Where are sapphires mined? Sapphire deposits in Russia

What is a stone?

Sapphire is a blue stone with various shades. It contains impurities of iron or titanium and is included in the group of jewelry of the highest category. The name of the product comes from the Greek word, which translates as “scratching”. Until the 19th century, this was the name given to all stones of similar origin, including lapis lazuli. In Rus' there was a concept of an azure yacht. Other names include: water sapphire, tourmaline, cordierite, etc. We will consider further where real sapphires are mined. The main difference between the stone and its analogues is its high hardness, which is 9 units on the Mohs scale.

Product care

Soapy water is suitable for cleaning jewelry with stones.
Many jewelry owners have experienced the frustration of having their favorite pieces damaged. Some stones have very low strength and split from a slight blow, others do not tolerate contact with chemicals.

As for sapphire, it is more durable. Its hardness is 9 out of 10 on the mineralogical scale, so sapphire jewelry does not need to be stored in a separate padded box. Wash them with soap every few months and then leave them to dry naturally. In summer, it is recommended to repeat this procedure somewhat more often.

Cleaning jewelry with soap is different from regular hand washing. Jewelry should not be rubbed against soap, otherwise its particles will become clogged with uneven surfaces and will then be difficult to wash. Use soapy water for cleaning. To make it, lather the soap in a plate or cup.

Coloring

The color of the stone depends on the deposit of sapphires. The color can vary from stable bluish to dark blue. This is largely due to the percentage of inclusion of fossil titanium in organic matter. The bright shade of cornflower blue crystals from Thailand or Myanmar is also called ringing. A blue color with a silky shine is characteristic of “royal” sapphires. The most valuable stones are considered to be Ceylon specimens with a purple tint. Next in the hierarchy are Kashmiri and Indian jewelry. The most expensive sapphire is quite rare and has an iridescent inner star with six rays.

The Diamond Fund of the Russian Federation contains one of the remarkable sapphires, which has an oval configuration and a cornflower blue hue. Its weight is 258 carats, diameter is 39*22 mm. The stone belongs to the royal regalia.

What do the tags on sapphire jewelry mean?

If you decide to purchase a sapphire product, be prepared for the fact that it will have a label with a code. This is not at all a meaningless set of symbols - Russian GOST obliges the manufacturer to indicate information about ennobled gems, so abbreviations are used, otherwise a multi-page booklet would have to be attached to the earrings or ring.

The information on the tags should be read as follows:

• The first number next to "Sapph." or with." – the number of inlaid stones.
• A letter without a dot is a type of jewelry cut. Due to the high hardness of the stone, the choice here is small even among elite brands: (O)val, (M)arkiz, (K)vadrat or (Kr)ug, (G)rusha.
• Two numbers with an asterisk in the middle are the actual size of the insert. For example, 8*5 means that the edge contains a sapphire measuring eight by five millimeters.
• The numbers after the dimensions indicate the number of faceted faces. The parameter is not always indicated, but the most popular styles today are: 73 (Highlight), 74 (Kara Star), 86 (Royal or Royal), 88 (Anniversary), 102 (Magna), 146 (Profi).
• Decimal fraction of the form: 0.56 or 3.7 - the mass of each stone in carats.
• The final fractional number with a double combination from 1 to 3. The first digit means the saturation of the sapphire shade - the palest ones are signed by one, the dark blue ones - by three. The second number of the fraction records the purity of the stone - one means the absence of visible adhesions, two means they are visible under a magnifying glass, three means with the naked eye.

For example, you are thinking of buying a sapphire ring whose tag says:

1Sapph. Kr 3*3 74 3.75 2/1

This means that the piece is set with a single round-cut Star of Cara sapphire measuring 3 x 3 millimeters and weighing 3.75 carats. 2/1 is a blue color code of medium saturation, but at the same time of the highest refinement. Units reveal the constituent diffuse elements only through a microscope - there is no need to worry about the quality of the product.

Interesting Facts

Two famous sapphires are in the vault of the British kings. One of them is placed in the center of the cross of the imperial crown. The stone has an ancient history, dating back to the 11th century. Another beautiful jewelry sapphire measuring 25*38 millimeters adorned the crown of Emperor Charles II, but in 1688 it ended up in England after being stolen. Now the stone is located in the occipital part of the royal crown tiara.

