eli5 What determines whether a gem is a sapphire, ruby, emerald, diamond, etc if those gems don’t necessarily have to be the most common thought color? For example, sapphires can be colors other than blue. What’s the difference between a red sapphire and a ruby?
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Well, what makes them different is their chemical makeup and the way they’re formed.
For example, sapphires and rubies are both made from a mineral called corundum. Sapphires are usually blue, but they can also come in other colors like pink, yellow, and green. If a corundum gem is red, it’s called a ruby.
So, basically, the only thing that makes a red corundum gem a ruby instead of a red sapphire is its name. It’s still made from the same mineral as a sapphire, but it’s just called something different because of its color.
The same goes for other gems too. Emeralds are made from a mineral called beryl and diamonds are made from carbon. They all have different colors and properties based on what they’re made of and how they’re formed.
Well, what makes them different is their chemical makeup and the way they’re formed.
For example, sapphires and rubies are both made from a mineral called corundum. Sapphires are usually blue, but they can also come in other colors like pink, yellow, and green. If a corundum gem is red, it’s called a ruby.
So, basically, the only thing that makes a red corundum gem a ruby instead of a red sapphire is its name. It’s still made from the same mineral as a sapphire, but it’s just called something different because of its color.
The same goes for other gems too. Emeralds are made from a mineral called beryl and diamonds are made from carbon. They all have different colors and properties based on what they’re made of and how they’re formed.
As the top answers suggest, it’s the minerals that are present when the gemstone is formed.
The more heat and pressure, the more intense the color.
Bonus answer (I know you didn’t ask), colored diamonds are also determined due to the minerals present.
Yellow diamonds = Nitrogen
Blue diamonds = Boron
As the top answers suggest, it’s the minerals that are present when the gemstone is formed.
The more heat and pressure, the more intense the color.
Bonus answer (I know you didn’t ask), colored diamonds are also determined due to the minerals present.
Yellow diamonds = Nitrogen
Blue diamonds = Boron
I guess the names are from medieval times but now have been grouped based on scientific findings. Medieval people would probably call red gems rubies.
I guess the names are from medieval times but now have been grouped based on scientific findings. Medieval people would probably call red gems rubies.
All gemstones are composed of different materials, or building blocks. These blocks are what determines what kind of gemstone you’re dealing with. Gems come in ‘families’ as well. Rubies and sapphires are both in the “corundum” family. Amethyst and citrine are both examples of the “quartz” family, though there are many, many other quartzes out there. Sometimes the family only has one type of gem in it, like diamond. While all these families are determined by what building blocks the gem is made of, very, very small amounts of other building blocks might change the color or special properties of the gem, and that determines where in the family tree it is.
All gemstones are composed of different materials, or building blocks. These blocks are what determines what kind of gemstone you’re dealing with. Gems come in ‘families’ as well. Rubies and sapphires are both in the “corundum” family. Amethyst and citrine are both examples of the “quartz” family, though there are many, many other quartzes out there. Sometimes the family only has one type of gem in it, like diamond. While all these families are determined by what building blocks the gem is made of, very, very small amounts of other building blocks might change the color or special properties of the gem, and that determines where in the family tree it is.
Rubies specifically are red sapphires. Both are a mineral called corundum. Emeralds and diamonds and most other gems have their own specific chemical compositions and structures. Diamonds for example are just carbon (but structured differently from graphite and coal doesn’t have much structure) emeralds are a type of crystal called a beryl. It’s a silicate made of beryllium and aluminum (Be3 Al2 (Si O3)6)
Of these gems mentioned, they are naturally clear and get their color from an impurity from another element if they have it with the exception of emeralds, which are green even when pure.
Quartz for example has all sorts of names. Rose Quartz, Herkimer Diamond, Amethyst, they are all just silicon and oxygen with an impurity giving it color. Look at the chemical compositions for the minerals that make them up to assess if they are the same thing.
Rubies specifically are red sapphires. Both are a mineral called corundum. Emeralds and diamonds and most other gems have their own specific chemical compositions and structures. Diamonds for example are just carbon (but structured differently from graphite and coal doesn’t have much structure) emeralds are a type of crystal called a beryl. It’s a silicate made of beryllium and aluminum (Be3 Al2 (Si O3)6)
Of these gems mentioned, they are naturally clear and get their color from an impurity from another element if they have it with the exception of emeralds, which are green even when pure.
Quartz for example has all sorts of names. Rose Quartz, Herkimer Diamond, Amethyst, they are all just silicon and oxygen with an impurity giving it color. Look at the chemical compositions for the minerals that make them up to assess if they are the same thing.
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