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 ...
Thanks!
Are you getting settled into the job, ok?
I’ll keep the puppy and Mrs ArGee in my prayers, as well as you, so you don’t worry to much. ;o]
Had my meeting at the library, useful plans made for teaching forestry. Then we stopped at Walmart. It’s still raining. I’m looking forward to nap.
Tom has turned up to take the bros driving.
I’m glad you’re back from your meeting.
It’s been a slow day here, and I seem to be much more tired than I want to be. It’s been coming for a while, but maybe I can do something in the way of resting on Thursday.
Today is really beautiful, but I think we have more storms coming, though Sharon seems to think the monsoons are over with. Maybe she’s right, but we sure need more rain!
Now that Tom has shown up to take the bros driving, maybe you can have a meaningful nap with Jake. ;o]
OK, so Mayor Putz is now going to mandate businesses not allow me to go in unless I can show my vax certification.
I have to show my papers to do business here, but this sanctuary city allows illegal immigrants to vote.
I may have to boycott the city, which means quitting this job. After talking with Mrs. ArGee, of course.
Oh, dear, ArGee. I’m so sorry that things are so miserable there. I guess you and HK are in about the two worst places there are to be, just now.
Please, keep us posted. No one should have to deal with that kind of stupidity in order to put food on the table. I’ll pray extra for you, since it’s all I can do.
I asked Tom to give Vlad a longer drive. He’s a couple of hours behind James.
Definitely naptime. Kathleen is watching Olympic equestrian sports, which should keep her out of trouble for a while. She has two lessons scheduled this month.
Well, shoot. So to speak.
I have no idea what is even going on in the Olympics for the first time in a long time.
So let them baby-sit Kathleen and you go have a lie-down with Jake. I think you’ve earned it!
Simone Biles, possibly the greatest female gymnast we've seen until now, withdrew from several events because she needed to figure out where her head was at. I don't know much about gymnastics myself but I imagine when twisting and turning high above the floor it would be good to know where your head is at.
Some have suggested an Olympic-caliber athlete should always know where their head is at, but I can't imagine being that good at throwing my body around so I am not qualified to opine.
Tom was out on his Driving Adventure with Vlad and got a flat tire. He’s still waiting for AAA to get there. I’m going to get Vlad.
Oh dear. Good luck to Tom, and good luck to you! Driving Adventures on the way home?
I used to be fairly decent as a gymnast, but there were several other girls who were much more talented and flexible than I. My head was in the wrong place for what they were doing.
;o]
No, I took the van. Decided I would get carsick if I had James drive.
Tom and Vlad are rescued. Tomorrow, we’ll take Tom’s car to the Firestone and get him a couple of new tires, but meanwhile, the Organization has plenty of vehicles.
Ms. Biles won the bronze in balance beam today, which I suppose makes her feel better.
The horse even was cross-country jumping.
What a wonderful kitteh!
Good morning.
I hope you slept well.
Yes, I had a feeling you would perhaps take the van, knowing that you’ve about had it up to “here” (on me) with Studi and their Driving Adventures . After these two, there are only two to go, right? I would have to name them and it’s still too early for that! ;o]
I’ve always enjoyed equestrian events but some of that I’m sure is because of where I’m from and the fact that I grew up with horses.
I have an appointment at the pain clinic this morning, and I was going to get my hair cut first, but I don’t think it’s going to happen.
a nice Cotswold English garden...
Yes, only two more, and it will be several years. Frank just turned 12.
I had issues with Jake on my pillow last night. I think I need to get another pillow. Then I can leave the one for Jake and go sleep on the sofa.
Good luck at the pain clinic. I plan to go get Tom around 8:00 and start sorting out his tires issue. He can call a few places and see who has a good deal.
Charming, thank you! That topiary on the right is a big, fluffy dog?
Bears a closer look...
;>)
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