Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → Geology

This is the biggest sapphire in the world

Gemologists working in Colombo, Sri Lanka, have confirmed the finding of the largest sapphire in the world.

Mihai Andrei by Mihai Andrei
January 8, 2016
in Geology, News

Gemologists working in Colombo, Sri Lanka, have confirmed the finding of the largest sapphire in the world. Weighing in at 1,404.49 carats (about 280 grams) it’s worth up to $175 million.

Large sapphires like this one are extremely rare. Image via CNN.

Sapphires are a gem variety of corundum, a crystalline form of aluminium oxide. Corundum typically appears in mica schist, gneiss, and some marbles, but this particular sapphire was formed in granites that slowly cooled down. Mineral scientist Simon Redfern from Cambridge University told the BBC:

“The granites have been dated as almost two billion years old, and were subsequently squeezed and re-worked in a massive metamorphic mountain-building episode that happened more than 500 million years ago,” says Redfern. “Temperatures and pressures deep within the roots of these mountains would have reached more than 900C and over 9000 atmospheres pressure.”

The sapphire itself formed within the granites as they were being reformed and heated. In order for crystals to grow so large, temperatures need to cool down very slowly.

“In either case, the temperatures and pressures would have changed only very slowly over millions and millions of years,” says Redfern. “This is how the crystal was able to grow so big.”

As for the new owner of this sapphire, who refused to be identified, he says this piece belong in a museum, especially as it is too large to fit in any piece of jewelry. It’s also not clear how much he paid for the gem, but as mentioned above, the gem is valued at at least $100 million.

“The moment I saw it, I decided to buy. I suspected that it might be the world’s largest blue star sapphire. So I took a risk and bought it,” the owner told the BBC.

 

 

Was this helpful?


Thanks for your feedback!

Related posts:
  1. NASA orbiter showcases the biggest canyon in the solar system — and it’s out of this world
  2. Size matters: meet the world’s biggest jet engine
  3. The biggest space telescope in the world, the JWST, is finally complete. It will launch in 2018
  4. Why India might become the biggest market in the world for solar energy
  5. World’s biggest terrestrial carbon sinks are young forests
Tags: Geologysapphire

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW