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See the 'Star of India,' decades after it was nabbed in a heist [NYC]
https://www.livescience.com ^ | JUNE 11, 2021 | By Mindy Weisberger - Senior Writer

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 ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Education; History; Travel
KEYWORDS: allankuhn; aluminium; aluminiumoxide; aluminum; aluminumoxide; bluestarsapphire; chromium; corundum; godsgravesglyphs; heist; iron; jackmurphy; magnesium; murfthesurf; sapphire; srilanka; starofindia; startrekiv; titanium; undead; vanadium
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To: Tax-chick

Yes, you’re right. I used to be very good at ignoring people but since I haven’t been around people for a very long time, I’ve lost the art. I do believe it’s time to bring it back into play. Thanks for the reminder!

It’s hard to believe that I’m going to spend part of today and tomorrow with people I love instead of having to settle for a phone call. I’m sure Charlie will call tomorrow, and FD, of course, but there are five Other Folks that I’ll get to see. It will seem odd, after all these years (33 years?) of just me. No wonder I worked the holidays!

It’s going to be “warm” but overcast today!


5,221 posted on 12/24/2021 3:50:45 AM PST by Monkey Face ( ~~ For unto us a child is born. ~~ O! Come! Let us adore Him! ~~)
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To: Monkey Face

Yes, what a big change! Try to be nice to yourself ;-).

The sun is coming up here, and it looks like the temperature is above freezing. We have choir this morning.


5,222 posted on 12/24/2021 4:17:00 AM PST by Tax-chick (Nature, art, silence, simplicity, peace. And fungi.)
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To: Tax-chick; dakine; GOPJ; fanfan; ColdOne; Cyber Liberty; null and void; Anoreth; Monkey Face; ...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year


5,223 posted on 12/24/2021 4:40:49 AM PST by no-to-illegals (The enemy has US surrounded. May God have mercy on them )
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To: no-to-illegals

Merry Christmas to you and all on the undead thread!


5,224 posted on 12/24/2021 4:43:12 AM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: Jet Jaguar; no-to-illegals

Merry Christmas, Jet and NtI!

So good to hear from you both, at this special time of year!

May the next two days (at least!) be “merry and bright!”

‘Face

;o]


5,225 posted on 12/24/2021 4:54:24 AM PST by Monkey Face ( ~~ For unto us a child is born. ~~ O! Come! Let us adore Him! ~~)
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To: Tax-chick

Yes, it will be a big change, but this morning, I decided I’m going to wear my bunny slippers to the get-together to remind me to be clam and enjoy myself and ignore everything that is an all-joy sucker.

I’ll just look at the stupid faces on the silly things and take heart in knowing I’m in control! Not to mention, I found a T-shirt with a Nativity scene in gold and the inscription over it says, “Come, let us adore him.” So I’m wearing that over a red turtleneck. And Kermit leggings because they’re red and green!

As I was reading the temps in other parts of the country, I saw that your day(s) will be similar to mine. We’re not that far apart!

The shower has been had, and I need to finish my letter to Charlie, then sort pills. Then I can do what I want until it’s time to leave.


5,226 posted on 12/24/2021 5:25:27 AM PST by Monkey Face ( ~~ For unto us a child is born. ~~ O! Come! Let us adore Him! ~~)
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To: sionnsar; NoCmpromiz; FriendDownUnder; A CA Guy; afnamvet; airborne; Allegra; Anoreth; ArGee; ...

Something to lift your spirits!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHaYpXRlER8

Merry Christmas!


5,227 posted on 12/24/2021 5:28:15 AM PST by Monkey Face ( ~~ For unto us a child is born. ~~ O! Come! Let us adore Him! ~~)
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To: ArGee

I hope that your extra time off will be very enjoyable!


5,228 posted on 12/24/2021 5:44:18 AM PST by zzeeman ("We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality." )
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To: Tax-chick

Hopefully the toast didn’t burn!


5,229 posted on 12/24/2021 5:45:02 AM PST by zzeeman ("We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality." )
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To: Monkey Face

Underground storm shelters (even if only a section of conduit or old water tank with a breathing tube) is a must in that part of the country.


5,230 posted on 12/24/2021 5:47:01 AM PST by zzeeman ("We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality." )
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To: ArGee

Sounds mighty chilly, hopefully it isn’t windy too!


5,231 posted on 12/24/2021 5:48:00 AM PST by zzeeman ("We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality." )
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To: Monkey Face

Was away from the computer and scurrying with chores almost all day into the night... our big family dinner is here today, going to start some preps as soon as I am done with the livestock...


5,232 posted on 12/24/2021 5:49:36 AM PST by zzeeman ("We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality." )
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To: Tax-chick
Surprised!
5,233 posted on 12/24/2021 5:51:04 AM PST by zzeeman ("We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality." )
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To: Monkey Face; Tax-chick; ArGee; null and void; All
Beautiful!

Merry Christmas Eve to All!!

5,234 posted on 12/24/2021 5:52:43 AM PST by zzeeman ("We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality." )
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To: zzeeman

Good morning! Best wishes for a peaceful Christmas.


5,235 posted on 12/24/2021 6:03:21 AM PST by Tax-chick (Nature, art, silence, simplicity, peace. And fungi.)
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To: zzeeman

It would certainly make me feel better to have an underground shelter, but rental properties don’t do things like that. However, I figure when my Time on Earth is up, it won’t really matter which way I die. I need to take that Final Step, no matter what!


5,236 posted on 12/24/2021 6:04:33 AM PST by Monkey Face ( ~~ For unto us a child is born. ~~ O! Come! Let us adore Him! ~~)
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To: zzeeman

What kind of livestock do you own, Z?

Just curious, and if you feel it’s invasive, just tell me. It’s OK!


5,237 posted on 12/24/2021 6:06:09 AM PST by Monkey Face ( ~~ For unto us a child is born. ~~ O! Come! Let us adore Him! ~~)
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To: Monkey Face
Something to lift your spirits!

That was beautiful.

Merry Christmas to you!

5,238 posted on 12/24/2021 7:43:18 AM PST by Allegra
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To: Monkey Face

Thanks! Merry Christmas to all my undead friends!!


5,239 posted on 12/24/2021 7:45:57 AM PST by Delta 21 (Quarantine the sick. Protect the vulnerable. Hang the guilty. Free everyone else.)
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To: Delta 21

I’m still undead!

Merry Christmas, Delta 21!


5,240 posted on 12/24/2021 8:01:38 AM PST by Tax-chick (Nature, art, silence, simplicity, peace. And fungi.)
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