 x 8.4 x 3.1 cm. For both size and quality, this is one of the very best examples of the recently found Corundum specimens from Madagascar. I exchanged it directly from Dr. Federico Pezzotta who collected it while doing research there. It features several excellent quality, very sharp, lustrous, prismatic, hexagonal crystals of a bluish-purple color (with slight pink zones) measuring up to 2.6 cm long perched smartly on schist matrix. Some of these specimens show an obvious color change from indoor lighting to sunlight, but I can't see much of a change in this piece.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 9.1 x 5.3 x 4.0 cm. For both size and quality, this is one of the very best examples of the recently found Corundum specimens from Madagascar. I exchanged it directly from Dr. Federico Pezzotta who collected it while doing research there. Some of these specimens show an obvious color change from indoor lighting to sunlight, this piece is no exception. It features a few excellent quality, sharp, lustrous, prismatic, hexagonal crystals of a bluish-purple color (almost pure blue in sunlight) measuring up to 2.7 cm long perched on schist matrix.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 9.1 x 5.3 x 4.0 cm. For both size and quality, this is one of the very best examples of the recently found Corundum specimens from Madagascar. I exchanged it directly from Dr. Federico Pezzotta who collected it while doing research there. Some of these specimens show an obvious color change from indoor lighting to sunlight, this piece is no exception. It features a few excellent quality, sharp, lustrous, prismatic, hexagonal crystals of a bluish-purple color (almost pure blue in sunlight) measuring up to 2.7 cm long perched on schist matrix.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 9.1 x 5.3 x 4.0 cm. For both size and quality, this is one of the very best examples of the recently found Corundum specimens from Madagascar. I exchanged it directly from Dr. Federico Pezzotta who collected it while doing research there. Some of these specimens show an obvious color change from indoor lighting to sunlight, this piece is no exception. It features a few excellent quality, sharp, lustrous, prismatic, hexagonal crystals of a bluish-purple color (almost pure blue in sunlight) measuring up to 2.7 cm long perched on schist matrix.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 9.1 x 5.3 x 4.0 cm. For both size and quality, this is one of the very best examples of the recently found Corundum specimens from Madagascar. I exchanged it directly from Dr. Federico Pezzotta who collected it while doing research there. Some of these specimens show an obvious color change from indoor lighting to sunlight, this piece is no exception. It features a few excellent quality, sharp, lustrous, prismatic, hexagonal crystals of a bluish-purple color (almost pure blue in sunlight) measuring up to 2.7 cm long perched on schist matrix.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 8.4 x 5.3 x 4.4 cm. This is a fine example of the recently found Corundum specimens from Madagascar. I exchanged it directly from Dr. Federico Pezzotta who collected it while doing research there. It features several excellent, sharp, lustrous, prismatic, hexagonal crystals of a bluish-purple color (with slight pink zones) measuring up to 1.8 cm long perched smartly on schist matrix. Some of these specimens show an obvious color change from indoor lighting to sunlight, but I can't see much of a change in this piece.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 8.4 x 5.3 x 4.4 cm. This is a fine example of the recently found Corundum specimens from Madagascar. I exchanged it directly from Dr. Federico Pezzotta who collected it while doing research there. It features several excellent, sharp, lustrous, prismatic, hexagonal crystals of a bluish-purple color (with slight pink zones) measuring up to 1.8 cm long perched smartly on schist matrix. Some of these specimens show an obvious color change from indoor lighting to sunlight, but I can't see much of a change in this piece.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 6.0 x 3.8 x 2.7 cm. For both size and quality, this is one of the very best examples of the recently found Corundum specimens from Madagascar. I obtained it directly from Dr. Federico Pezzotta who collected it while doing research there. It features several fine, sharp, lustrous, prismatic, hexagonal crystals of a bluish-purple color (with slight pink zones) measuring up to 2.2 cm long perched on schist matrix. Some of these specimens show an obvious color change from indoor lighting to sunlight, but this change is minimal in this piece.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 6.0 x 3.8 x 2.7 cm. For both size and quality, this is one of the very best examples of the recently found Corundum specimens from Madagascar. I obtained it directly from Dr. Federico Pezzotta who collected it while doing research there. It features several fine, sharp, lustrous, prismatic, hexagonal crystals of a bluish-purple color (with slight pink zones) measuring up to 2.2 cm long perched on schist matrix. Some of these specimens show an obvious color change from indoor lighting to sunlight, but this change is minimal in this piece.
