Sapphire
| Sapphire | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| The 422.99 carat Logan sapphire | |
| General | |
| Category | Oxide mineral |
| Chemical formula | aluminium oxide, Al2O3 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Every color except for red – which is called a ruby – or pinkish-orange (the padparadscha) |
| Crystal habit | massive and granular |
| Crystal system | Trigonal Symbol (32/m) Space Group: R3c |
| Cleavage | none |
| Fracture | conchoidal, splintery |
| Mohs Scale hardness | 9.0 |
| Luster | vitreous |
| Refractive index | nω=1.768–1.772 nε=1.760–1.763, Birefringence 0.008 |
| Optical Properties | Abbe number 72.2 |
| Pleochroism | Strong |
| Streak | white |
| Specific gravity | 3.95–4.03 |
| Melting point | 2030–2050 °C |
| Fusibility | infusible |
| Solubility | Insoluble |
| Other Characteristics | coefficient of thermal expansion (5.0–6.6)×10−6/K |
Sapphire is a non-red type of the mineral corundum, an aluminium oxide (Al2O3).
Sapphires, in fact, are the similar to rubies, except that they are not red.
It can be found in the ground or it can be made in large crystal. Blue sapphires are the most famous kind, but they can be of many different colors, like amber and orange.
Sapphires have long history. Tradition says that the tablets of the Ten Commandments were made of sapphire, so strong a hammer could not break them, and would break instead if it hit them. The ancient Persians believed that the earth sat on a big sapphire and that the big sapphire made the sky blue.
A lot of ancient people thought rubies made people calm down, as well as cure their bruises.
Sapphires have been used by kings and queens for a long time as a symbol of luck, life lessons, being wise, and holiness.
Princess Diana and Princess Anne both received sapphire engagement rings and the British Crown Jewels are full of large blue sapphires, the symbol of kind and wise rulers.
Sapphires represent September. It symbolizes telling the truth and doing what you said you would.
