Difference between revisions of "Ruby"

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==Inclusion images==
 
==Inclusion images==
  
The following inclusion images are courtesy of Apsara.
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[[image:Apatite In Untreated Mogok Ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Apatite in untreated Mogok ruby<br />Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk]]
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[[image:Apatite_In_Untreated_Mogok_Ruby_-_2.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Apatite in untreated Mogok ruby<br />Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk]]
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[[image:Calcite_In_Untreated_Mogok_Ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Distorted calcite guest crystals in untreated Mogok ruby<br />Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk]]<br clear="left" />
  
[[image:Apatite In Untreated Mogok Ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Apatite in untreated Mogok ruby]]
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[[image:Rutile_silk_in_untreated_Mogok_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Rutile silk in untreated Mogok ruby<br />Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk]]
[[image:Apatite_In_Untreated_Mogok_Ruby_-_2.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Apatite in untreated Mogok ruby]]
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[[image:Heat-treated_Mong_Hsu_ruby_-_1.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Heat treated Mong Hsu ruby<br />Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk]]
[[image:Calcite_In_Untreated_Mogok_Ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Distorted calcite guest crystals in untreated Mogok ruby]]<br clear="left" />
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[[image:Partially_dissolved_rutile_silk_in_heat-treated_Vietnamese_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Partially dissolved rutile silk in heat treated Vietnamese ruby<br />Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk]] <br clear="left" />
  
[[image:Rutile_silk_in_untreated_Mogok_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Rutile silk in untreated Mogok ruby]]
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[[image:Rounded_calcite_guest_crystals_with_'treacle'_colour_swirls_in_un-heated_Mogok_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Rounded calcite guest crystals with 'treacle' colour swirls in un-heated Mogok ruby<br />Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk]]
[[image:Heat-treated_Mong_Hsu_ruby_-_1.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Heat treated Mong Hsu ruby]]
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[[image:Growth_lines,_guest_crystals_and_un-disolved_silk_in_un-heated_Mogok_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Growth lines, guest crystals and un-disolved rutile silk in un-heated Mogok ruby<br />Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk]]  
[[image:Partially_dissolved_rutile_silk_in_heat-treated_Vietnamese_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Partially dissolved rutile silk in heat treated Vietnamese ruby]] <br clear="left" />
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[[image:'Treacle'_colour_swirls,_growth_lines_and_guest_crystals_in_un-heated_Mogok_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Treacle colour swirls, growth lines and guest crystals in un-heated Mogok ruby<br />Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk]] <br clear="left" />
  
[[image:Rounded_calcite_guest_crystals_with_'treacle'_colour_swirls_in_un-heated_Mogok_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Rounded calcite guest crystals with 'treacle' colour swirls in un-heated Mogok ruby]]
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[[image:Rounded_calcite_guest_crystals_in_un-heated_Mogok_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Rounded calcite guest crystals in un-heated Mogok ruby<br />Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk]]  
[[image:Growth_lines,_guest_crystals_and_un-disolved_silk_in_un-heated_Mogok_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Growth lines, guest crystals and un-disolved rutile silk in un-heated Mogok ruby]]  
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[[image:Unusual_acicular_guest_crystal_and_small_particle_inclusions_in_un-heated_Mogok_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Unusual acicular guest crystal and small particle inclusions in un-heated Mogok ruby<br />Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk]]  
[[image:'Treacle'_colour_swirls,_growth_lines_and_guest_crystals_in_un-heated_Mogok_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Treacle colour swirls, growth lines and guest crystals in un-heated Mogok ruby]] <br clear="left" />
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[[image:Distorted_calcite_guest_crystal_in_un-heated_Mogok_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Distorted calcite guest crystal in un-heated Mogok ruby<br />Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk]] <br clear="left" />
  
