sapphire

== =Sapphire= by Chloe

Properties of Sapphire:
A sapphire is normally blue, and other colors cost less. Yellow and green sapphires are most commonly found. Sapphires are the second hardest mineral known to mankind, and they are gemstones. A sapphire is never red, otherwise it would be a ruby. Sapphires come in many colors, including colorless sapphire. Sapphire is number 9 on the hardness scale.

Where Sapphire is Found:
Sapphires are found inside corundum. They can be found with diamonds and rubies. Pink sapphires are found in pinkish-orange corundum called padparadscha.The finest mined sapphires were in Kashmir in India, Myammer in Madagascar, and Sri Lanka. Today, Australia is the largest producer of blue and golden sapphires. Other producers include Thailand and countries in East Africa.

How Sapphire is Formed:
Sapphire is formed with diamonds and rubies and is formed inside granite.

Interesting Facts about Sapphires:
Some sapphires have a star in the middle and they are called star sapphires. Sapphire is the birthstone for September. In 1902, French chemist Auguste Verneuil developed a process for growing synthetic sapphire crystals. The beauty of sapphire lies in the richness and intensity in their colors.

The Logan Sapphire
The Logan sapphire is the second biggest sapphire in the world. It is inside the National Mueseum of Natural History. The Logan sapphire is 422.99 carats. It is blue and surrounded by twenty diamonds.