RUBY:

Ruby is a stone with a pinkish red color. It is also termed as a gem stone. Ruby is derivative from a Latin word Ruber, which means red. The appearance of it is like a crystal with a six sided prism. Ruby attains extraordinary power from its lovers over the centuries. It has been look upon as a symbol of love and passion, liberty, charity, pride and godly power. Ruby is a stone next to diamond when compared with the hardness and the pricing factor. It is one among the navagraha stones.

Ruby Gemstone fit in to the gemstone family unit of corundum. The most unadulterated form of corundum is colorless, but occurrence of trace rudiments adds color to a corundum gem. The reason of color in ruby is chromium. Ruby is derivative from a Latin word Ruber, which means red.

WHERE DO THEY FORM?

It is formed in a natural environment with an ideal mixture of aluminum oxide, right temperature, right pressure in the earth's crust and extremely low silicon content is a necessary. This creates rubies very hardly obtainable gems in nature.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:

Ruby color

Ruby gems are found in a broad range of red like red, rose-pink, purplish-brownish red and dark deep red. The premium of all these colors being the pigeon blood red gem establish from the Burmese mines, appropriately accepted as Burmese ruby.

Ruby cut

When you discuss on the cuts in ruby is not as important as it is in other types of stones when the pricing factor is carried only the color factor is given much importance. If the ruby is not cut properly and positioned in the right crystal direction then a gemstone would possibly offer a common look that will drag down the value severely. It is a demanding task to get a first-class cut, for a gem with the most excellent color and least amount of wastage without negotiating on the weight of this classy gemstone.

Carat

There has been a lot of big size rubies evidenced in history; though such large sizes are exceptionally atypical nowadays. Thus as the carat size of the gem raise so do its price per carat also increases. One of the premium Star Rubies exhibit would be at Smithsonian termed as the Rosser Reeves ruby in Sri Lanka, weighing 138.7 carats.

Clarity

There is a complete choice of the kind and size of natural inclusions that are found in the natural ruby crystals. The kinds of addition in the ruby create it simple to recognize the derivation of the gem and thus have an effect on its pricing. Mostly, an integrated ruby will consistently attain a lower price than a clearer ruby of the similar color and size.

Composition of ruby

The element composition of ruby gem is aluminum oxide (Al 2 O3). Its exact magnitude is 3.99 to 4.00 and refractive index series is 1.760-1.768 to 1.770-1.779. Ruby's rigidity on Mohs scale is 9. It's the next hardest stone after diamond.

NATURAL OCCURANCE:

Ruby mines are found in Burma which is now Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, South Africa, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tanzania, Kenya, Nepal and Vietnam.

AVAILABLE COLORS:

Ruby gems are found in a broad range of red rose-pink, like red, purplish-brownish red and dark deep red. The premium of all these colors being the pigeon blood red gem establish from the Burmese mines, appropriately accepted as Burmese ruby.

PROCESS OF RUBY MINING:

The process of ruby mining involves several steps, from exploration to the extraction and processing of the gemstones. Here is a more detailed overview of the typical process:

• Exploration:

Geological surveys and exploration are conducted to identify potential ruby deposits. Geologists look for indicator minerals and study the geological formations to determine the likelihood of finding rubies.

• Site Preparation:

Once a potential deposit is identified, the site is prepared for mining. This may involve clearing vegetation and removing any surface materials to access the underlying rocks.

• Open-Pit Mining:

For deposits near the surface, open-pit mining is often employed. Overburden (rock and soil covering the ruby-bearing rocks) is removed to expose the gem-bearing rocks below.

• Underground Mining:

In some cases, rubies may be found in deeper formations, requiring the creation of tunnels or shafts for extraction.

• Extraction of Ruby:

Ruby-bearing rocks are extracted from the pit or underground workings. The extracted material is transported to the processing plant.

• Sorting and Processing:

The extracted material goes through a sorting and processing phase to separate rubies from the surrounding rocks and minerals. Techniques such as washing, screening, and hand-sorting may be used to isolate the rubies.

• Cutting and Polishing:

Rough rubies undergo cutting and polishing to enhance their brilliance and appearance. Skilled gem cutters shape the raw crystals into faceted gems, bringing out the vibrant red color.

• Grading:

The finished rubies are graded based on factors such as color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. Gemological institutions like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) provide standards for ruby grading.

• Market Distribution:

The graded and processed rubies are distributed to the market through various channels, including gem dealers, jewelry manufacturers, and retailers.

TREATMENT OF RUBY MINING:

Very few samples of corundum have a natural color within the range required for a ruby, and very few have the clarity required to produce a nice cut stone. Long ago, people who prepare gem materials for cutting began experimenting with ways to improve their color and clarity.

Heating

Heating ruby crystals under controlled conditions can improve or intensify their color. Heating can also remove inclusions by causing them to dissolve, making them less visible and improving the clarity of a gem. Today, most of the rubies in the market have been heated to improve their color and clarity. This heat treatment is normal and expected in the gem trade, but a seller should disclose the treatment to a buyer in advance of a sale.

Fracture Filling

One of the ancient treatments was to fill surface-reaching fractures with oils, waxes, or resins. These treatments filled pits and fractures on the surface of the gem and improved their appearance. However, these treatments are not permanent because the oils can be washed out, and the waxes and resins can crack and fall out with age. They produce a temporary improvement in the appearance of the stone.

A more permanent type of fracture treatment is to fill the fractures with minor amounts of flux, glass, or another durable material. These enter the fractures during the heat treatment process. When the stone cools, a permanent filling of the fracture is accomplished. These treatments reduce the visibility of the fractures and improve the clarity of the gems and might also improve the durability of some stones.

A much more aggressive treatment is to heat the gem to a very high temperature and inject glass or flux into the fractures. The temperature of this treatment can be high enough that some of the ruby melts and mixes with the fracture-filling materials. The result of this treatment is an altered stone with improved quality and appearance. However, the stone now contains an unknown and possibly significant amount of non-ruby material.

Composition and Formation

Rubies are composed of the mineral corundum, which is aluminum oxide (Al2O3). A ruby forms when there is a small impurity of chromic oxide in the corundum. This substitution process is called isomorphous replacement. Chromium, along with vanadium, another metal constituent of rubies, imparts the blazing red color to the crystal. Ruby crystals form at high temperatures, typically between 620°C and 670°C, in hydrothermal reactions with marble.

They primarily form in high-grade metamorphic environments where hydrothermal fluids interact with limestones. Rubies can also be created in a laboratory using two methods: Flame-Fusion and Flux-Growth. The most economical method for producing synthetic rubies is the flame-fusion process. Chemicals are melted and dripped onto a boule, where they crystallize within hours. The result is an unnatural, glassy stone with curved growth plates. Instead of inclusions, flame-fusion rubies have tiny gas bubbles. They cost $1-4 per carat and are often used in costume jewelry.

WORLD WIDE RUBY MINING:

Most gem-grade corundum forms within metamorphic or igneous rocks. Extracting small gems from hard rock is feasible but highly expensive, with many gems fracturing during the extraction process. Fortunately, corundum is exceptionally hard and resistant to weathering. Rubies are a variety of corundum. Presently, rubies are primarily extracted from stream sediments. Due to their high specific gravity compared to other sediment particles, they are often concentrated by currents into small placer deposits. The majority of rubies are obtained by washing the gravels from these stream deposits. This labor-intensive work is frequently conducted manually due to the small and irregular nature of these deposits. These locations are often found in countries where labor costs are low and mining activities are prevalent.

Burma(Myanmar)

Corundum has been discovered in several regions of Burma, including Sagyin, Thabeitkyin, Naniazeik, Mogok, and more recently, Mong Hsu. The most renowned area is the Mogok Stone Tract, which has been the world's leading source of ruby for over 800 years.

