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 ...
Cold days are often beautiful because the air is so clear. They’re great days for sitting inside and looking out the window.
They’re also great days for flying. The air is so dense the plane gets high fast and you can see forever. Back before UPT the Air Force gave us 25 hours of lessons our senior year to reduce the chances of us crashing a trainer jet. My 25 hours were in a very cold climate. It was the best way to slip the surlies.
I’m sorry you were cold, and even sorrier that disturbance was added to it. Sometimes, drastic action needs to be taken in order for us to do the things required for our own peace of mind.
I have a hard time getting warm, anyway, since the accident so long ago, so I added another layer to my “bed” last night, which may explain why I slept so long. It wasn’t deep sleep, according to Fitbit, but it was unbroken for almost five hours, so there is that to be grateful for.
I “unboxed” the flat “tubs” and found two wheels broken off one. The box had “lost its integrity,” so no telling where the rest of the wheels are. I need to email Sterlite and request new ones. In the meantime, I’m going to being sorting through files to minimize the amount of things to be stored. I need to reach the trunk and get it back into the bedroom. There is a perfect niche for it until such time as I see fit to bring it out here.
I don’t even want to start putting stuff away due to the painters coming. I’m thinking my life will never settle into a routine again. Intellectually, I know it will. Emotionally, not.
Once I get into the air, I’m OK with flying. Takeoff isn’t so bad, as it reminds me of being in a drag race. But I’ve always dreaded the landings, for some reason.
However, I do understand your love of flying, and glad you were able to slip the surlies as often as you could. My Thanksgiving wish for you: May all your dreams be spent flying in cold clear air!
If I plan on a backup place to sleep, I turn out not to need it, and if I don’t prepare, then I’ll wish I had. Sigh.
Sorry about your boxes!
Got any 4’s?
Is that the “Sleeping Conundrum?” Maybe you should write a book about it. ;o]
I sent a message to Sterlite (companies are now relying on FB of all places for their “Contact Us” section, and I resent the dickens out of that. What makes them think I want to spend my time on a trash social media?) </rant If it weren’t for my nieces, nephews and school friends (as well as siblings who never talk to me and one who does) I wouldn’t bother with the place at all.
I just spent an hour (it feels like that on my back, since I was standing up for the job) hanging up the jewelry that I had bagged for the trip.
Before I moved, I gave Sharon several sets that I no longer used, so I don’t have quite as much as I did. Anyway, I have a few more things to put away in there but one or two sets may end up in the Donation Pile, just because I’ve lost so much weight that the clothes I had that I bought the jewelry to go with don’t fit any more. I’m NOT going to gain the weight back, just to fit in the clothes!
Speaking of Sharon, I guess she was at Death’s Door, because they flew her to SLC where she is in ICU, but improving. She’s still intubated but has a “stopper” so she can at least talk on the phone to her beloved Jerry. No word on how much longer she’ll be there but the fact that she is talking on a limited basis is a good thing! I keep her in my prayers.
I cleaned the stove and cooked some brocolli I found in the refrigerator drawer.
I’m glad Sharon might get better!
I just finished the jewelry case, so it can hang on the door with all its weight, now. One more part of moving in and trying to feel settled. HAH!
I just got photos from FS of his new utility trailer for his work. He was looking for a new utility truck, but bought a pickup and then ordered the trailer, “soon to be customized inside,” no doubt, by him! He’s excited, and it matches his flagship truck — red with black trim.
Thanks for the wishes for Sharon. Right now, it’s up to God whether she stays with us or not. We all have an “appointed” day to pass on, and we never know when it will be. I hope she stays with us a little longer. Maybe she’ll even be brave enough to fly out to visit, though that would be iffy. She’ll be recuperating for a long time.
It’s a gorgeous day out, though it’s cold, and I kept thinking I should have walked to Kroger. But I actually think I’ll do it early in the morning. I still need to pay a bill, but there are no ATMs in stores here, only at banks and a few other places. Makes it VERY hard to get money orders.
I brought a 30 degree sleeping bag downstairs, in case I feel like sleeping on the couch. I’ll get my spare pillow, too.
“Always Be Prepared.” I read that somewhere.
I was just looking at the map, and realized that Dogpatch was not designed with walkers in mind. I need to try and get a vehicle, asap, because otherwise, I’ll be relying on two unwilling people to get me where I need to go, or be held captive while they go where and when they want to go. This is not healthy for me, emotionally or mentally, and probably even physically.
Fortunately, this planet is SO big and SO powerful that our puny attempts to challenge its authority don’t bother it at all. So we don’t have to fear the landings, just remember what we’re dealing with.
That’s the whole thing, right there: I’m not flying it — someone else is. ;o]) Now if YOU were flying it, I wouldn’t worry a bit!
So, your judgement is questionable?
No, my judgement is just fine, ArGee. I’m not flying with strangers! ;o]
A few of us went to Mass, which was offered for my late father. It’s cold out.
I know what that feels like. Sweet memories.
It’s very cold here. The temp was in the 40’s yesterday but the wind was blowing, and that made it very cold.
“I can climb dis, Mom! Wanna see me? Mom? Mom! Ma! Mommie. Mom. Momma. Watch me. Mom. Ma. Mama. MOM!”
I was awake, I think, but not stirring much when you posted this kitteh. I was dreaming about something that was comforting but also made me curious about what was going to happen next. I don’t recall what it was, just now. Lots of plaid? Strange.
Did you sleep well?
I’ve got the heater in the bathroom turned on so I can take a shower. It’s not too cold this morning, but I know I’ll feel it when I head for Kroger. I plan to go fairly early so I miss most of the crowds, and so that I can get home before the painter comes to tell me what I’m supposed to do.
The maintenance man is supposed to come “for sure” and fix the light in the dining area. Stupid design in this place, but don’t get me started! LOL!
Good morning. I slept pretty well, thanks. I put on an extra blanket!
I need to go to Walmart with the shopping list left by Tom the Cooking Son.
I turned on the heater but forgot to run the hot water so the water heater would begin to heat up. I hate when I do that! The water heater is about half the size of what I’m used to and I get cold before I get clean.
My trip to Kroger is actually a trip to the ATM machine a little farther down the road. I’ll stop at Kroger on the way home as much for the “rest” as anything else. I imagine it will be crowded, even at the time I get there, so shopping won’t be on the agenda — just a money order.
Good morning. Happy Humph Day! For those who have to work, it’s the first Friday of this week.
19 fs this morning when I walked the dog. Brrrr.
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