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Sapphirine is a rare mineral, a silicate of magnesium and aluminium, with the chemical formula (Mg,Al) 8 (Al,Si) 6 O 20 (with iron as a major impurity). Named for its sapphire-like colour, sapphirine is primarily of interest to researchers and collectors: well-formed crystals are treasured and occasionally cut into gemstones.
Sapphires are a precious gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, consisting of aluminum oxide (α-Al 2 O 3) with trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper, or magnesium. It is typically blue, but natural "fancy" sapphires also occur in yellow, purple, orange, and green colors; "parti sapphires" show two or more colors.
Sapphire is one of the two gem-varieties of corundum, the other being ruby (defined as corundum in a shade of red). Although blue is the best-known sapphire color, it occurs in other colors, including gray and black, and also can be colorless. A pinkish orange variety of sapphire is called padparadscha.
The most popular form of sapphire is blue sapphire, which is known for its medium to deep blue colour and strong saturation. Fancy sapphires of various colours are also available. In the United States, blue sapphire tends to be the most popular and most affordable of the three major precious gemstones (emerald, ruby, and sapphire).
Asterism on the surface of a blue star sapphire. A purple-pink star sapphire displaying asterism in a platinum ring.. An asterism (from Ancient Greek ἀστήρ (astḗr) 'star' and -ism) is a star-shaped concentration of light reflected or refracted from a gemstone.
"Yogo sapphire" is the preferred term for gems found in the Yogo Gulch, whereas "Montana sapphire" generally refers to gems found in other Montana locations. [18] More gem-quality sapphires are produced in Montana than anywhere else in North America. [18] Montana sapphires come in a variety of colors, though rubies are rare. [16] [18] [23]
Logan Sapphire; Star of Bombay, given to Mary Pickford by Douglas Fairbanks, Sr; Star of India; Stuart Sapphire; Black Star of Queensland; Star of Adam, with a weight of 1,404.49 carats (280.898 g), it is the largest star sapphire in the world. Queen Marie of Romania Sapphire
The Millennium Sapphire is a blue sapphire discovered in 1995 in Madagascar, the natural dark–blue gem weighed 89,850 carats (nearly 40 pounds, or 17.97 kilograms). The Millennium Sapphire History