Sapphire
What is Sapphire?
Sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum that is typically blue but can also come in various other colors except red. It’s primarily found in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Madagascar. Sapphire has been used for centuries as a gemstone and is a popular choice for jewelry due to its beautiful colors and spiritual significance.
Sapphire is a colorful gemstone that belongs to the corundum family. Its wide range of colors and lustrous appearance make it a popular choice for jewelry and decorative items. The stone is often used in rings, necklaces, and pendants, and is sometimes used to make beads.
Chemical Classification | Inorganic - Oxide (Corundum) |
Color | While blue is the most well-known color, sapphires can be violet, green, yellow, orange, pink, and even colorless. |
Streak | White |
Luster | Vitreous. |
Transparency | Transparent to translucent. |
Occurrence | Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, and Madagascar. |
Formation | Typically found in metamorphic rocks and in igneous rocks. |
Diaphaneity | Transparent |
Cleavage | None |
Mohs Hardness | 9 |
Specific Gravity | Approximately 3.95 to 4.03. |
Diagnostic Properties | Hardness, various colors except red. |
Chemical Composition | Al2O3 |
Pleochroism | Dichroic in most varieties. |
Crystal System | Trigonal (variety of Corundum) |
Optical Properties | Uniaxial (-) |
Refractive Index | 1.762 - 1.770 |
Birefringence | 0.008 - 0.009 |
2V angle | Not applicable (isometric) |
Dispersion | 0.018. |