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Corundum

Saphir

MNHN N°195.146

visu_12 infos

FROM : Région de Monaragala, Sri Lanka
SIZE : 4 x 2 cm

general description

This saphir has a hexagonal bipyramide-shape well terminated, it is transparent and has a beautiful blue colour. It has a lenght of 4 cm and a diameter of 2 cm.

This splendid saphir crystal was obtained thanks to support from Total. It is one of the most rare specimen coming from Sri Lanka that has not been sized nor heated to reinforce its colour.

It is currently exposed in the Treasure Room, within the Gallery of Mineralogy of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle.

Photography: Louis-Dominique Bayle, © MNHN.
3D View: Alain Dahmane / Photo Saint-Hilaire, © MNHN.

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The Species page

Identity card

SPECIE : Corundum
VARIETY :Saphir

HISTORY : Name inspired most likely by the tamoul "kurundam" and/or by the sanscrit "kuruvinda" meaning rubis

Species "discovered" in 1714 by Woodward near Bombay, India

Typ-locality: undefined because species already known by the Ancients
ANCIENT NAME : Télésie, topaze orientale

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Al2 O3
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Hexagonal
COLOR : Colourless, white, red, blue, yellow
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to translucent
LUSTER : Adamantine to vitreous
STREAK : White
MORPHOLOGY : Prismatic hexagonal crystals
HARDNESS : 9
DENSITY : 4

CHEMICAL CLASS : IV - Oxides and hydroxide
GROUP : Corundum
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 4/C.04-10
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 4.CB.05

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