18000 Carat Rough Ruby
The mineral ruby belongs to the corundum group, and its name is derived from the red color (Latin Rubeus). Red corundum is always called by the name ruby, while other colors of corundum are known as sapphire. Rubies can be opaque, translucent, or transparent. The ruby coloring pigment is chromium plus some iron content. The red color and tone vary with individual deposits, so it is not possible to identify the source area. Ruby has a hardness of 9.0 on the Moh’s scale and is the second-hardest mineral after diamond. The hardness varies in direction and has no cleavage but does have certain preferred directions of parting. Care must be taken when cutting and setting a rough ruby. Inclusions in a ruby are common. Rutile needles produce a soft sheen known as silk. Or if shaped and polished en cabochon, the effect is six-rayed star (asterism) produced by the reflection of a light source.
World’s largest verified ruby crystal – a few years ago, a very large ruby crystal was unearthed in the southwest corner of North Carolina. Weighing over 18,000 carats, this amazing specimen could be the largest laboratory-verified rough ruby in the world (GIA Report 15171991 dated May 24, 2006). The report describes this ruby crystal to be semi-translucent to opaque and measures 122.4×112.3×133.9mm. It contains the silk-like rutile mineral, which could create the desirable six-rayed star if the stone were shaped and polished en cabochon. When exposed to long-wave ultraviolet light, it displays a strong red fluorescence. Without any doubt, this rough ruby with zones of semi-transparency are enticing to a ruby cutter or carver. If carved, the ruby would be the largest carved ruby in the world, and if shaped and polished en cabochon, it would be the largest shaped and polished ruby in the world. For the serious gemstone collector or investor, the acquisition of this unique rough ruby crystal would be of interest.
While it may seem unusual to some that a rough ruby could be found in the United States, the state of North Carolina has actually produced many large and valuable gemstones. Rubies and sapphires have been mined in the southwest quadrant of the state since the year 1870. While mining companies and individuals have searched to find the source of rubies in the region, it has never been found. Emeralds also are found in North Carolina. Just recently the discovery in Hiddenite, North Carolina, of a rough emerald weighing an exciting 310 carats was announced. Named the “Carolina Emperor”, the emerald has been cut and shaped to 65 carats and could be worth millions of dollars.
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