One of the largest sapphires was found on the island of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). After processing, its weight was 446 carats. According to the newspapers, in the USA (North Carolina, 1988), a connoisseur found a sapphire stone, the price of which was several million dollars. At first, the miner mistook it for rock crystal, but in the end it turned out to be a gemstone weighing more than 3.5 thousand carats.

Who is it suitable for?

People striving to achieve a goal (provided that this goal will benefit the owner and people).

For those whose lives are filled with stress and constant worry.

For those who don't like their job.

Unconfident people.

King Stone Astrology

Sapphire is perfect for Sagittarius. After all, the night ruler of Sagittarius is Jupiter.

Expert opinion

Semenishcheva Polina

Specialist in mineralogy. Graduated from St. Petersburg Mining University.

Note : Astromineralogy does not recommend sapphire for Capricorns. But if you sincerely love the stone, then it will not cause harm.

Is Sapphire right for you?

Not really

Element

Water

Earth

Fire

Air

Planets

Jupiter

Saturn

Energy

Yin

Kashmir sapphires

For jewelers and connoisseurs, sapphire from Kashmir is considered the most valuable. It is valued for its original color. The deposit was formed as a result of a mountain collapse in 1880. These high quality stones were found at an altitude of 5 thousand meters. Intensive extraction of stones was carried out for 8 years. Kashmir sapphires are a kind of standard among the jewelry under consideration. The blue color with a silky tint does not change even under artificial lighting.

The price of products is determined based on the color, size and transparency of the stone. Active mining is currently underway in Australia and Thailand. The oldest deposit is considered to be Ceylon (Sri Lanka). In addition, production is carried out in the USA, Russia, India, and Madagascar.

How to spot a fake

The popularity of blue gems has led to the massive emergence of fakes. Instead of real blue corundum, artificial sapphire is often sold. Particularly inattentive buyers end up with plastic.

Knowing some subtleties, you can protect yourself from fraud and counterfeiting.

How to choose a sapphire:

• To understand whether it is real corundum or a cheap imitation, try scratching it. Due to the hardness of the mineral, it is not afraid of sharp objects - needles, scissors, knives. Only another corundum or diamond can damage it.
• A more complex fake will reveal itself if you expose the stone to ultraviolet rays. Synthetics will immediately change color to green.
• To distinguish the original from the fake, you need to hold the jewelry in your hands. Artificial sapphire and plastic will heat up faster than real mineral.
• When examined under a microscope, it turns out that the mineral has a heterogeneous structure. A complete absence of unevenness occurs only in laboratory products.

A person who understands stones as a matter of profession knows what a sapphire looks like, and therefore will be able to distinguish a fake by eye. But an inexperienced buyer will have a hard time. Moreover, the cost of a product does not always equal its quality.

If you are not sure that you can handle it on your own, go to the store with a jeweler or mineralogist.

Deposits in Russia and Sri Lanka

In Russia there are practically no deposits of the precious stone in question. In the northeast of Kazakhstan there is the Semizbugu basin. In addition, corundum deposits are present in the Kyshtym region on the Borzovka River and in the Ural Ilmen Mountains.

Sapphires from Sri Lanka are famous for their excellent quality and variety of colors. The Ratnaputra region is considered the most productive region in this country. Here, stones are mined that are characterized by the absence of various gas and other inclusions, as well as having a high content of silky rutile. Stones of all known colors have been found in Ceylon, including black sapphire, the cost of which is not particularly high compared to its blue, purple and red counterparts.

Where and how are sapphires mined?

Sapphire belongs to the family of corundum - minerals that are crystalline aluminum oxide, containing 52.91% aluminum and 47.09% oxygen. It is worth noting that rubies also belong to corundum.

There is an opinion that sapphires are blue-colored gems, but there are also yellow, pink, orange, blue-green and even colorless samples. The color of sapphire depends on the amount of iron, titanium, chromium, and vanadium content. Due to the admixtures of titanium and iron, a blue stone is formed, which is valued above others.

