| A
variety of the mineral, Corundum, ruby is identical
to sapphire in all properties but color. Its sensational
red hue is obtained by inclusions of chromium,
and is mined in various sites across the globe;
most notably Burma, India, Sri-Lanka, and the
United States.
Rubies are the second hardest substance, to
diamond, and large, transparent rubies are rarer
than diamond. Flawless rubies are valued higher
than any other gem besides Fancy Diamonds.
The deepest reds can be found in Pigeons Blood,
and Burmese Rubies. Large, flawless specimens
of these types can be worth millions of dollars.
Rubies with inclusions of parallel spears, called
"rutile needles" cause a cat's eye
effect, or asterism in six to twelve-ray stars.
Synthetic rubies have been in production since
1902, through the Verneuil process. Only an
expert can differentiate these from true rubies.
Some stones that also closely resemble ruby
are: garnet, tourmaline, spinel, rose quartz,
and cuprite, all in their reddest shades.
In general any prefix given to the name ruby,
can be considered a fake, or synthetic stone.
Pigeons blood, Burmese, Cat's Eye, Star, and
Verneuil rubies are the only true forms of the
stone.
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