corundum
Sign in to saveCorundum is a crystalline form of aluminium oxide () typically containing traces of iron, titanium, vanadium, and chromium. It is a rock-forming mineral. It is a naturally transparent material, but can have different colors depending on the presence of transition metal impurities in its crystalline structure. Corundum has two primary gem varieties: ruby and sapphire. Rubies are red due to the presence of chromium, and sapphires exhibit a range of colors depending on what transition metal is present. A rare type of sapphire, padparadscha sapphire, is pink-orange.
AI overview
Corundum is a hard, crystalline mineral made of aluminum oxide that naturally forms in rocks and can be transparent or colored depending on trace metals mixed within it. It's valued as a gemstone in two main forms—rubies (red) and sapphires (various colors)—making it one of the most prized materials in jewelry.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Mineral.name
- Corundum
- Mineral.category
- Oxide mineral – Hematite group
- Mineral.image
- Several corundum crystals.jpg
- Mineral.imagesize
- 260px
- Mineral.formula
- Al2O3
- Mineral.IMAsymbol
- Crn
- Mineral.strunz
- 4.CB.05
- Mineral.dana
- 4.3.1.1
- Mineral.system
- Trigonal
- Mineral.class
- Hexagonal scalenohedral (m)H-M symbol: ( 2/m)
- Mineral.symmetry
- (No. 167)
- Mineral.unit cell
- , ;
- Mineral.color
Article
6 sectionsContents
- Geology and occurrence
- Synthetic corundum
- Structure and physical properties
- Structure type
- See also
- References
Corundum is a crystalline form of aluminium oxide () typically containing traces of iron, titanium, vanadium, and chromium. It is a rock-forming mineral. It is a naturally transparent material, but can have different colors depending on the presence of transition metal impurities in its crystalline structure. Corundum has two primary gem varieties: ruby and sapphire. Rubies are red due to the presence of chromium, and sapphires exhibit a range of colors depending on what transition metal is present. A rare type of sapphire, padparadscha sapphire, is pink-orange.
The name "corundum" is derived from the Tamil-Dravidian word kurundam (ruby-sapphire) (appearing in Sanskrit as kuruvinda).