Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately 400 kilometers off the coast of East Africa. At 592,800 square kilometers, Madagascar is the world’s 2nd largest island country.
Firstly, Sapphire deposits were found in Madagascar in 1998 it created a sensation in the gems world. The major sapphire deposits discovered in the tiny village of Ilakaka in southern Madagascar.
Madagascar is famous for blue sapphire. Also, Madagascar has been found including pink, yellow, green, white, peach, ruby, padparadscha, color change sapphire Etc.
As well as Sapphire, Madagascar has been discovered tourmaline, aquamarine, emerald, garnet, chrysoberyl, alexandrite, topaz, andalusite, apatite, kyanite, zircon, amethyst, Tsvarite, Kornerupine, Fibrolite, fluorite, citrine, etc.
Mostly, Sapphire mines have been reported in Alaotra-Mangoro, Anosy, Amboasary Sud, Maromby, Betroka, Ianabinda, Atsimo-Andrefana, Atsimo-Atsinanana, Diana, Andamby, Ilakaka, Vakinankaratra
Sapphire is a precious gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, consisting of aluminum oxide with trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper, or magnesium.
Sapphire deposits are found in Eastern Australia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, China, Vietnam, Madagascar, Greenland, East Africa, and in North America in mostly in Montana. Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and Kashmir produce large quantities of fine quality Sapphires for the world market. Sapphires are mined from alluvial deposits or from primary underground workings.
Blue Sapphire and Ruby are the most popular Gemstone in Corundum Family.
also, Orangy Pink Sapphire is called Padparadscha. The name Drive’s from the Sinhalese word “padmaraga” ” පද්මරාග“, meaning lotus blossom, as the stone is of a similar color to the lotus blossom.
Also, Sapphire can be found as parti-color, bi-color or fancy color. Australia is a main parti-color Sapphire producer.
also, White sapphire is a very popular stone to wear instead of Diamond as a 3rd hardness gemstone after diamond ( moissanite hardness is 9.5).
A star sapphire is a type of sapphire that exhibits a star-like phenomenon known as asterism.
Also, A rare variety of natural sapphire, known as color-change sapphire, exhibits different colors in different light.
Sapphires can be treated by several methods to enhance and improve their clarity and color. A common method is done by heating the sapphires in furnaces to temperatures between 500 and 1,850 °C for several hours, or by heating in a nitrogen-deficient atmosphere oven for 1 week or more.
Geuda is a form of the mineral corundum. Geuda is found primarily in Sri Lanka. It’s a semitransparent and milky appearance due to rutile inclusions. Geuda is used to improve its color by heat treatment. Some geuda varieties turn to a blue color after heat treatments and some turn to red after oxidizing. Also, Kowangu pushparaga turns to yellow sapphire after oxidizing.
Sapphire Crystal system is a Trigonal crystal system with a hexagonal scalenohedral crystal class. Sapphire hardness is 9 according to the Mohs hardness scale with 4.0~4.1 specific gravity.
Refractive index ω=1.768–1.772 nε
=1.760–1.763
Solubility = Insoluble
Melting point = 2,030–2,050 °C
Birefringence = 0.008
Pleochroism = Strong
Luster = Vitreous
Sapphire is the birthstone for September and the gem of the 45th anniversary.
Healing Properties of Sapphire
Sapphire releases mental tension, depression, unwanted thoughts, and spiritual confusion. Sapphire is known as a “stone of Wisdom”. It is exceptional for calming and focusing the mind, allowing the release of mental tension and unwanted thoughts. Sapphire is also the best stone for awakening chakras. Dark Blue or Indigo Sapphire stimulates the Third Eye chakra. Blue Sapphire stimulates the Throat Chakra. Green sapphire stimulates Heart Chakra. Black Sapphire stimulates Base Chakra. White sapphire stimulates Crown Chakra. Yellow sapphire stimulates Solar Plexus Chakra.