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Blue Sapphire
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The
spectre d'un saphire bleu visible dans un spectroscope Г  rГ©seau diffractant
several corundum crystals
Sapphire crystal
Sapphire crystal
Blue Sapphire
Sapphires (Corundums).
Smalls sapphires from an alkaline pegmatite, CanaГЈ Massif, Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
truetrue
Crystals of sapphire
Crystal of sapphire
Sapphire
Sapphire
Sapphire
Sapphire
Sapphire
Crystal of sapphire
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Crystal of Sapphire
Crystal of Sapphire
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A picture I took on my senior trip
Leucosapphir, coulourless variety of Sapphir - Locality: Ceylon - Exposed in the Mineralogical Museum, Bonn, Germany
Corundum Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 1.8 x 0.7 x 0.6 cm Sapphire This is alovely sapphire crystal. It is gemmy, partly transparent, with a light grayish-blue color. In addition, it exhibits superb luster.
Corundum Locality: Passara Gem Mine, Badulla, Badulla District, Uva Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 3.0 x 1.4 x 1.2 cm Sapphire (twinned) This exceptionally sharp sapphire crystal shows flanges to the sides that reflect a rare, well-formed twinning habit. Seldom do you see such a twin in the species, and usually it is present in rather clunky crystals. Specimens this sharp are hard to get because they mostly come from the gem gravels where they have been rolled and damaged in the past. This piece, however, comes from an excavation nearby and the crystal is nearly pristine. In person, it is extremely lustrous and bright! The bottom termination extends backwards in depth, showing a SECOND twinning plane in that the bottom section is rotated 90 degrees to the main body. If you hold this in your hands, in other words, it looks in person like an airplane, with the wings (upper twin flanges) in one plane and the bottom twin (rudder analogue) rotated into another plane around the core axis. Weight is approximately 25 carats. This crystal was sold as gem rough, by weight, at one of the gem shows. The price of $100 per carat is frankly not much of a markup since I had to buy it based on its weight as gem rough that could be treated and cobbed!
Corundum Locality: Passara Gem Mine, Badulla, Badulla District, Uva Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 3.0 x 1.4 x 1.2 cm Sapphire (twinned) This exceptionally sharp sapphire crystal shows flanges to the sides that reflect a rare, well-formed twinning habit. Seldom do you see such a twin in the species, and usually it is present in rather clunky crystals. Specimens this sharp are hard to get because they mostly come from the gem gravels where they have been rolled and damaged in the past. This piece, however, comes from an excavation nearby and the crystal is nearly pristine. In person, it is extremely lustrous and bright! The bottom termination extends backwards in depth, showing a SECOND twinning plane in that the bottom section is rotated 90 degrees to the main body. If you hold this in your hands, in other words, it looks in person like an airplane, with the wings (upper twin flanges) in one plane and the bottom twin (rudder analogue) rotated into another plane around the core axis. Weight is approximately 25 carats. This crystal was sold as gem rough, by weight, at one of the gem shows. The price of $100 per carat is frankly not much of a markup since I had to buy it based on its weight as gem rough that could be treated and cobbed!
Corundum Locality: Unnamed Corundum Occurrences, San Jacinto Mountains, Riverside County, California, USA (Locality at mindat.org) Size: large cabinet, 17.0 x 7.2 x 5.5 cm Sapphire A dramatic, large, example of these strange sapphires collected in the mid 1990s by the Gochenour brothers, in Riverside County (OK, strictly speaking not in San Diego County but hey, its close enough and the same basic geology). This crystal is very aesthetically placed and displayed in the matrix. It has, as most do, a few clean repairs stabilized by glue. These are significant and unusual big sapphire crystals for a US locality. It is one of the bigger ones... 17 cm tall and among the finest found in this remarkable onetime find. Ex. William Larson Collection.
