Posted on 06/11/2021 11:51:04 AM PDT by Red Badger
At 563 carats, the Star of India is the world’s largest gem-quality blue star sapphire, and is approximately 2 billion years old. (Image credit: D. Finnin/Copyright AMNH)
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What does the legendary Star of India — a 563-carat star sapphire the size of a golf ball — have in common with a 35-million-year-old petrified redwood slab; a massive cluster of sword-like crystals that looks like it came from "Game of Thrones;" and a 5-ton (4.5-metric ton) stone pillar that can "sing?"
You can see all of them, along with 5,000 other amazing stones, in the newly renovated Mignone Hall of Gems and Minerals at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City, which is reopening after a four-year closure on Saturday (June 12). There, one-of-a-kind precious gems appear alongside odd-looking rocks — some of which date to billions of years ago — that have been uniquely warped and twisted by extreme temperatures and pressures.
Individually and together, these objects tell a story of the diverse geologic processes that shape minerals on Earth's surface and deep inside our planet, beginning when the world was young and continuing to this day, museum representatives told Live Science.
Related: 13 mysterious and cursed gemstones
The Star of India, which formed about a billion years ago, was discovered in Sri Lanka in the 18th century. It is one of the best-known gems in the world, in part because it was famously and brazenly stolen from AMNH in 1964, along with several more of the museum's prized stones, by a pair of thieves named Jack "Murf the Surf" Murphy and Allan Kuhn, Smithsonian reported in 2014, on the heist's 50th anniversary. (The one-of-a-kind sapphire was recovered and went back on display in 1965).
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
So her family is ableist?
I think the original prescription had two refills. He called me back and said he’d sent in the replacement. I’ll call the pharmacy in an hour or so and see if it’s ready. If not, there’s tomorrow.
I have never heard anyone say “Butter my butt” etc., except one of our Scout leaders who consciously uses vivid verbiage to get the attention of the kids.
Dr. Johnny Fever said, “Booger.”
If you watched the video, then you know as much about it as I do.
Hiya, ArGee! How is New Yawk Citi?
NYC is not very crowded.
Once again, I’m chickenin’ out. My mind seems to have tired itself out, so I’ll see all y’all in the morning.
My ankle pills cost $.06. Fortunately, I had that in my change purse.
:oO *gasp*
How could you afford it? No one carries that kind of change around!
*singing*
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR TAX-CHICK!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
*tagline*
Thank you. My mother phoned, and we agreed that we’re old.
We can be old. I prefer “aged, like wine.” Yeah. That’s the ticket!
I hope your day is a great one and you don’t have to go on any Driving Adventures. And that you get lots of naps with cats.
Jake was out all night and is presently in a grump, so we will see.
I’m thinking of going up to the consignment store to look at chairs, or maybe back to the Goodwill to get more baby clothes (3 for $4) for the Colombia mission.
James says he and his hair are going to run the weedeater, and eventually I’ll roust Tom out for driving adventures.
DP said his schedule might permit going out to lunch, which didn’t sound like a brilliant offer, but I said he was welcome to take himself out to lunch if his schedule permitted.
Going to the consignment store sounds fun, for sure! I like buying baby clothes!
Good for James and his hair! Where did you find the battery for it?
That sounded like a non-offer for lunch. Or a tentative cancellation for a lunch that wasn’t meant to happen in the first place. Take yourself to lunch! The company would be very interesting!
The battery was in the “junk non-drawer,” a partial drawer near the pantry. James thought that was a sensible spot.
I keep reminding myself about “autism spectrum” when I get “offers” like that. It sure sounded like, “I’m probably not free to do anything regarding your birthday,” but he’d only get upset if I brought that up.
Like I said, you’ll probably enjoy lunch better by yourself. Or with Tom.
Autism spectrum is always to be considered, but it doesn’t lessen the hurt.
Of course. It was sensible to him.
Now I’m going to sort pills!
Yes, exactly. They honestly don’t know how they sound.
Happiness in your celebrations... We’re all still 29 and holding. :-)
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