India

The Karur-Kangayam and Hole-Narsipur belts, located in the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka respectively, are renowned across the subcontinent for their gemstones. Karur is particularly noted for its rubies, while Subramania near Madikeri in Karnataka also yields rubies. Channapatna, about 280 km from Madikeri, is famous for its star rubies. Mining in these areas typically employs primitive methods.

In Karur, the mines are situated on barren roadside land, with additional mines found in nearby towns like Kangayam and Paramatti. Subramaniam, near Madikeri, is known for large hexagonal pillars of ruby, with deposits also scattered in surrounding villages. These rubies exhibit a maroon color and vary in size and shape, ranging from 20 to 100 mm in length across prism faces measuring 10 to 50 mm.

In Karnataka's Bangalore district, opaque maroon star rubies are found in Channapatna and nearby villages. In some locations such as Sengal and Kiranur, rubies occur alongside gem-quality iolite (cordierite). Rubies from Madikeri are associated with a mineral assemblage of mica, quartz, and corundum.

PROMINENT RUBY DEPOSITS:

The highest quality ruby deposits are located in Central and South-East Asia. Myanmar's Mogok deposit, renowned for its intense "pigeon blood" color and transparency, produces some of the finest rubies. In Myanmar, rubies are mined using five different methods. A ruby larger than 10 carats commands a higher price than a diamond of equivalent size due to its rarity. Bangkok, Thailand, serves as the hub of the ruby gemstone trade. Chanthaburi Province in Thailand has historically been a significant source of rubies, known for gems with excellent clarity but sometimes with less desirable brown tones.

Strict trade embargoes and restrictions are imposed on Myanmar due to human rights violations, leading several countries, particularly the United States, to ban exports from the country. In 2000, extensive and productive new ruby sources were discovered in Madagascar, establishing the country as a leading producer of rubies. Other important sources of rubies include Sri Lanka, India, Cambodia, Vietnam, Tanzania, and Mozambique. Additionally, rubies are found in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Australia, and the United States (North Carolina).

VARIETIES OF RUBY:

Burma Ruby - Synonym for Burmese Ruby, known for its exceptional red color.
Burmese Ruby - Ruby characterized by an outstanding red hue, typically from Burma but not exclusively. Sometimes used to refer to synthetic rubies as well.
Pigeon's Blood Ruby - Highly coveted type of ruby with a vivid blood-red color tinged with a hint of blue.
Ruby Fuschite - Dark red ruby embedded in a green fuchsite mica matrix, commonly found in India.
Ruby Zoisite - Combination of opaque red ruby within green zoisite, originating from Tanzania. Ruby zoisite showcases attractive contrast and is used as a minor gemstone, often polished into cabochons or carved into ornamental pieces.
Star Ruby - Well-known variety of ruby exhibiting asterism, frequently displaying a six-rayed star pattern.

USES OF RUBY MINING:

Ruby mining primarily focuses on extracting rubies, which are precious gemstones highly valued for their vibrant red color. Rubies have been cherished for centuries and serve various purposes, including:

Jewelry: Rubies are in high demand for jewelry such as rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. They are frequently used as centerpieces in engagement rings or as accent stones in fine jewelry pieces.

Collector's Items: Exceptionally rare and high-quality rubies are prized by collectors and investors. Collectors assess rubies based on criteria such as color, clarity, size, and overall quality.

Astrology and Gemstone Therapy: In certain cultures, rubies are linked with astrological beliefs, and individuals may wear them as gemstone remedies for astrological benefits. Some believe that owning or wearing a ruby can attract good luck, offer protection, and promote positive energy.

Cultural and Religious Significance: Rubies hold significant cultural and religious importance in various societies. They are utilized in religious artifacts, traditional ceremonies, and symbolize wealth and power.