Ruby

MFA Acc. #: 2005.572

Description

A red transparent Gemstone composed of Corundum (aluminum oxide). Rubies range in color from a deep rose red to a pale pink due to small amounts of Chromium impurities. They are primarily found in Myanmar (formerly Burma), Kashmir, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar and the U.S.(North Carolina). Rubies were rarely used in antiquity, probably because of their rarity and extreme hardness. A large clear ruby is more valuable than a diamond of equivalent size. Synthetic rubies were first made in 1837 by fusing aluminum oxide with chromium oxide. They are used in watches, scientific instruments, masers, and lasers.

Uncut ruby

Synonyms and Related Terms

red corundum; aluminum oxide; pigeon blood; rubin (Dan., Pol., Sven.); Rubin (Deut.); rubis (Fr.); robijn (Ned.); rubi (Esp.,Port.)

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Physical and Chemical Properties

• Trigonal crystal system. Strongly pleochroic.
• Fracture= uneven or conchoidal.
• Streak = white. Luster = vitreous.
• With high temperatures, ruby becomes green but returns to red on cooling.
• Fluoresces and phosphoresces a vivid red.
• Composition = Al2O3::Cr
• Mohs Hardness = 9.0
• Density = 3.96-4.05
• Refractive Index = 1.76-78

Comparisons

Properties of Common Gemstones

Additional Images

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  Cut ruby

Sources Checked for Data in Record

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 682

• Jack Odgen, Jewellery of the Ancient World, Rizzoli International Publications Inc., New York City, 1982

• R.F.Symmes, T.T.Harding, Paul Taylor, Rocks, Fossils and Gems, DK Publishing, Inc., New York City, 1997

• A.Lucas, J.R.Harris, Ancient Egyptian Materials and Industries, Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd., London, 4th edition, 1962 Comment: 500-50 BC

• Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "ruby." Encyclopædia Britannica. 14 Sept. 2005 .

• C.W.Chesterman, K.E.Lowe, Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1979

• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby (Accessed Sept. 14, 2005)

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998