Corundum Locality: Unnamed Corundum Occurrences, San Jacinto Mountains, Riverside County, California, USA (Locality at mindat.org) Size: large cabinet, 17.0 x 7.2 x 5.5 cm Sapphire A dramatic, large, example of these strange sapphires collected in the mid 1990s by the Gochenour brothers, in Riverside County (OK, strictly speaking not in San Diego County but hey, its close enough and the same basic geology). This crystal is very aesthetically placed and displayed in the matrix. It has, as most do, a few clean repairs stabilized by glue. These are significant and unusual big sapphire crystals for a US locality. It is one of the bigger ones... 17 cm tall and among the finest found in this remarkable onetime find. Ex. William Larson Collection.
Corundum Locality: Unnamed Corundum Occurrences, San Jacinto Mountains, Riverside County, California, USA (Locality at mindat.org) Size: cabinet, 10.5 x 7.5 x 5.5 cm Sapphire A super example of these strange sapphires collected in the mid 1990s by the Gochenour brothers, in Riverside County (OK, strictly speaking not in San Diego County but hey, its close enough). THis crystal is very aesthetically placed, and displayed in the matrix. It has, as most do, a few clean repairs but the price is also adjusted accordingly. These are significant and unusual big sapphire crystals for a US locality!
Corundum Locality: Unnamed Corundum Occurrences, San Jacinto Mountains, Riverside County, California, USA (Locality at mindat.org) Size: cabinet, 10.5 x 7.5 x 5.5 cm Sapphire A super example of these strange sapphires collected in the mid 1990s by the Gochenour brothers, in Riverside County (OK, strictly speaking not in San Diego County but hey, its close enough). THis crystal is very aesthetically placed, and displayed in the matrix. It has, as most do, a few clean repairs but the price is also adjusted accordingly. These are significant and unusual big sapphire crystals for a US locality!
Corundum Locality: Unnamed Corundum Occurrences, San Jacinto Mountains, Riverside County, California, USA (Locality at mindat.org) Size: cabinet, 10.5 x 7.5 x 5.5 cm Sapphire A super example of these strange sapphires collected in the mid 1990s by the Gochenour brothers, in Riverside County (OK, strictly speaking not in San Diego County but hey, its close enough). THis crystal is very aesthetically placed, and displayed in the matrix. It has, as most do, a few clean repairs but the price is also adjusted accordingly. These are significant and unusual big sapphire crystals for a US locality!
Corundum, Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Mogok, Pyin Oo Lwin District, Mandalay Division, Burma (Myanmar) (Locality at mindat.org) A VERY RARE somewhat gemmy, translucent, SHARP, mogok sapphire. Most specimen sapphires are from Sri Lanka while in Mogok, rubies rule (it is
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) A SUPERB, gemmy, doubly terminated sapphire crystal from Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. Ex Irv Brown TN Collection. Small, yes, but gorgeous riveting color! 1.6 x 0.5 x 0.4 cm
Corundum Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 2.1 x 1 x 1 cm Sapphire (floater) Beautiful and gemmy crystal with a lovely blue to amber color. The luster is EXCEPTIONALLY good, with the form and aesthetics on this crystal being exactly what you would want from any uncut sapphire. ( This is natural and unheated!) 2.1 x 1 x 1 cm
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Two lustrous, gemmy and sharp, intergrown blue sapphire crystals from the Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. Classic material. 1.6 x 0.9 x 0.7 cm
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) SHARP doubly-terminated floater with a stunning, unusually deep royal blue color! 2.5 x 0.4 x 0.4 cm
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 2.6 x 1.2 x 0.8 cm. A classic, doubly terminated, blue to purple sapphire from Sri Lanka. This gemmy and lustrous, flattened crystal has textbook hexagonal form, is well-striated and has excellent, typically pronounced, stepped-growth faces. The color centers are also interesting. The smaller crystal
