64 - Ruby corundum

Hello friends, Welcome to the Mineral Repository at the department of geology, Shivaji science college, Nagpur. I am ruby corundum, I come from a very hard and brittle group of minerals belonging to corundum family. I am very famous for being red and therefore the most important factor in determining my value in the market is my color. The finest rubies have a vivid, pure red to slightly purplish red color and hence, my name “ruby” originates from the Latin word “Rubens” meaning red. Additionally, if I absorb any kind of wavelengths, stimulation of fluorescent emission of 694-nanometer-wavelength red light takes place which adds red color and perceived luster in me. I often have inclusions within me which might affect my clarity. some of my varieties have a “silk” effect caused by fine needles of rutile within the mineral. Due to this phenomenon, a glowing and soft appearance known as asterism or the star effect is observed within me and I may be referred to as star ruby. Now a days Gemologists use these needle-like inclusions found within me to distinguish between my synthetic manmade variety and my natural variety. I am also sensitive to warm temperature, on exposure to high temperature, I change my color to green, but upon cooling I regain my original color. I am a mineral of very limited distribution and my best-known localities are in north-central Myanmar (Burma), northeast of Mandalay, where my gemstone variety occurs in bands of crystalline limestone associated with granitic and gneisses am not just beautiful gemstone or a mineral, I have a rich history, symbolism, and prized for my intense color and durability. Thank you for visiting.