T hardness on the Mohs scale: 9

Density: 3.95 – 4.00 g/cm3

Refractive index: 1,766 – 1,774

Birefringence: 0,008 – 0,009

Variance: 0.018 (BG)

Color: blue, blue-violet, blue with a faint green tint

Syngony : trigonal

Optical character: anisotropic, uniaxial, negative

Cleavage: none

History and origin of sapphire

Sapphire (from the ancient Greek sappheiros - blue stone) - in Ancient Rome it was worn only by the priests of the temple of the god Jupiter; later for Europeans it became a symbol of sincerity and modesty. In the East, sapphire personified wisdom and was associated with achievements and victory, in India it was used to decorate the clothes of clergy, and even in Ancient Egypt the stone left its mark - thanks to Queen Cleopatra.

But it is not only because of Cleopatra that it can be called a royal stone, because throughout history it has adorned the regalia of other royals. In particular, it can be found on the British crown (St. Edward's sapphire) or on the orb of the Russian Empire, which was owned by such monarchs as Paul I and Nicholas II.

According to Indian legend, sapphires are of divine origin: one of the people prayed to Brahma and asked him for the opportunity to visit the highest seventh heaven. God did not refuse the mortal, but fulfilled his wish a little differently: he scattered the elixir of immortality throughout the world, which fell down in heavenly colored stones - sapphires.

Sapphire deposits can be found all over the Earth. However, the best stones are mined in India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Kashmir, Australia and the USA.

Sapphire deposits in Russia

There are also deposits of sapphires in Russia - it is no coincidence that our country is considered one of the richest in the field of minerals and precious minerals. The main deposits of corundum are the Urals and the Kola Peninsula.

However, sapphires mined in our homeland are not distinguished by the jewelry quality of their crystals - mostly gray-blue specimens are found, although the most valuable stones on the world market are cornflower blue.

Sapphires from Madagascar

The island of Madagascar is one of the richest gem deposits on the planet. It has huge reserves of sapphires, which are characterized by an incredible variety of shades (yellow, orange, green, pink, purple, cornflower blue) and excellent quality. The largest sapphire deposit on the island was discovered in 1998 in the town of Ilakaka.

Hundreds of miners are fighting for the nuggets, who extract sapphires almost by hand, digging up red clay, and then sell the stones to buyers, from whom the minerals go to the European market. The mines from which minerals are extracted look like holes, and they are not reinforced with anything, so mining stones in these places is very dangerous.

India: Kashmir sapphires

The largest stones of rich cornflower blue color, which the whole world admires, are mined in India, in the states of Kashmir and Jammu. Since the 19th century, excavations have been carried out here manually and gems of the highest quality have been mined. The deposits are located in the mountains at an altitude of 4000 km and at a depth of up to 10 meters. It turns out that blue stones are mined from the heavens themselves.

About 15% of the sapphires mined in India are best of their kind. They are characterized by a strong saturation of tone, which is obtained due to the absence of gray in the nuggets, which would make the stones faded. Instead, they have a lot of blue and purple tones. The more blue there is in a stone and the less other colors, the more expensive it is.

Today, Kashmir sapphires are valued almost above all others, and they are becoming increasingly rare due to depletion of deposits. But those corundums that are mined in the rest of the world are compared specifically with Indian ones and cornflower blue stones are called “Kashmiri”.

Sapphires from Sri Lanka

The lion's share of multi-colored sapphires comes to the world market from Sri Lanka. Yellow, pink, and blue gems have been mined here for two thousand years.

There are two types of corundum deposits in Sri Lanka:

• in clastic rocks at the bottom of rivers 35 meters deep;
• in the upper layers of soil.

On the surface of the earth, stones are mined by hand: workers collect the top layer of soil and wash it in special containers. As a result, nuggets of different sizes are found, but of excellent “Ceylon” quality.

Pink-orange sapphires are considered the rarest - they are also mined in Sri Lanka and are called “padparadscha” in the local dialect.

Sapphires from Thailand

In Thailand, sapphires are mined in the provinces of Konchanaburi and Chanthaburi; not only sapphires are found here, but also many other stones: from topazes to amethysts.

This country bears the title of sapphire monopolist, since it is here that the lion's share of all stones entering the world market is mined and processed.

It is noteworthy that in Thailand you can often buy excellent quality black star sapphires.