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ganesh, Hunza Valley, Gilgit District, Northern Areas, Pakistan (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 5.4 x 5.2 x 4.0 cm. Here is an excellent matrix Sapphire specimen that came out of Pakistan about 10 years ago. The locality at Ganesh is one of the oldest and more renowned Sapphire/Ruby localities in the world, and has long produced some amazing specimens. The crystals on this particular specimen are sharp, lustrous and well-formed with pinkish color and are aesthetically sitting atop Calcite matrix. The largest crystal measures up to 1.2 cm long. The Sapphires show a color shift from a purplish-pink in indoor lighting to more of a pure pink color outdoors. These specimens are not coming out nearly as frequently as they have in the past. Ex. Richard Kosnar Collection.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 2.2 x 0.7 x 0.7 cm (largest). An excellent 3-piece set of different colored, classic sapphires from the gem deposits of Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. All three crystals are gemmy and lustrous and have textbook hexagonal form, tapered shape and pronounced stepped-growth faces. The rare, desirable, gorgeous pink crystal has vivid color and is contacted at the base, but has no damage, per se. The blue crystal is doubly terminated, has classic, baby-blue color and is pristine. The large crystal is doubly terminated, has only minute termination wear on one end and is variably colorless, with hints of yellow. A striking and desirable trio. These are classic Ratnapura crystals. Very representative of the species and locality. Weighs 25.48 carats total weight or just over 5 grams.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 6.8 x 4.5 x 4.4 cm. For both size range and overall quality, this is one of the best examples I have had of the recently found bi-colored Corundums from Madagascar. I obtained it in 2006, and have not seen better come out since that time, with crystals of such robust size (2.6 x 2.5 x 1.3 cm). It features a single crystal perched castle-like on matrix. That crystal is complete-all-around and terminated all around except a slight bit of ingrown matrix on one narrow edge; and remarkably not repaired. They go varying shades of red/purple and even to blue-purple depending on which lighting source you use to look at them. The effect is not subtle, either – it’s pretty obvious. These corundums are technically called sapphires on the market but to me, I cannot decide which to label them as, because under strong halogen they look as much like rubies as anything. This piece has superior color change, red/maroon in halogen and purple-blue in sunlight and fluorescent lighting.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Morogoro, Uluguru Mts (Uruguru Mts), Morogoro Region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 2.6 x 0.7 x 0.6 cm. A rarely seen, sharp, euhedral, orange-pink, hexagonal single crystal of Sapphire from the Morogoro area in Tanzania. This is one of the few crystals that I have seen from this area in a while, mostly because nearly 99% of the crystals from Morogoro end up either being faceted into stones, or are sent to Asia to be carved. This crystal has good luster for the locality, and the color is not terribly common from this area either.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 3.5 x 1.0 x 0.6 cm. A classic, doubly terminated, mostly colorless sapphire from Sri Lanka. This gemmy and lustrous crystal has textbook hexagonal form, is well-striated and has excellent, typically pronounced, stepped-growth faces. The termination areas are much gemmier, have a pretty purple tint, than the translucent, included, central portion of the crystal. Pristine and highly representative from the famous deposits at Ratnapura. Complete-all-around and pristine. Weighs 37.59 carats or 7.5 grams. Ex. Wes Parker Collection.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 3.1 x 1.1 x 1.0 cm. A classic, gemmy and lustrous, steeply bi-pyramidal, tan sapphire crystal from the deposits at Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. This textbook hexagonal, doubly terminated crystal has the excellent, typically pronounced stepped-growth faces.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 3.4 x 1.5 x 1.1 cm. A classic, gemmy and lustrous, steeply pyramidal, cornflower-blue sapphire crystal from the deposits at Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. This textbook hexagonal crystal has the excellent, typically pronounced, stepped-growth faces.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Luc Yen, Yenbai (Yen Bai) Province, Vietnam (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 4.3 x 2.2 x 2.0 cm. The various gem tracts around Luc Yen have produced some impressive Sapphire crystals. This translucent, sharp, good-sized, orange-pink, hexagonal crystal is a great example of these newly found specimens.