Hannah’s Reflections ~ Sapphire
Hi, I am Hannah.
Each week I will be researching Gemstone Families, and writing my findings here, so you can learn with me.
Today, I will be writing about Sapphire which is in The Corundum Family.
The name sapphire is derived from the Latin word sapphirus. Sapphire is a precious gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, consisting of aluminium oxide (α-Al2O3) with trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, cobalt, lead, chromium, vanadium, magnesium, boron, and silicon. 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. (I didn’t know this before so I didn’t put it in as a part of the corundum family, as not all articles I found has names for the different colors of sapphire.)
When exposed to low light conditions, some sapphires can transform from their blue appearance in daylight to violet-blue, purple, or reddish purples. A special interaction between the sapphire and light sources, specifically a reaction between the sapphire's absorption of particular light waves and the shifting spectrum output of the light source, results in the color change in some sapphires. Sapphires in any color but blue are called “fancies.”
Sri Lanka is renowned for its sapphire production. The largest sapphire ever recorded, known as the Star of Adam, was discovered here. This remarkable gem weighs a staggering 1,404.49 carats and showcases a beautiful star effect, making it a true treasure of nature. According to Simon Redfern, a mineral scientist from the University of Cambridge, the stone grew so big because of constant but slow changes in temperatures and pressures within the rocks for millions of years. (Wow! That sounds like such a beautiful, big and very old stone. Imagine if you found a gemstone that big!)
Thank you for reading! I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog :)