Sapphire
A variety of Corundum
This page kindly sponsored by Hobart M. King
About Sapphire
Formula:
Al2O3
A variety of Corundum
Most commonly refers to a blue gem variety of corundum, but other coloured varieties of corundum are also described as sapphire, except red corundum, which is better known as Ruby.
The dehydration of diaspore in corundum occurs between 525 and 550 °C, whereas goethite transforms to hematite between 300 and 325 °C. As both diaspore and goethite may be present as inclusions in rubies, sapphires, and other corundum varieties (e.g., pink sapphires, padparadscha), these dehydration reactions and phase transformations can be considered important criteria to separate unheated from heated stones, specifically in cases in which other methods (e.g., microscopy, FTIR) are unsuccessful.
Most commonly refers to a blue gem variety of corundum, but other coloured varieties of corundum are also described as sapphire, except red corundum, which is better known as Ruby.
The dehydration of diaspore in corundum occurs between 525 and 550 °C, whereas goethite transforms to hematite between 300 and 325 °C. As both diaspore and goethite may be present as inclusions in rubies, sapphires, and other corundum varieties (e.g., pink sapphires, padparadscha), these dehydration reactions and phase transformations can be considered important criteria to separate unheated from heated stones, specifically in cases in which other methods (e.g., microscopy, FTIR) are unsuccessful.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Sapphire.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3529 (as Sapphire)
1136 (as Corundum)
1136 (as Corundum)
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3529:9 (as Sapphire)
mindat:1:1:1136:1 (as Corundum)
mindat:1:1:1136:1 (as Corundum)
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
d0a23d31-c773-4ac3-ba49-cd702c4cbdae (as Sapphire)
96dfb345-a230-4fb2-a2ba-f50c48aa5c2c (as Corundum)
96dfb345-a230-4fb2-a2ba-f50c48aa5c2c (as Corundum)
Pronunciation of Sapphire
Pronunciation:
Play | Recorded by | Country |
---|---|---|
Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Chemistry of Sapphire
Mindat Formula:
Al2O3
Elements listed:
Synonyms of Sapphire
Other Language Names for Sapphire
Arabic:Jacut
Basque:Zafiro
Bulgarian:Сапфир
Czech:Safír
Danish:Safir
Dutch:Saffier
Esperanto:Safiro
Estonian:Safiir
Finnish:Safiiri
French:Saphir
Greek:Ζαφείρι
Hebrew:ספיר
Hindi:नीलम
Indonesian:Safir
Italian:Zaffiro
Japanese:サファイア
Latin:Sapphirus
Carbunculus (in part)
Carbunculus (in part)
Latvian:Safīrs
Lithuanian:Safyras
Norwegian:Safir
Polish:Szafir
Portuguese:Safira
Romanian:Safir
Russian:Сапфир
Simplified Chinese:蓝宝石
Slovak:Zafír
Slovenian:Safir
Swedish:Safir
Telugu:నీలమణి
Turkish:Safir
Ukrainian:Сапфір
Vietnamese:Xa-phia
Varieties of Sapphire
"Kashmir" Sapphire | "Kashmir" sapphire is a trade term for the sapphire of violetish blue to pure blue hue with strong to vivid saturation and medium-dark tone. The stones have a velvety lustre due to minute inclusions. The colour is also known as "cornflower blue". "Kashmir... |
Asteriated Sapphire | A variety of Sapphire exhibiting the property of asterism. |
Cat Sapphire | Oriental sapphires of some value but not of the characteristic colour. |
Padparadscha | A salmon-pink coloured gem sapphire. It is GIA's opinion that this color range should be limited to light to medium tones of pinkish orange to orange-pink hues. Lacking delicacy, the dark brownish orange or even medium brownish orange tones of corundum ... |
Star Sapphire | A variety of sapphire that exhibits a star pattern when viewed down the c axis. The chatoyance is due to oriented microscopic inclusions (nanorods) of diaspore (Nadin, 2007). The Star of India is the largest star sapphire in the world (563 carats or 113 ... |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
31 photos of Sapphire associated with Ruby | Al2O3 |
28 photos of Sapphire associated with Corundum | Al2O3 |
13 photos of Sapphire associated with Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
12 photos of Sapphire associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
11 photos of Sapphire associated with Mica Group | |
10 photos of Sapphire associated with Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
10 photos of Sapphire associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
9 photos of Sapphire associated with Dravite | NaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
9 photos of Sapphire associated with Feldspar Group | |
9 photos of Sapphire associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Sapphire
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3529.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Sapphire
Reference List:
forum.amiminerals.it (n.d.) http://forum.amiminerals.it/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=17940&sid=ddac7db0e6e8b0b0cdb73f5aaecc2ba6
Giuliani, Gaston, Fallick, Anthony E., Garnier, Virginie, France-Lanord, Christian, Ohnenstetter, Daniel, Schwarz, Dietmar (2005) Oxygen isotope composition as a tracer for the origins of rubies and sapphires. Geology, 33 (4) 249 doi:10.1130/g21261.1
forum.amiminerals.it (n.d.) http://forum.amiminerals.it/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=17212&sid=caa89199acc501d3dcefb03b0478b3d8
Localities for Sapphire
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Gem gravels, Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka