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 ...
We just put a family trip on the calendar, second week of August. Just a few days at the state park with the waterfall.
Good morning.
That will give you a break of sorts!
Good morning! Now that I know you’re up, I’ll send you a snap of my friend Jake, who spent most of the night on my pillow, making my head feel very hot. Like James’s hair.
Floofy says it’s Sunday so dress up nicely!
I wasn’t sure I was going to go to church, but I don’t like not taking the Sacrament. And I can’t do that on Zoom.
I feel like I’m so far behind this morning!
I slept in until almost 7:00!
Good for you!
I’d think I was dead if I slept that long! LOL!
The bed needs to be made.
If I go off my schedule it really messes me up. Why? Because my schedule isn’t written down, and I don’t know what to do next when I deviate from it. Chronic illness does that to people.
When I was working, I didn’t understand it, though I worked with disabled people and those with chronic illnesses. It’s one thing to be trained how to handle other people in order to help them and something else to experience it and realize the wisdom in helping them to keep to their schedules.
Eye opener.
Going to make the bed.
I understand people with chronic health issues more just because of this ongoing foot problem. It’s a little things, but it makes a big difference in what I can do.
Yes, little things like that make us realize our limitations. We think we’re invincible. Which is why the newly disabled are so angry at everyone. They don’t understand “why me?” and it disrupts their lives to the point that they can’t function well.
Pill time!
I just took my last ankle pill. I’ll have to call the podiatrist tomorrow about a refill.
Welp.
I’m “ready” for church, but one thing is certain, I shouldn’t have gone to that breakfast, yesterday. That “upset” me more than I realized at the time. I knew it would to a certain extent, but this is not good. So next week, I’ll have to decide whether to go to the celebration or go to church. Doing both, two weeks in a row, would not be smart.
I put on a denim skirt this morning that was tight on me only two months ago, and now, I’m concerned that it might fall off! I love this skirt and really do want another denim skirt. I just feel so comfortable in them, and they can be dressed up or down.
Anyway, I’m glad I’m not “in it trying to get out or out trying to get in,” but if I lose much more weight, I really will have to buy another!
*tagline*
Out of here until I get back!
Seeya! I’m glad you look nice!
I’m glad you looked nice, as well! Of course, you’ve never seen me skinny, so I’ll no doubt look my age when you visit! But I know how nice you looked when you were ready for church during my visits.
All overcast and ugly. I think we got some rain last night because the closing prayer mentioned being thankful for it. I don’t recall the opening prayer. A baby was fussing in my ear.
Asuncion said I look younger with the additional 20 lbs.
Brothers are home, and I’ve turned on their laundry. Jake is ready for me to go to bed with him now.
I would look younger, as well, but the loss was intended to lower the intensity of pain and stress on my joints.
I’ll be glad to see you, no matter which of us has more or less weight!
Jake should not be disappointed. He’s much too needy, these days!
I think my feet would be happier carrying 20 fewer pounds, but I could be wrong.
Jake enjoyed the nap. I had to pry him off so I could put another load of the boys’ wash in.
I’ll see you tomorrow!
Have a good night.
I died on the vine. I didn’t even hear the phone ring, and it was my son.
So now, it’s on to the laundry!
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