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 ...
Coupons for oil changes are always good! I hope Pat didn’t have to wait too long for it.
No, he was back quickly. He got a new air filter, too.
Good. Some days, the wait is almost not worth it for things like that. But they’re necessary, so waiting is what we do.
The day has turned pretty, and I even had a surprise visit from Sharon. Nosy, but I bribed her with pencils when she didn’t get the answers she wanted. I needed to buy more pencils but there was a “Twofer” sale. The only thing was, the cost for one was more than the cost for two, so I bought two. I won’t have to buy pencils again until the erasers get hard. ;o] She was grateful for them, though as she uses a lot of pencils, too.
We added a seizure to the case of the runs. At least her system was mostly empty.
Oh, dear. I’m so sorry. Please keep me posted on this. I’ll keep her little doggy self in my prayers.
Well, you don’t have to be concerned about Tom’s survival instincts, thank heaven.
Thank you, I do.
Wow! You’re correct. The last time I tried to access it, the page was down.
G'daft, y'all.
Tom is pretty good at taking care of himself. James will be, too, one day ;-). When we were working camp staff, I suggested he let the teenage girl staffers style his hair for him, but he got all embarrassed. Tom used to let me braid his hair!
Speaking of Tom, he got the job at Pike Nursery, the high-end garden store. It’s $10/hr, but they’ll schedule around his school needs, and it should cover his rent. And maybe he’ll get a raise when they see how great he is.
Sorry about the dog’s additional health issues, and I hope she makes a quick recovery!
We had a dog visitor in the yard today, a little thing like a long-haired dachshund, but not exactly like. It was chasing the mourning doves until I walked out and said, “Can I help you?” Then it took off. We’d seen it walking around the neighborhood earlier, and Frank and Kathleen said that’s not unusual. Shannon got upset and came inside to hide under the table in the sunroom.
We’re almost ready for the two Spanish weddings tomorrow. One of the brides lost her phone - bad timing - but she’s back in business now and was able to let me know about her readings and psalm. I’m sure it will all be lovely tomorrow.
I’m still waiting for a response to my query of getting the password restored, but it may take a day or two.
Some of the conversations were way above my head, but I was invited to join, so I did. ;o]
Congratulations to Tom! I’m sure he’s relieved, but where does that leave you with the Teen Bros and their Driving Adventures? Will he still be able to help you at all?
At one time, (I think he was 15 or 16) I put a permanent in my son’s hair, and even though I kept trimming it, the curl never came out. He was surprised, but I wasn’t. The first time his hair was cut as a toddler I almost cried, but I had to do it because people kept asking me what “her” name was because “she’s” so cute.
Leash laws are pretty strict, here, so we don’t see too many dogs without human on the other end of the leash, being led around.
Good luck on the Spanish weddings tomorrow!
Tom will still be able to do some driving, but the teenbros are really coming along. Vlad is over 40 hours out of 60, and James is almost there. They need 10 hours at night, but they can’t drive after 9:00 p.m., so we have to wait until it gets dark earlier.
If it would help, I would get them up to drive before it gets light in the morning, but they can’t get their licenses until January/February anyway, because of needing 6 months with the permit.
Currently, the DMV website says there’s no driving test if you’re over 18, so James won’t need a driving test unless they change it before his birthday!
“Tom will still be able to do some driving, but the teenbros are really coming along. Vlad is over 40 hours out of 60, and James is almost there...” That’s excellent on both counts.
That will be good for the James’. Will they be having two licenses? ;o]
My Wet-Jet just bit the dust. It’s been on it’s way out for some time now, but today, it decided to just give up. I need it. I can’t get one until next payday. *sheesh*
Prayers up for puppy’s speedy recovery. Does she have allergies?
Here’s to a good night for all of you!
:o])
So sorry to hear that puppy's under the weather. Hopefully, it will pass soon.
Congrats on cornering the market on pencils. Good luck with your password. (Most of the conversations were over my head.)
Sweet dreams....
One license for James, and one for his other brother, James.
They don't think so, but when Real Life lands on them like a ton of bricks, they find they can deal with it.
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