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 1.6 x 0.7 x 0.5 cm (largest). A fine set of 7, doubly terminated, gemmy and striated sapphire crystals from the deposits at Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. I would classify four of the crystals as blues; one as colorless and blue; one as pink with inclusions; and one a lavender/blue. Classic crystals from this well-known locale. Total weight is 14.09 carats.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Galbkka, Wellawaya, Moneragala District, Uva Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 2.3 x 1.2 x 1.1 cm. A very gemmy, intensely colored, very lustrous sapphire crystal.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Galbkka, Wellawaya, Moneragala District, Uva Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 2.2 x 1.5 x 1.0 cm. A blocky, sharp, doubly terminated, sapphire crystal from Sri Lanka and the Dick Jones Collection. This is an unusual crystal form for Sri Lanka sapphires, with the pinacoidal terminations. Most crystals from here have the classic tapered terminations. This pristine, opaque, crystal has moderate lustre and is periwinkle-blue. It is from a very uncommon locale - Galbkka in Uva Province.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Thumbnail. A fine cluster of 2 sapphire crystals from Sri Lanka. It consists of very gemmy and lustrous, pink crystals having classic, stepped-growth faces. Ex. Irv Brown Collection.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 1.8 x 0.6 x 0.5 cm (largest). A fine 2-piece sapphire set from the mines of Sri Lanka and the Irv Brown Collection. Both sapphires are pristine, doubly terminated, gemmy and lustrous. The blue one is a beautiful, light sky-blue and the complimentary/contrasting yellow one has intense striations, that the blue one lacks. A striking and desirable pair. These are classic Ratnapura crystals. Very representative of the species and locality. 8.48 carats.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Winza, Mpapwa, Mpapwa (Mpwampwa) District, Dodoma region, Tanzania (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 3.9 x 2.8 x 0.8 cm. In early 2008, a find of rubies was made near Winza, a remote village in the southeastern Dodoma, Tanzania. This specimen from the find is all corundum, though most of the specimen is opaque. However, on its surface, you can see where a 1-cm cluster of natural vibrant pink crystals has formed. Other small crystals have formed elsewhere on the surface.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Unnamed Corundum Occurrences, San Jacinto Mountains, Riverside County, California, USA (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 10.5 x 7.5 x 5.5 cm. A superb example of these strange sapphires collected in the mid 1990s by the Gochenour brothers, in Riverside County. This crystal is very aesthetically placed, and displayed in the matrix. These are significant and unusual big sapphire crystals for a US locality. Ex. Pala International/William Larson Collection.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 1.3 x 0.4 x 0.3 cm. A fine sapphire crystal with deep blue color. Complete, lustrous, doubly-terminated, undamaged, and with the typical striations on the side faces.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 1.3 x 0.4 x 0.3 cm. This is not a large sapphire crystal, but look it has superb color. It is a doubly-terminated floater crystal, no damage, with fine luster and the typical striations of the faces.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 1.3 x 0.3 x 0.3 cm. This small sapphire has superb color. And, it is doubly-terminated and has great form, as well. This was found in the stream gravels of Sri Lanka (Ceylon), the prime locality for sapphires.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ganesh, Hunza Valley, Gilgit District, Northern Areas, Pakistan (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 2.1 x 1.8 x 1.5 cm. Here we have an excellent matrix Sapphire specimen that came out of Pakistan about 10 years ago. The locality at Ganesh is one of the oldest and more renown Sapphire/Ruby localities in the world, and has long produced some amazing specimens. The crystal on this particular specimen is a very sharp, lustrous, well formed, gemmy crystal of a fine purplish color aesthetically sitting atop Calcite matrix. Ex. Richard Kosnar Collection.