Sapphires from Australia

Multi-colored specimens (yellow, purple, green) are found in large quantities in Australia - in Queensland and New South Wales. Here, on an area of ​​50 km, sapphires are mined, which are one of the leaders in the jewelry world.

In the north of South Wales there is also active mining of corundum, which occurs in river beds. But in this part of the country, good samples are found relatively less often - only 20% of stones are suitable for jewelry.

Sapphires from USA

The beds of the famous Missouri River in the USA give humanity beautiful examples of yellow, blue, blue, green and cornflower blue sapphires.

Purple sapphires are mined in the state of Montana at the Yogo deposit - they are distinguished by particularly vibrant shades that can be seen in all their glory even under artificial lighting.

Active mining of sapphires today is also carried out in Africa, Brazil, and Burma. The only continent where sapphires have not yet been found is Antarctica.

Despite the fact that sapphires are mined in many countries, the number of truly unique stones is limited. It’s not every day that you see a delightful blue or cornflower blue sapphire - the cost of 1 carat of such gems can exceed the cost of 1 carat of diamonds, and not all mined stones are of jewelry quality. In the Maxim Demidov catalog you will find jewelry with perfect natural sapphires!

Remember that sapphires are an excellent decoration for a stylish look and speak about the elite tastes of the owner. It is no coincidence that celebrities such as Heidi Klum, Penelope Cruz and even Kate Middleton choose these stones.

Madagascar

Precious stones in this country are mined in multiple deposits throughout the state. Sapphires mined in the south are geologically related to their counterparts from Tanzania and Ceylon. The northern basins are rich in stones of a completely different structure; their origin is still not clear. Madagascar is a potential major supplier of these jewelry around the world. Currently, export is difficult due to the poor development of relevant areas, including the scientific approach, technological features and transportation.

The material mined in Madagascar is more saturated with various foreign inclusions. In terms of color, the stones are not inferior to Ceylon products. The requirements for such material are lower than for fossils from Sri Lanka, but their cost is also an order of magnitude lower.

Kenya and Tanzania

In these countries, sapphire mining is carried out in the provinces of Umba (Kenya), Tunudra, Songea (Tanzania). In the first basin, the deposits are similar to Ceylon stones; there is practically no red color. The remaining deposits are rich in material identical to the reserves of Madagascar. Among the main colors, green and red shades predominate. In Tanzania and Kenya, star-shaped stones are most often found, which are characterized by the effect of changing light.

Australia, Thailand, Cambodia

Australian sapphires are mined from a variety of small deposits. They are optimally suited for commercial use. Mostly in this country there are stones of a rich dark blue color. Pure examples are quite rare, but the size can compete with the largest analogues in the world.

Jewelry sapphire is also mined in Thailand (Siam and Kanchaburi regions). The number of products is growing every year, competing in the market with Ceylon and Madagascar minerals. Thai jewelry is low in price, not very high quality and medium in size. The color of the stones is slightly saturated and includes cabochon raw materials.

The gradual resolution of the troubled situation in Cambodia has a positive effect on the development of the sapphire market. Production increased maximally in Pailin province. Stones from this deposit are distinguished by their purity and richness of colors. These two main parameters of jewelry quality are often combined in Cambodian pieces.

Application

Many will be surprised to learn what is made from sapphire other than jewelry known to the world. Corundum is used in the medical industry: for example, in the creation of artificial eye lenses. It is also used in the fields of rocketry and aviation. It is known that mineral-based glass has a high degree of strength and protection. It is these glasses that are inserted into the windows of airplanes and rockets.

In medicine, it is used not only as a material for artificial eye lenses. It is actively used in the manufacture of joint implants, which is indispensable in the field of traumatology and prosthetics. The strength and durability of such implants has long been proven throughout the world. Of course, they are very expensive, but over time they fully justify themselves.

In the industrial sector, corundum is necessary for waterjet machines. It has long been used as a material for machine nozzles, which must be especially durable. Recently, sapphire has been widely used in instrument making: for example, the substrate of a high-quality microcircuit is often made from it.

Other deposits

Where else are sapphires mined? The highest quality stones are found in Burma, although in limited quantities. These jewelry are rare on the world market due to the trade embargo.

The American Basin in Montana is in a mothballed state due to economic unprofitability. The low level of purity and weak color saturation of stones do not make it possible to create worthy competition in the jewelry market.

