Bright Orange Sapphire Found at Greenland Ruby Mine
July 06, 23
(IDEX Online) - A bright orange sapphire has been recovered from a ruby mine in Greenland, in what's been described a one-in-a-million discovery.
Sapphire is most commonly found as a blue gemstone, although trace elements can result in a wide variety of colors.
The Aappaluttoq ruby deposit, operated by Greenland Ruby, has previously unearthed pink to orangy pink sapphires, but to find a bright orange transparent stone is extremely unusual.
The original sapphire rough, weighing 1.07g, has been heated to enhance color and clarity, and cut into a 0.89-ct oval.
Greenland Ruby said it was honored to be honored to be mentioned in the latest edition of GIA Education Gems and Gemology.
The Aappaluttoq mine is home to the oldest known ruby-bearing rocks on Earth, at nearly three billion years old.
Photo by Robert Weldon, courtesy Greenland Ruby.