Blue Sapphire Corundum Value

Gem quality corundum is often found in placer deposits.

Blue sapphire corundum value.

Corundum is best known for its gem varieties ruby and sapphire. Sapphire is the blue variety of the mineral corundum and is the most popular blue gemstone. Inclusions in general burmese thai and australian blue sapphires contain crystals of plagioclase feldspars orthoclase niobite columbite calcite monazite zircon apatite fergusonite and thorite. The word sapphire comes from the greek sappheiros meaning blue stone but corundum can come in every colour depending on the impurities in the material.

While ruby is the red form of the mineral corundum sapphire is defined as any other color variety of corundum. The color of a ruby is due to the element chromium. Non gem corundum is abundant throughout the world. Sapphires exist in a variety of colors.

Sapphires are generally categorized as blue sapphires any sapphire with a predominantly blue hue or fancy sapphires sapphires of any other color. So if ruby is red and sapphire is blue what about the orange yellow green and violet corundum as well as all the other shades in between. Color is the most important element in estimating the value of blue sapphire. However the term sapphire encompasses all other gem varieties and colors of corundum as well except ruby which is the red variety of corundum which has its own name.

Ruby and sapphire are scientifically the same mineral but just differ in color. The word ruby comes from ruber latin for red. A ruby is a pink to blood red coloured gemstone a variety of the mineral corundum aluminium oxide other varieties of gem quality corundum are called sapphires ruby is one of the traditional cardinal gems together with amethyst sapphire emerald and diamond. Although hue counts the closer to a pure blue the better saturation is more important.

In the gem industry sapphire without any color prefix such as blue sapphire refers to the blue variety of the mineral corundum. In fact gem quality corundum can occur in many different colors such as orange pink green purple and others. Another famous variety of corundum is ruby. Colors of sapphire sapphire is generally known as a blue gemstone but surprisingly it comes in a wide range of colors and quality variations.

Top sapphires reach vivid saturation. Ruby is the red variety and sapphire is the variety that encompasses all other colors although the most popular and valued color of sapphire is blue. Many sapphires on the market are actually grayish.