[[image:Rounded_calcite_guest_crystals_in_un-heated_Mogok_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Rounded calcite guest crystals in un-heated Mogok ruby]]
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[[image:Guest_crystals_in_un-heated_Mogok_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Guest crystals in un-heated Mogok ruby<br />Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk]]  
[[image:Unusual_acicular_guest_crystal_and_small_particle_inclusions_in_un-heated_Mogok_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Unusual acicular guest crystal and small particle inclusions in un-heated Mogok ruby]]
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[[image:Apatite_and_calcite_guest_crystals_reflecting_within_un-heated_Mogok_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Apatite and calcite guest crystals reflecting within an un-heated Mogok ruby<br />Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk]]  
[[image:Distorted_calcite_guest_crystal_in_un-heated_Mogok_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Distorted calcite guest crystal in un-heated Mogok ruby]] <br clear="left" />
 
 
 
[[image:Guest_crystals_in_un-heated_Mogok_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Guest crystals in un-heated Mogok ruby]]  
 
[[image:Apatite_and_calcite_guest_crystals_reflecting_within_un-heated_Mogok_ruby.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Apatite and calcite guest crystals reflecting within an un-heated Mogok ruby]]  
 
  
 
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Revision as of 01:54, 5 April 2007

Ruby
Chemical composition Al2O3
Crystal system Trigonal
Habit Prismatic, tabular
Cleavage None, twinned stones may show parting
Fracture Conchoidal
Hardness 9
Optic nature Uniaxial -
Refractive index 1.762-1.770
(+.009,-.005)
Birefringence 0.008-0.010
Dispersion Low, 0.018
Specific gravity 4
Lustre Vitreous to subadamantine
Pleochroism Strong; puplish-red to orangy-red
Untreated 2.7 carat Ruby courtesy of Wild Fish Gems

Ruby is the red variety of the mineral corundum. When corundum occurs in any other color it is referred to as a sapphire. Rubies are mined primarily in Burma, Madagascar, India and Eastern Africa. More important than the gem's locality of origin is the actual color and clarity of the stone. Rubies that are the most valuable will be pure red in color, without any modifying tones of violet, orange or brown and are transparent in clarity. A fine ruby still commands the highest price of any stone in the world!

The brilliant red color of the ruby has supported many tales. One is that rubies store vast quantities of heat and when placed in water, they will cause the water to boil. Obviously this is an exaggeration, but I know some that swear if you hold a ruby in your left hand, you'll feel bursts of heat. I'm a bit skeptical, so please let me know if you experience this phenomenon. Ruby, none the less, is a powerful stone and has long been considered a magnet for prosperity, attracting abundance both materially and spiritually.

Spectrum

Spectrum of ruby: both natural and synthetic.

Ruby history

The word ruby is derived from the Latin "rubeus", meaning "red".

Ruby mining

The most famous source of fine rubies is Burma, now known as Myanmar. The ruby mines of Myanmar are older than recorded history; Stone Age and Bronze Age mining tools have been found in the mining area of Mogok. Rubies from the legendary mines in Mogok often have a pure red color, which has been described as "pigeon's-blood" although that term is more fanciful than an actual practical standard in the trade today. Myanmar also produces intense pinkish red rubies which are almost electric in color. Many of the rubies from Burma have a strong fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet rays like those in sunlight.

Ruby phenomena

Star and cat's eye

Inclusion images

Apatite in untreated Mogok ruby
Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk
Apatite in untreated Mogok ruby
Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk
Distorted calcite guest crystals in untreated Mogok ruby
Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk

Rutile silk in untreated Mogok ruby
Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk
Heat treated Mong Hsu ruby
Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk
Partially dissolved rutile silk in heat treated Vietnamese ruby
Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk

Rounded calcite guest crystals with 'treacle' colour swirls in un-heated Mogok ruby
Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk
Growth lines, guest crystals and un-disolved rutile silk in un-heated Mogok ruby
Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk
Treacle colour swirls, growth lines and guest crystals in un-heated Mogok ruby
Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk

Rounded calcite guest crystals in un-heated Mogok ruby
Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk
Unusual acicular guest crystal and small particle inclusions in un-heated Mogok ruby
Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk
Distorted calcite guest crystal in un-heated Mogok ruby
Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk

Guest crystals in un-heated Mogok ruby
Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk
Apatite and calcite guest crystals reflecting within an un-heated Mogok ruby
Photo courtesy of Apsara.co.uk