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 ...
Yay! I have mailed things. It’s probably the second one from the beach, unless it’s the first one from the beach.
Also, you had mentioned some really high number of moves that you have made in your life (IIRC it was in 3 digits!)...
I hate moving so much that I don't think I could ever do that...
Sounds like you have a good plan, and plenty of time to see it through!
I am waiting for today's peak of heat and humidity at 1PM... then it is all 'downhill' (for both) from there!!
It’s postmarked the 17th from Columbia, so the second one. I answered the first one, so you should get it tomorrow or Thursday.
Maybe the USPS’ actual service will improve when I’m closer. ;o]
Second one, then. I expect you’ll get faster USPS when you’re east of Oklahoma.
Enjoy!
Well, I was a military wife, but before I even got out of high school I had moved several times. After the military, it was aerospace, and after that, a divorce had me moving to find work, then be closer to work, then early retirement, and yes, it’s in the triple digits.
I have it down to a science: Numbered containers, contents marked, plus the room they belong in. I just have to get it done. I think my son is coming thinking he will have to do the last of it, but I don’t want him to have to do that. I want to have it SO ready that by the time we do the final preps for Monday morning there will be nothing to do but load.
It will be a relief to finish it. I’ve been surrounded by boxes for far too long. I want to put my rug down! (cream colored Turkish rug, dumpster find, 7’X11’!)
I hope we’re right! ;o])
One day at a time!
Gloriosky!
I just got back from the library where I ran into the young man who wanted to buy the BB SUV from me “back when it was snowing.” He is still interested, and he will take possession of it on October 7 or 8. So I have most of the money for a down payment on a new vehicle!
*HAPPY DANCE*
Brilliant! See, good things happen to people who go to the library!
I would like to remind you that you said things would fall into place at the right time ...
I walked into the library and was waiting for the gal to get my DVDs checked in, when a young man called my name. I turn to the left and he said, “Do you remember me?” I said, “Navy!” “You remembered!” “Yes, you’ve been on my mind because I was going to call you to see if you were still interested.”
So yes, this is exactly the type of thing I was referring to when I said they would “fall into place!”
I picked up a mixture of CDs today, since we’re about to finish our audiobook in the van. The first volume of Julie Andrews’s memoir is not available on CD from the library.
I just read your caletter. Kewl!
Man, I’m tired! I know what it is, but I’m not going to say it out loud.
I will need to cancel the car insurance and transfer the renter’s insurance so it’s still in force, but I have to call AR on Friday to get the correct address.
(SO exciting about selling the Tracker! <3 )
Just remember, time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
w00t!
Thanks! I just noticed that before my post about the library/car!
Yes, indeed! That would be me! :o])
One step at a time. So excited about your selling the Tracker!
I’m tired, too. I think it’s age ;-).
For what it’s worth, my calendar says today is “Peace Day.”, and of course, tomorrow is the first day of fall and the day Frank and Kathleen go to the dentist.
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