{"title":"Ruby","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRuby\u003c\/strong\u003e is the red gem variety of \u003cstrong\u003ecorundum\u003c\/strong\u003e, aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), owing its saturated crimson color to trace amounts of \u003cstrong\u003echromium\u003c\/strong\u003e substituting for aluminum in the crystal lattice. The red variety of corundum owes its color and strong fluorescence to the presence of Cr, as well as traces of Fe. With a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamond, ruby forms hexagonal, tabular, or barrel-shaped crystals in marbles, amphibolites, and basalt-hosted deposits worldwide. Primary corundum deposits are subdivided into magmatic and metamorphic types, with metamorphic deposits occurring in marble, mafic and ultramafic rocks, and skarns.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe world's finest ruby comes from \u003cstrong\u003eMogok\u003c\/strong\u003e, Myanmar, whose marble-hosted deposits have produced \"pigeon's blood\" rubies since 600 CE, prized for a saturated red fluorescence unmatched elsewhere. Another significant Burmese deposit is Mong Hsu, currently a major ruby producer, though its color isn't as fine as the Mogok material. \u003cstrong\u003eMozambique's Montepuez\u003c\/strong\u003e district has become a leading modern source, while \u003cstrong\u003eWinza\u003c\/strong\u003e in Tanzania and \u003cstrong\u003eLongido\u003c\/strong\u003e, where opaque crystals are famously intergrown with green zoisite, remain classic African localities. In Southeast Asia, \u003cstrong\u003eChanthaburi\u003c\/strong\u003e (Thailand), \u003cstrong\u003ePailin\u003c\/strong\u003e (Cambodia), and \u003cstrong\u003eLuc Yen\u003c\/strong\u003e (Vietnam) supply basalt- and marble-related rubies, while \u003cstrong\u003eJegdalek\u003c\/strong\u003e in Afghanistan and the \u003cstrong\u003eHunza Valley\u003c\/strong\u003e in Pakistan yield fine marble-hosted crystals. \u003cstrong\u003eMadagascar\u003c\/strong\u003e, notably at Andilamena and Vatomandry, and \u003cstrong\u003eGreenland's Aappaluttoq\u003c\/strong\u003e, part of the ancient Fiskenæsset Complex, round out the world's premier ruby-producing terranes; rubies from the Fiskenæsset Complex are probably the oldest in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn North America, \u003cstrong\u003eCowee Valley\u003c\/strong\u003e near Franklin, North Carolina has yielded gem and specimen-grade rubies since the 1890s, some historically worked by Tiffany \u0026amp; Co., typically as small hexagonal tabular crystals. Nicely colored rubies have been mined in the Cowee Valley since 1893, and Tiffany's Co was even involved in the mining operations before commercial mining ended in 1914. \u003cstrong\u003eYogo Gulch\u003c\/strong\u003e, Montana, though best known for cornflower-blue sapphire, also belongs to this same corundum family prized by collectors for untreated, well-formed crystals. Other notable sources include \u003cstrong\u003eKarelia\u003c\/strong\u003e in Russia, the \u003cstrong\u003eSnezhnoe deposit\u003c\/strong\u003e in the Pamir Mountains, and \u003cstrong\u003eMysore\u003c\/strong\u003e in India, source of asteriated star ruby. Collectors seek ruby specimens for their intense red-to-pinkish hue, high refractive index, characteristic silk-like rutile inclusions, and rarity in gem-quality, undamaged crystal form — qualities that make fine mineralogical ruby specimens, distinct from cut gemstones, highly collectible pieces of natural history from some of the world's most storied mining districts.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"epidoto-verde-su-quarzo-da-cavrein-svizzera-copy","title":"RUBY CRYSTALS – Red Corundum from Madagascar – UV Reactive Hexagonal Crystals","description":"\u003cp\u003eNatural Ruby crystals from Ampanihy District, Madagascar. These red corundum crystals display a well-defined hexagonal habit, intense natural coloration, and strong UV reactivity, glowing bright red under ultraviolet light. Rare collector specimens with excellent aesthetic and mineralogical value.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"763\" data-end=\"766\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"766\" data-end=\"783\"\u003eMineral Data:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"784\" data-end=\"799\"\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarge 15–10 mm, \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMedium 9–5 mm,\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmall 4 mm \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"842\" data-end=\"857\"\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ampanihy District, Atsimo-Andrefana, Madagascar\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"ITALMINERAL","offers":[{"title":"Small","offer_id":44328256405613,"sku":null,"price":9.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium","offer_id":44328256438381,"sku":null,"price":19.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Large","offer_id":44328256471149,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0693\/8027\/6333\/files\/imgi_41_AGC_20240601_030445505.jpg?v=1772658651"},{"product_id":"fa16-rubino-madagascar-0","title":"RUBY – Purple CORUNDUM, UV Reactive Crystal from Zazafotsy, Madagascar","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking corundum crystal, variety ruby, showing a rich purple-red color with visible zoning between red and mauve tones depending on the light source. The 1.8cm crystal is perfectly formed, with sharp, well-defined faces sitting on a dark schist matrix that enhances the contrast and overall aesthetic appeal. The specimen displays a notable reaction under longwave ultraviolet light, a feature that is well documented for corundum from this specific Malagasy locality and adds further scientific and display interest to the piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMineral Data:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 58 x 43 x 33 mm (crystal 1.8 cm)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 74 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Zazafotsy Quarry, Zazafotsy, Ihosy District, Ihorombe, Madagascar\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"ITALMINERAL","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45460217725037,"sku":null,"price":69.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0693\/8027\/6333\/files\/IMG20260423234029.jpg?v=1784131402"},{"product_id":"a0-rubino-1","title":"RUBY – Doubly Terminated Pink Corundum Crystal, Morogoro, Tanzania","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn exceptional specimen from the marble-hosted ruby deposits of the Morogoro Region: elongated pink ruby crystals emerging dramatically from a pale, contrasting matrix. The largest crystal, a superb doubly terminated individual, reaches 33mm in length, displaying well-formed faces and an intense, elegant pink tone that collectors of rare and important minerals especially prize.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMineral Data:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 82 x 56 x 46 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 256 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Gairo District, Morogoro Region, Tanzania\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"ITALMINERAL","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45732487692397,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0693\/8027\/6333\/files\/AGC_20250607_164849752.jpg?v=1787996556"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.italmineral.com\/collections\/ruby.oembed","provider":"ITALMINERAL","version":"1.0","type":"link"}