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Corundum

Big Photo

Ruby
Mozambique
3.59 carats
© Palagems

The name "corundum" is derived from the Tamil word "kuruntam" meaning "ruby". Corundum is called ruby if red and padparadscha if pink-orange. All other colors are called sapphire.

Corundum Gemstones by Colour

This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Corundum Gemstones by Size

This table shows distribution of Corundum gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:0.43 cts
Heaviest:563.35 cts
Average:12.76 cts
Total photos:82
Do you have a larger Corundum? Why not upload a photo?
Significant stones
Ecce Homo Star Ruby2,890 cts
Black Star of Queensland, Star Sapphire733 cts
0.43ct to 56.72ct56.72ct to 113.01ct113.01ct to 169.31ct169.31ct to 225.60ct225.60ct to 281.89ct281.89ct to 338.18ct338.18ct to 394.47ct394.47ct to 450.77ct450.77ct to 507.06ct507.06ct to 563.35ct
General Information
Varieties/Types:
Ruby - A red gem variety of corundum
Star Ruby - A chatoyant ruby showing asterism.
Padparadscha - An salmon-pink coloured sapphire.
Star Sapphire - A chatoyant sapphire showing asterism.
Chemical Formula
Al
 
2
O
 
3
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Significant stones
ImageNameWeightCountry of OriginCurrent Owner
Ecce Homo Star Ruby2,890.00 ctsMozambique
Black Star of Queensland, Star Sapphire733.00 ctsAustraliaSmithsonian Institute
Star of India563.35 ctsSri Lanka
Star of India563.35 ctsSri Lanka
Logan sapphire422.99 ctsSri Lanka
Star of Asia330.00 ctsMyanmar
Pride of Queensland169.00 ctsAustralia
Edwardes Ruby167.00 cts
Click here to view all significant Corundum gemstones
Physical Properties of Corundum
Mohs Hardness9
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
Specific Gravity3.90 to 4.05
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
Cleavage QualityNone
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
FractureConchoidal
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Optical Properties of Corundum
Refractive Index1.758 to 1.780
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
Optical CharacterUniaxial/-
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
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Birefringence0.007 to 0.010
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
PleochroismStrong
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Dispersion0.018
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Colour
Colour (General)All colours
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
Causes of ColourPurple, Fe2+-O-Ti4+ charge transfer coexisting with Cr3+ in octahedral coordination. Blue, Fe2+-O-Ti4+ charge transfer with influence of Fe2+Fe3+ charge transfer. Green, Fe3+ in octahedral coordination coexisting with Fe2+Ti4+ charge transfer, Ti3+ and Cr3+ in octahedral coordination. Yellow, O2-Fe3+ charge transfer; Fe3+ and Ti3+, a variety of unstable color centers of unknown structure; Fe3+ pairs. Orange to orange-brown Cr3+ in octahedral coordination and color centers; with a contribution of Fe3+. Orangy pink ("padparadscha"), Cr3+ in octahedral coordination and color centers, Cr4+ in octahedral coordination due to Cr4+ and Mg2+ substituting for Al3+ in the crystal structure. Red (ruby), Cr3+ in octahedral coordination with minor contributions of V3+ and Fe3+ in octahedral coordination. Pink, Cr3+ in octahedral coordination. Color-change, Cr3+ and/or V3+ in octahedral coordination in a particular range of concentration
W. William Hanneman, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011)
TransparencyTransparent,Translucent,Opaque
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
LustreAdamantine,Vitreous
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Crystallography of Corundum
Crystal SystemTrigonal
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
HabitTabular, barrel-shaped
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Geological Environment
Where found:Found in granular limestone, gneiss, mica or chlorite schists.
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Spectrographic Data
Calculated Spectra:
Click spectra for more information
Ruby - Locality: Hunza, Pakistan
Ruby - Locality: Afghanistan
Ruby - Locality: Synthetic - Flame Fusion
Ruby - Locality: Wizna, Tanzania (1.75cts)
Ruby - Locality: Synthetic
Inclusions: rutile, zircon, apatite, calcite, spinel, etc., healing cracks, liquid and two-phase inclusions, negative crystals, hollow tubes (boehmite tubes), twinning lamellaes - Gemmological Tables, Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, 2004, p 26
Rutile inclusions
Inclusions:
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