$100Median
73Sold (12 mo)
$450Last sale
Updated 5d ago
Corundum from Ratnapura, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka
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A loose pale blue gemmy semi lustrous sharp double terminated crystal of corundum, this the variety often called Sapphire. Good example from this classic locality. This crystal weighs 11.22 g. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark.Ratnapura, known as the City of Gems, is situated in Sabaragamuwa, Sri Lanka, and serves as the global epicenter for fine sapphires. The regional geology consists primarily of ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks belonging to the Highland Complex. Over millions of years, intense weathering and fluvial erosion transported sapphire crystals from their deep crustal parent rocks into river valleys, depositing them in secondary alluvial gravel beds locally called illam. Historically, small-scale placer mining and gem collecting in this district date back over two millennia, making Ratnapura a key supplier of world-renowned blue, star, and rare padparadscha sapphires throughout ancient trade networks to modern gemological collections. Today, traditional pit-mining techniques and artisanal gravel washing continue to yield exceptional gemstone specimens from these fertile floodplains.
Product details
SpeciesCorundum
SizeMiniature
Dimensions4.0 x 2.0 x 1.0 cm
Added on10/13/2026
LocalitySri Lanka, Sabaragamuwa Province, Ratnapura
Current owner
Unknown Owner
- Acquired
- Oct 2026
- Price paid
- $450.00
Previous owners
| Date | Collector | Acquisition price |
|---|---|---|
| — | Weinrich Minerals | Not disclosed |
Learn more
Mineral guide
Learn about Corundum
iconic mineral with ruby and sapphire varieties; Mohs 9, vivid colors, and sharp crystals; prized for color, form, and provenance.Regional guide
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