ruby's v. sapphire's

[Infinite Muse]

i watched a show about rubies and sapphires
and it got me to wondering (since they come from pretty much the same place)
what are the technical differences between the chemical composition and history of formation of the two that separates them, cuz really the show seemed to lump them together like they were two different versions of the same gem

[Rockprincess]

They are two versions of the same thing. So are Emeralds. They're all Corundum - Al2O3. Corundum comes in all the colours of the rainbow, but people tend to be most familiar with rubies, sapphires and emeralds.

Ruby contains chromium (Cr) impurities

Sapphire contains iron (Fe) and titanium (Ti) impurities

Emeralds contain ferrous iron (FeO), and grade into yellow corundum depending on the balance between that and ferric iron (Fe2O3)

So basically, the gem that grows is dependent on the impurities available, rather than the main crystal matrix.

:colorful:

[Infinite Muse]

well thank you very very much :)

[Aidron]

They are two versions of the same thing. So are Emeralds. They're all Corundum - Al2O3. Corundum comes in all the colours of the rainbow, but people tend to be most familiar with rubies, sapphires and emeralds.

Ruby contains chromium (Cr) impurities

Sapphire contains iron (Fe) and titanium (Ti) impurities

Emeralds contain ferrous iron (FeO), and grade into yellow corundum depending on the balance between that and ferric iron (Fe2O3)

So basically, the gem that grows is dependent on the impurities available, rather than the main crystal matrix.

:colorful:


What are the other colors of the rainbow that these stones manifest as?

[Saleheim]

They are two versions of the same thing. So are Emeralds. They're all Corundum - Al2O3. Corundum comes in all the colours of the rainbow, but people tend to be most familiar with rubies, sapphires and emeralds.

Ruby contains chromium (Cr) impurities

Sapphire contains iron (Fe) and titanium (Ti) impurities

Emeralds contain ferrous iron (FeO), and grade into yellow corundum depending on the balance between that and ferric iron (Fe2O3)

So basically, the gem that grows is dependent on the impurities available, rather than the main crystal matrix.

:colorful:


Are you sure that emerald is a corundum? I thought it was a type of beryl and 'relative' to aquamarine and morganite. I also find that emerald is much lighter in weight than rubies and sapphires which are heavier in weight.

[Rockprincess]

Are you sure that emerald is a corundum? I thought it was a type of beryl and 'relative' to aquamarine and morganite. I also find that emerald is much lighter in weight than rubies and sapphires which are heavier in weight.
You're right! I'm sorry! I hadn't ever looked it up - I just assumed it was the green Corundum. Emerald is beryl which contains chromium (although vanadium can also give the green colour, that is not properly classified as emerald).


What are the other colors of the rainbow that these stones manifest as?
Corundum can be colourless, red, pink, red, black, brown, orange, yellow, green, indigo, violet, or mauve.

The reds and pinks are called Ruby, all the other colours are called Sapphire, with a colour prefix, like Pink sapphire. (So the green would simply be Green sapphire, not Emerald)

[Saleheim]

You're right! I'm sorry! I hadn't ever looked it up - I just assumed it was the green Corundum. Emerald is beryl which contains chromium (although vanadium can also give the green colour, that is not properly classified as emerald).


Corundum can be colourless, red, pink, red, black, brown, orange, yellow, green, indigo, violet, or mauve.

The reds and pinks are called Ruby, all the other colours are called Sapphire, with a colour prefix, like Pink sapphire. (So the green would simply be Green sapphire, not Emerald)

Well, I get confused myself sometimes, so many stones and sometimes so difficult to tell them apart. I just bought a Kunzite but it looks 100% like rose quarz, so easy to mix things up.