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 ...
Thank you, and yes, the memories are good, and comforting.
I’m so sorry, Nully.
Hopefully, your sweet memories of both of them will sustain you through this difficult time.
So far, so good.
I have to be careful with everything I eat and drink, making sure it’s in moderation. I have one working kidney, and I don’t want to stress it any more than I have to.
But I’ll look for some high protein snacks, and see what happens.
<3 {{{{Nully}}}}
I’m sorry, null and void.
Even half a peanut butter bar would probably pick you up.
Survived another James Driving Adventure. After the other errands, we got fried chicken at Publix.
I imagine you’re really ticking Death off by cheating him so often.
Good point. Maybe I should die sometimes.
It would seem these last two Tax-chicklets are the toughest ones to give instruction to. Unless Patrick was part of the Gang of Three.
Fried chicken sounds good!
Bill was a terror as a student driver, but the real problem is my age!
Wha?
Sweet little floof!
Good morning. I hope you slept well.
I tried to stay up and watch “Captain America” with the kids, but I only made it to 10:00 PM. They spent about 90 minutes trying to decide if they were going to watch something and which something that would be.
They eat very late, and that has thrown me off my schedule. Another week...
We’ll be going to Walmart today but I suspect it will be around noon again when the crowds seem to be at their optimum. This store is about the same size as yours, I think. It’s much, much bigger than the one I left and laid out in a way that is confusing. But that’s OK. I’m here and I’ll learn to love it!
Kevin is getting a trailer hitch put on his new truck today, so the shopping will be done after that. He’s decided not to put a utility bed on the truck but instead, to put it on a trailer and make that work for him. The old truck he will sell for parts, since it’s so rusted out.
I have to sort pills today and I’m debating whether to do it in “my” room (it was, originally, intended for me) or wait until they are gone. If it looks like they’ll be here for the next dose (two hours) I’ll do it in my room so I don’t take up space in the kitchen.
I helped Kevin a little yesterday on his VW restoration, and that was fun. Little by little, he’s warming to me. And so is Mari.
Good, I’m glad things are going a little better. Only another week!
Not a bad night: Jake was out. However, I was dreaming of Spanish music and my foot hurt.
Off to choir!
The lull before the storm.
Hoping that it is a good one!!
Survived a long, long choir practice. Next, Walmart.
Survived Walmart. I ran into a friend. Frank got an unexpected overnight invitation and has been dispatched with clean underwear and a toothbrush.
I survived Walmart too, but only because I had to. We didn’t even leave until almost 1:00.
I go one way and they go their own way, and the store is big enough that I don’t have to meet them until they come out.
Next Saturday is going to be a pain. I have to pick up the chest of drawers and the table after we have moved the stuff into the place.
‘Face’s Moving Adventure is almost over with!
Only a little longer! We’ll be having our big Spanish choir event when you’re moving.
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