There are deposits of the material in question in South America. They are mined in small areas, and sometimes specimens of the highest category are found.

In the early 2000s, sapphires from Mozambique and Nigeria began to go on sale. The quality of these stones is above average, which provides excellent prerequisites for actively exporting jewelry around the world.

Black sapphire

This category includes not the most expensive stones that have a dark blue or rich green color. Under artificial light, they appear in this color, although the basis of any black sapphire is a dark gray color. This stone is valued for its specific pearlescent tint, which is more typical of black pearls. Heat treatment of such a product changes the original shade over time.

The main deposits of the stones in question are located in Australia. Back in 1938, an ordinary guy found a crystal weighing 1156 carats. His father couldn't think of anything better than to make a door prop out of it. It later turned out that it was a sapphire, which was sold for 18 thousand dollars. After its cutting, the weight became 733 carats, and the price increased to one million.

What distinguishes top-notch sapphires - which ones are considered the best?

The cost of sapphires is most influenced by their color. The color of a sapphire is even more significant than its purity. These stones are rarely completely pure, unlike, for example, diamonds, and even very expensive sapphires can contain inclusions.

Very slight variations in the color of sapphires can have a significant impact on the price. Excellent quality stones with good color and clarity are rare. The best and most highly prized shades for blue sapphires are violet-blue. Rich mid or dark shades are especially valued, while tones that are too dark or light are rated lower.

Artificial stones

Synthetic sapphires are used not only in jewelry, but also for the production of lasers or gravitational space transmitters. Such antennas are distinguished by their reliability and capacity. In addition, this direction continues to advance in various high-tech industries.

Jewelers and artists continue to prefer natural crystals. It is worth noting that natural transparent samples are extremely rare. The price of a sapphire stone in this case can range from $4,000 per carat. Usually, future jewelry is mined from placers.

In conclusion

Sapphires are precious stones of various shades that are carefully hidden in the depths of the Earth. They are mined in the form of crystals that undergo further cutting. This operation requires appropriate skills because the stones are hard. In addition, it is necessary to preserve the color of the specimen so that it shows up optimally after processing. Depending on the place of extraction, the saturation and transparency of the product varies. The most preferred color of sapphire is light blue or dark blue, which shows up beautifully not only in sunlight, but also in artificial light.

Medicinal properties

Healers have long studied the healing properties of sapphire, discovering new ones. Traditionally, it is recommended to use the stone to enhance the treatment of heart ailments, asthma, skin diseases, diabetes, migraines, kidney diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, and mental disorders. It is customary to take into account the color of the mineral, since stones of different colors have their own specific characteristics.

• Yellow helps fight depression, stress, strengthens the immune system, and has a positive effect on all body systems. It is not recommended to constantly wear a stone or jewelry made of yellow sapphire, as the strong energy of the mineral can cause anxiety.
• Green protects against insomnia and nightmares. Just put it under your pillow at night. Like most green gems, it promotes visual acuity.
• Blue helps in the treatment of skin rashes and reduces inflammation. Especially indicated for heart patients. Helps recover from heart attacks and strokes. Relieves severe headaches.

The properties of sapphire stone are clearly manifested for women, as it helps treat gynecological diseases and relieves reproductive problems.

The healing properties of the gem were admired in Rus'. They called it “wise” because they were sure that it strengthens memory, helps to remain sane until old age, promotes the thinking process, and even rejuvenates the body. Healers from other countries also speak about the ability of sapphire to fight sclerosis and senile insanity. It is called a stone of longevity because it stabilizes blood pressure, partially neutralizes the adverse effects of solar activity on the body, and strengthens the general well-being of older people.

It is recommended to wash your face with sapphire water. To do this, early in the morning a crystal is dipped into the liquid for two hours. Infused water relieves inflammation, tightens the skin, and treats eye diseases. A migraine attack will subside if you apply a compress with sapphire water to your forehead.

Uncut stones are more suitable for medicinal purposes.

Modern people's belief in the healing properties of sapphire is not as strong as in ancient times. But, you must admit, even the simple contemplation of a precious stone of amazing beauty and magical reflections of light on its many facets calms and pacifies. And quality relaxation promotes health.