Golden Sheen Sapphire - precious stone corundum - video

Golden Sheen Sapphire is a gemstone made from the corundum mineral, alumina (α-Al2O3). It is typically a metallic golden color with common variations such as brass, copper and bronze, however metallic, green and yellow hues are also possible. A very rare variety has a metallic red color.

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The name "golden sapphire" is often shortened to "golden sapphire" and the name is used interchangeably.

Unlike regular sapphire, golden luster sapphire is mostly made up of iron and titanium inclusions, making the gem mostly opaque.

In this respect, it is more similar to opal than to other normally transparent or translucent gemstones. Inclusions of ilmenite, rutile, hematite and magnetite were revealed. Especially notable is hematite, which often creates geometric hexagonal patterns in the gemstone's crystal.

The term "gold shimmer" was first described by the GIA test lab in Bangkok in 2013. Samples of the stones have been tested to confirm they are real sapphire and the color has been described as brown with golden shimmer.

source

It is known to come from only one source, an unknown mine in northeastern Kenya near the border with Somalia.

Color change

It will show color change from soft to strong in warm, cool and direct sunlight.

asterism

All cabochon cuts show some degree of asterism.

treatment

There are no known methods of heating or processing gold sapphire. Heat treatment testing on batches of specimens reduced the effect of the golden sheen, reducing the stone's attractiveness.

Corundum

Corundum is a crystalline form of aluminum oxide that typically contains traces of iron, titanium, vanadium, and chromium. It is a rock-forming mineral. It can be of different colors depending on the presence of transition metal impurities in its crystal structure.

Corundum has two main varieties of gemstones: ruby ​​and sapphire. Rubies are red due to the presence of chromium, while sapphires have different colors depending on which transition metal is present.

Brilliant golden sapphire from Kenya.

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