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Passara Gem Mine, Badulla, Badulla District, Uva Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 3.0 x 1.4 x 1.2 cm. This exceptionally sharp sapphire crystal shows flanges to the sides that reflect a rare, well-formed twinning habit. Seldom do you see such a twin in the species, and usually it is present in rather clunky crystals. Specimens this sharp are hard to get because they mostly come from the gem gravels where they have been rolled and damaged in the past. This piece, however, comes from an excavation nearby and the crystal is nearly pristine. In person, it is extremely lustrous and bright! The bottom termination extends backwards in depth, showing a SECOND twinning plane in that the bottom section is rotated 90 degrees to the main body. If you hold this in your hands, in other words, it looks in person like an airplane, with the wings (upper twin flanges) in one plane and the bottom twin (rudder analogue) rotated into another plane around the core axis. Weight is approximately 25 carats.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Gem gravels, Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 0.6 x 0.4 x 0.3 cm. A natural, uncut, lavender-colored sapphire crystal from the gem gravels of Sri Lanka, smoothed from water (but with faces still evident) exactly as they are found in this prime source of sapphires for the world market. Great specimen for the collector.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 2.6 x 1.2 x 0.7 cm. A gemmy, doubly terminated, light blue, flattened sapphire crystal. This classic, striated Ratnapura crystal has excellent lustre. Very nearly pristine, with only super trivial edge wear, which barely noticeable. You do not see very many of these on the market anymore. Very representative of the species and locality. Ex. George Elling Collection.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 2.6 x 1.1 x 1.0 cm. A gemmy, colorless, doubly terminated sapphire crystal with iron-oxide staining. This classic, striated Ratnapura crystal has moderate lustre. One side of one of the terminations is bruised, but is out of sight. You do not see very many of these on the market anymore. Very representative of the species and locality. Ex. George Elling Collection.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 5.8 x 2.2 x 1.9 cm. A large, gemmy, sharp, banded, doubly terminated sapphire crystal from the classic locality of Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. This lustrous, sharp beauty has the BEST Kashmir-blue color for a sapphire crystal that I have seen in a long time. The terminations are contacted, but not broken in any way and the trivial edge bruising in a couple of places is barely noticeable. Classic material from a classic locality. Ex. George Elling Collection. 40 grams.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 4.5 x 1.9 x 1.3 cm. A SUPER, gemmy and lustrous, doubly terminated, light purple/blue blush sapphire crystal with great stepped faces from Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. This neat, pristine crystal is beautifully complimented by the sidecar sapphire. Ex. Leithauser Collection.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 4.2 x 3.2 x 2 cm. Richly colored magenta Sapphire sitting in Calcite and schist. The intense color and good luster make this very attractive.
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Zazafotsy Quarry (Amboarohy), Zazafotsy Commune, Ihosy District, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 5.5 x 4.2 x 3.3 cm. Gorgeous magenta-colored Sapphire, in matrix, a full 2.5 cm across and seemingly 3 cm down into the matrix (based on the visible hexagonal shape).
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Gem gravels, Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 4.1 x 1.2 x 0.9 cm. This is a BIG, 78-carat, colorless, translucent sapphire (corundum if you prefer) crystal that was found in the gem gravels of Sri Lanka. It has PERFECT textbook form and symmetry, and it complete and doubly-terminated. Inside the crystal, you can see crystal INCLUSIONS of a shiny sulphide! The tapered form up to the perfect pointy termination make this a really dramatic crystal, and what remarkable size for a sapphire crystal!
Corundum (Var.: Sapphire) Locality: Gem gravels, Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka (Locality at mindat.org) Size: 2.6 x 1.2 x 1.1 cm. A complete, large, sharp sapphire crystal from the gem gravels of Sri Lanka - showing fine striated faces and an unusual sceptred form (though it is not a true sceptre, of course). Fine transparency as well.
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3 sapphire crystals, origins Sri Lanka (left and right) and Burma (center). Photographed at the San Diego Natural History Museum, California, USA.
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