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Sapphire [G4372]
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GeoFacts
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Photograph of a group of sapphires from the National Gem Collection showing color variation Photo by Chip Clark |
Corundum
Rubies and sapphires are varieties the same mineral: corundum. Pure corundum, composed of aluminum and oxygen atoms, is colorless. Color variations come from light interacting with impurities that replaced atoms of aluminum in the growing crystals.
Hover over color tiles above to learn what this object tells us about the history of the Earth
| Catalog # | Mineral | Country | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G2172 | Corundum (var. Sapphire) | Burma | 16.80 ct | More info » |
| G3106 | Corundum (var. Sapphire) | Sri Lanka | 15.20 ct | More info » |
| G3549 | Corundum (var. Sapphire) | Upper Burma | 92.60 ct | More info » |
| G3581 | Corundum (var. Sapphire) | Sri Lanka | 15.73 ct | More info » |
| G3875 | Corundum (var. Sapphire) | Sri Lanka | 22.40 ct | More info » |
| G4357 | Corundum (var. Sapphire) | Sri Lanka | 31.06 ct | More info » |
| G4370 | Corundum (var. Sapphire) | Sri Lanka | 27.42 ct | More info » |
| G4371 | Corundum (var. Sapphire) | Sri Lanka | 42.20 ct | More info » |
| G4372 | Corundum (var. Sapphire) | Sri Lanka | 19.90 ct | More info » |
| G9808 | Corundum (var. Sapphire) | Unknown Locality | 10.28 ct | More info » |
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