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 ...
I just cleared off some counter space, and maybe tomorrow, I can work on the kitchen area a little more. And some on the living room, too. Like pulling the bookcases out and washing behind them, then getting them into their final spots.
I’ve given up trying to find the cup hooks I was using for curtain rods, so I just ordered more at Walmart, since I refuse to go there until WAY after Christmas. I’ll have one more delivery after this one and then things should be back to normal.
“Normal” is a fluid concept.
You have no idea! My "normal" just got a whole lot more AB Normal!
Is Rodney any relation to Woody or Arlo?
I will have to ask! LOL!
I wondered about that, too. When rural areas had to get street names in order to facilitate emergency services, some counties chose people’s names (like mine) and others went for random blandness, like maple, oak, beech etc.
Or nearer-by:
Rodney Baker Guthrie, 78, of West Helena has passed July 15, 2019. He was born in Helena May 28, 1941. His parents: Willie Mae Laymon and Walter E. Guthrie.
I had never heard of him and though the curiosity bell began a slight tinkle, other things kept pushing it out of my mind, so I’m glad one of you was kind enough to look it up! Thanks!
I got to thinking today (in case you smelled something burning) and have decided to get my phone number changed. The reason is nothing more than 911 calls. If I called 911 from my current number, I believe it may alert NV authorities instead of the ones I really need (I’m not sure but would rather not take any chances) so after the first of the year, I’ll have a new area code. It would be nice if I could keep the other seven digits, but...
What a majestic floof that is!
Good morning.
I hope you had a good night and that you slept well in spite of cats and kickers.
Last night was actually a fairly good one for me. almost nine hours, finally!
I have to go to UPS today and drop off the BP cuff that I ordered and then immediately found my own. It will be a cold walk, but thanks to Rocky, I have a warm hat and gloves.
I think my last batch of Christmas greetings is going to arrive late. I haven’t felt like sitting down and applying myself to the job, even though Folks need my new address.
*tagline*
Good morning. Happy Twosday!
We had a balmy 27 fs this morning, heading to a high of 39.
The thermometer is complaining of whiplash.
We watched an interesting biopic last night called “The Man Who Knew Infinity.” Mrs. ArGee said she didn’t know it was a downer movie, but life can be like that. Anyway, it seems this Indian I’d never heard of really rocked the math world during WW I.
25 and foggy here. Pogonip weather.
Pogonip? Does that make possums act stoned?
Isn’t today the official first day of winter?
Heckel and Jeckel before they became famous.m.
Good morning. It’s cold here, too. I’m trying to get the crowd to leave so I can clean, but nothing is working so far.
Good Tuesday morning!
We were at 29° so we weren’t much warmer. We’ll have a high of 53°, “they” say.
I’ll have to try and find that movie. Was it streaming?
I actually have a Pogo cartoon book but I’m almost afraid to read it. It’s been well loved.
That’s an interesting question!! :o])
Yes, indeed. Winter solstice it is. The daylight will (thankfully) get longer by a minute or two on each end from now until June’s counterpart.
Thanks!
I actually LOL’d at that! I used to love Heckle and Jeckle!
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