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 ...
Well, we haven’t had any seizures since the one in July but she did spit up this morning. This was the first time she spit up without having a seizure so maybe that’s good???
We have started brushing her teeth with baking soda and water so that is probably what upset her tummy.
Still smokey. It’s been looking like Asimov’s The Last Trump out there. Grey featureless skies, sun hidden, half mile or so visibility.
The only thing missing is everything turning to powder.
But we do have a light dusting of ash...
That’s odd that puppy would spit up after baking soda, since it’s an alkali. But who knows doggiedom idiosyncrasies?
But maybe the spitting up is a replacement for seizures, and if that’s the case, then she may well be on her way to doing neither.
We can only hope!
We sometimes have smoke and sometimes not, but most mornings the sky is that brown-tinged orange that indicates particles of something in the air.
That’s a Kool Kat this morning, ArGee! Thanks!
Welcome home, T-c!
There is news of sorts. The lamp is together and it works. I set it down on the night stand and it wobbled a bit up towards the socket, but I just need it to hold together until I can have my FS look at it, or until I can afford to get another one at Walmart, or someplace like a thrift store.
The days is ugly and smoky.
Hi, we’re back.
First load of laundry is on, and all the gear is out in the front or back yard drying.
More later or tomorrow, depending on how things go.
We’ll be glad for updates whenever you feel up to dating. Or updating. Or catching us up on stuff!
Rest today, nap with a slobbery cat and do what you need to do. We’ll be here!
Lots to be done. All the gear should dry quickly, since it’s 90s and blazing sunshine here.
I’m still recovering, but at least the lamp is done. I had forgotten to lock the socket into the base, but it’s taken care of, now! YAY!
(I’m enjoying the photos!)
Yay! I couldn’t fix a lamp.
I’ll finish the letter in time to go out in tomorrow’s mail.
Well, my excuse for fixing lamps and other things is that I was a military wife for most of my younger days, and have lived alone since. It’s just easier to get a book on how to do simple home repairs that it is to try and find someone to fix it who doesn’t want something in return.
I need to go to Dollar Tree and get some more Wite-Out and some tissue paper, so maybe I can do that early in the AM.
I watched a motivational talk by a woman who decided to build her own house from the ground up with her three children (ranging from 2-15 in age I think). She said you can learn how to do anything by watching YooToob.
Yes, well, I’m sure it can be done today, but back when I was a brand new bride, color TVs were on the market but terribly expensive. YouToob wasn’t even a gleam in anyone’s eye because computers filled entire rooms.
So it was cheaper to buy a DIY book (not called that, then) than it was to hire someone.
I just became extremely independent. ;o]
Have a great weekend, y’all!
Not there yet. I have to make Forestry study guides tomorrow.
No idea how you accomplish so much. You’re the most amazingly productive person.
Thank you! I always feel so far behind!
Jake killed something this morning. He’s left the intestines on the door mat. I’m waiting for the other adult to clean it up.
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