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 ...
I’m sure Tom will find a job, but not too soon. And it could be the hours would allow him some Driving With Brothers time.
I keep wondering why I feel so tired all the time, and then I remember the name of the disease. :o|
I just got the “show proof of vaccination or get tested once a week” letter. (grumble grumble grumble)
I went to Walmart with Vlad, Frank, and Kathleen. They didn’t have boots in her size, but I can order them.
Oh, dear.
And your choice will be? (Not that it’s any of my business, but “curiosity.”)
Walmart is all masked up again, too.
Our Walmart staff are wearing masks (half-on). Customers mostly aren’t. Mecklenburg County has more cases, so they’re doing more precautions.
I ordered the boots in the correct size and a big bag of premium cat food to make up $35 for the free delivery.
Hiking boots? Riding boots? (Curiosity.)
I’m cold, so I’m going to call it a night and go in where it’s warm. I hope things get done tomorrow. I have a phone appointment, but I don’t know what time, plus I have to make an appointment with the doctor because he needs to renew the prescription I picked up today. I can’t make an appointment with him until I talk to Sharon, because I need a ride into St George. She may say no and that’s OK.
She’s is coming over in the morning because I have a whole slew of questions for her. Yippee. I know she’s going to hate me!
Maybe Walmart here will go to free delivery if this mask thing ramps up again.
Riding boots for Kathleen. She’s outgrown the previous pair.
Have a good night!
Thanks, you too!
You’ll have to send a photo of her in them so I can tell her how lady-like she looks and remind her that ladies don’t shriek. ;o]
Looks like kitteh fell in with a Chinese money laundering gang!
Good morning. I hope you slept well!
The mulberry tree is trying to come in my door and living room window. Should I tell Chuck? ;o]
Good morning. I suggest you give them mulberry tree a name and make it a friend!
I was going to put a note in his mail drop this morning but your idea is better. LOL! So. Smedly is trying to get in my door and my living room window!
Good morning. Happy Humph Day!
Kitteh is worth far more than moneh.
You’re absolutely right on this Hmph Day!
Good morning, ArGee. How are things in the City this week?
*tagline*
You can put a note in the box, too, but since that’s unlikely to make any difference, getting on the good side of Smedly is a smart move.
It has stopped raining here, for now.
Well, the inmates are running the asylum, but other than needing to start getting tested every week it’s not impacting me.
The report is that the puppy’s leg is much better, although she’s still favoring it. She apparently has a lot of pent-up energy to unleash.
From way, way, waaaaaaaaaaay back in time and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
It’s not easy having fun all the time. Even smiling makes my face ache.”
I only watched that movie because so many people ranted about it, and I can’t tell you too much about it, just that there were some very funny lines.
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