Where Are Sapphires Formed

Sapphire is a precious gemstone a variety of the mineral corundum consisting of aluminum oxide α al 2 o 3 with trace amounts of elements such as iron titanium chromium vanadium or magnesium it is typically blue but natural fancy sapphires also occur in yellow purple orange and green colors.

Where are sapphires formed. Explore the links for a better understanding of the process a rough takes from mine to gemstone and enjoy a selection of pictures and video that feature the people and places of sapphire mining. Minerals are composed of atoms of certain elements in certain arrangements. Parti sapphires show two or more colors. In most cases they formed at depths of 6 18 miles in the earth s crust as intense pressures and high temperatures above 800 degrees transformed sedimentary.

Aluminum oxide as it is known in mineralogy circles is formed by both volcanic processes deep in the earth and the high pressure and temperature conditions of metamorphic processes. Corundum is made of aluminum and oxygen and can be blue when the element titanium is incorporated into its atomic structure. Corundum sapphire al 2 o 3. Did you know that ruby and sapphire are actually the same mineral corundum among natural minerals only diamond has a greater hardness not surprisingly when combined with fantastic colors rubies and sapphires are some of the most highly desired gemstones.

Sapphires are a rare gemstone that can take millions of years to form. The natural crystal form of sapphire is called a trigonal three sided prisms examples of which are in the photo below. Some more interesting varieties of sapphire with rutile the ore form of titanium intrusions cause light to be reflected in a six point star creating what is known as a star sapphire. In this introduction to sapphire mining follow the links to see where and how sapphires are mined.

Sapphire is the name for the mineral corundum when it is blue in color. Like rubies sapphires are also formed out of the mineral corundum in scientific terms the mineral is known as aluminum oxide. Sapphires are created through certain shifts in heat and pressure and can be found in both metamorphic and igneous rocks. Some rubies and sapphires are found in high grade metamorphic rocks and in igneous rocks called gneisses and granulites located in sri lanka india madagascar and eastern africa.

Sapphire origin formation. Sapphires like any naturally occurring gemstone are formed by the different shifts mixings and chemical changes that are constantly taking place in the earth. Rubies make up the red side of the family while sapphires are all the other colors the famous blue as well as pink green purple orange and yellow. What are rubies and sapphires.

How do sapphires form.