Corundum var. Ruby

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The Mysore District of Southern India is one of the most famous Ruby-producing areas in the world, known for many centuries, if not millennia. This miniature specimen is a matrix-less single crystal of Corundum, var. Ruby. The crystal is a short hexagonal prism, cerise-pink in colour with mottled rough striated surfaces. It is not gemmy, but opaque, but displays good shape and size for a Ruby crystal from Mysore. It is intriguing to compare the flat hexagonal prism shape of these Mysore Rubies with their Sapphire counterparts from Sri Lanka which are elongated lozenge-shaped hexagonal prims, many with sharp pointed terminations.

Editor's note

This is a ruby in its natural form, uncut and unpolished, exactly as it formed. Not all rubies are gemstones - this one is opaque but has a rich color and perfect natural shape which makes it better as a natural collectible specimen, not as carving material.