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 ...
One thing is sure: If I can’t get the place cleaned and painted, I’m going to be miserable. Having the door closed at night while the ozone machine is on is really causing allergy problems. I wake up not being able to breathe and spend the next two or three hours trying to go back to sleep.
This morning, I said, “Bunk it,” and here I am. I need to find my prescription nasal spray.
With the manager being here only one day a week, it makes it hard to resolve anything.
What a perfectly marked squee!
Good morning. I hope you slept well.
I’m going to pretend this is a normal day and just get on with life, if my allergies will allow it.
Yesterday, I got a big, fat book (500 pages, I think) of all the information from my new medical insurance company and it must have every single drug ever made listed. Almost 250 pages. Those are “covered” drugs. Crikey. If I get more than 90 morphine a month, it’s considered Tier 4 instead of Tier 3. Go figure.
Now all I have to do is find a doctor I can get to without a lot of difficulty.
I woke up to find a text message from Navy, the kid who bought the BB SUV. He said they did an engine rebuild and he loves the car, and thanked me again. I miss that thing!
I’m glad the young man likes the Tracker. Last week in the church parking lot, I met the father of the young man who bought my dad’s RX-7. His father said he loves it!
I miss being able to go where I want, so I really do want to get another one. They’re not too expensive, and small enough to maneuver on these narrow winding streets.
It was kind of him to update me. ;o]
Yes, it was kind. And having a vehicle is very useful, even if you have to share it with a teen driver.
I’ve made appointments for James and Vlad to get their licenses on February 1.
That will take some pressure off of you, for them to be able to drive alone. I hope they’re ready for some high insurance costs. Or did you say they could only drive with an adult for a period of time before going solo?
I’m getting anxious now for my own vehicle, specifically, without it, doctor appointments will be problematic.
Insurance will be a lot. However, Patrick will be expected to have his own car around that time, which will mean his own insurance. He pays part of his cost right now, since he also assists the larger organization.
Once Vlad gets his license, he was have some restrictions as well as additional driving practice with an adults. James will be 18, so he won’t have any more hoops.
Ah. I thought so. I wasn’t sure of the ages of the young men, but it makes sense.
The bathroom should be warm, now, so I’m going to go in and take a shower. Hopefully, I’ll feel better when I get out. I’m in so much pain it isn’t funny.
I just checked the map, and though the doctor’s office is only a mile from here, it’s over the freeway, and that means I can’t walk. So Plan B will be in effect.
In other news, I lost over 4 lbs. this week. Amazing what happens when you stop making dumb choices! A long way to go until I fit my Scout uniform pants, but the first 20 will be easy.
Good morning, all. Happy Humph day.
27 fs when I went out with the dog this morning. Brrrr.
At least I’m almost walking normally. Only a small catch in my calf.
I’m glad your leg is better!
I walked around the block a couple of times, and I noticed quite a bit of trash, so I conscripted Frank and we went around again, picking up.
Yesterday was trash day, so some was probably accidental droppage from the bins.
Congratulations on the weight loss!!!
I know how it feels to reach a goal, so I’ll be offering Words of Encouragement! (She sez, taking another bite of an Idaho Spud candy bar...)
Happy Wednesday!
Sorry about your cold weather, especially since ours is going to be a balmy 70° today. Overcast, but warm.
I’m having an apple.
Yeah, there always seems to be some trash that escapes the maw of the garbage truck innards.
After yesterday’s walk, and not quite five hours of sleep, I don’t think I’d have the energy to pick up after the neighborhood. It was all I could do to walk out to the dumpster with empty boxes.
:o|
I should, but I didn’t buy any. Maybe I’ll have some grapefruit for lunch.
I was outside, talking to the manager, and came back in to be overwhelmed by smoke again.
Have you invited the manager in to smell it?
No but I should have. She was busy with other people/things.
The letter should get some action.
The electricians came and fixed the light in the closet, so it’s no longer dark in there! I had them put a chain on rather than a string, but I’ll have to see if FS has a longer chain. I can reach this one, but it’s a stretch. The used one they took off of a ceiling fan.
Still waiting for maintenance to come about the light in the kitchen area. But I have all day and can watch more episodes of “Balthazar.” All in French, so I have to actually WATCH it.
Oh well...it passes the time while I’m waiting.
“Only a small catch in my calf.”
Bananas. Hydrate, and have a banana.
It’s always the sodium/potassium balance that gets you.
If you don’t find bananas..., uhhh, appealing...
...there are other potassium sources out there.
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