Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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)

==================================================================

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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 621-640641-660661-680 ... 5,461-5,468 next last
To: Monkey Face

I’d send you Jake if I could.


641 posted on 07/02/2021 12:59:38 PM PDT by Tax-chick (I found that yelling at my screen did not effect the change I sought.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 640 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick

I really want a catball, but if I do, DiL says she can’t visit because she claims she’s allergic. I doubt it. Very few people her age are allergic. The next generation, yes, hers, no. So it’s going to be a dog or birds. If it’s birds, they won’t be rescues. I’ll just buy them. I won’t want to give them up. There is plenty of time to think about that, though.


642 posted on 07/02/2021 1:26:20 PM PDT by Monkey Face (The inventor of auto-correct has died. His funnel is tomato. ~~ Boyet Alvero ~~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 641 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick

And thank you. That was very generous!


643 posted on 07/02/2021 1:26:58 PM PDT by Monkey Face (The inventor of auto-correct has died. His funnel is tomato. ~~ Boyet Alvero ~~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 641 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick; null and void; Silentgypsy; ArGee; Dead Corpse; moose07; NicknamedBob; Darksheare

This has been a strange day, but I still managed to get a few cerebral things done, and I’m a little on the tired side.

Tomorrow, I’ll be shifting things around in the kitchen, and then moving things from here into there because I need room to walk as well as to work. So I’ll see you in the morning!

Have a good night, all of you and I hope your weekend is safe and fun!


644 posted on 07/02/2021 1:47:42 PM PDT by Monkey Face (The inventor of auto-correct has died. His funnel is tomato. ~~ Boyet Alvero ~~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 643 | View Replies]

To: Monkey Face
I hope your weekend is safe and fun!

Hmmmm. Mutually exclusive wishes.

645 posted on 07/02/2021 2:13:52 PM PDT by ArGee (This is a tagline. This is only a tagline. Had it been a post, it would have been told to look up.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 644 | View Replies]

To: All

I was surfing Amazon and did not realize that y’all had your own survival product.

https://www.amazon.com/United-Cutlery-UC2988-Apocalypse-Survival/dp/B00CXV7L38/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=undead+survival&qid=1625261759&sr=8-7


646 posted on 07/02/2021 2:39:09 PM PDT by Rebelbase
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Monkey Face

I hope your tomorrow goes well. I was pleased with today’s driving adventures. James had a real challenge, but he feels like he’s making good progress (and he is).

We have choir this evening, followed by ... I dunno, sleeping maybe.


647 posted on 07/02/2021 3:03:03 PM PDT by Tax-chick (I found that yelling at my screen did not effect the change I sought.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 644 | View Replies]

To: Rebelbase

Only to be used if the door to the 3rd sub-basement is left unlocked.


648 posted on 07/02/2021 3:20:39 PM PDT by ArGee (This is a tagline. This is only a tagline. Had it been a post, it would have been told to look up.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 646 | View Replies]

To: Rebelbase

It looks very useful.


649 posted on 07/02/2021 3:24:02 PM PDT by Tax-chick (I found that yelling at my screen did not effect the change I sought.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 646 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick; dakine; GOPJ; fanfan; ColdOne; Cyber Liberty; null and void; Anoreth; Monkey Face; ...

650 posted on 07/03/2021 3:15:26 AM PDT by Tax-chick (I found that yelling at my screen did not effect the change I sought.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 649 | View Replies]

To: Rebelbase; ArGee; Tax-chick; NicknamedBob; Dead Corpse; HKMk23

It could come in handy when those pesky Dwarves in the Lower Levels get the Zombies riled up.

Thanks, Rebelbase!


651 posted on 07/03/2021 3:18:30 AM PDT by Monkey Face (The inventor of auto-correct has died. His funnel is tomato. ~~ Boyet Alvero ~~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 646 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick; Rebelbase

Kitteh can’t believe we’ve never needed that before!

Good morning.

It would appear I’m destined for ten hours’ sleep a night, or I can’t function, no matter what. Not sure if I like that. But Happy Caturday, anyway!

That’s good news about James. Perhaps his confidence was increased by the incident!

Do you have fun things planned for today?


652 posted on 07/03/2021 3:23:55 AM PDT by Monkey Face (The inventor of auto-correct has died. His funnel is tomato. ~~ Boyet Alvero ~~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 650 | View Replies]

To: Monkey Face

Good morning.

Tom will be over later to take one or more brothers on an Adventure. I plan to get dressed, and then we’ll see what eventuates.


653 posted on 07/03/2021 3:33:33 AM PDT by Tax-chick (I found that yelling at my screen did not effect the change I sought.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 652 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick

My day will consist of schlepping. Also writing another note to Chuck about smokers to the left of me. And idiots to the right.

I also have a letter to write and sheets to change. I’m trying very hard to rearrange my schedule so I don’t wear myself out on Monday and Tuesday to the point that I’m useless the rest of the week.


654 posted on 07/03/2021 3:59:19 AM PDT by Monkey Face (The inventor of auto-correct has died. His funnel is tomato. ~~ Boyet Alvero ~~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 653 | View Replies]

To: Monkey Face

I might go to the library with a driving-brother. I have some books out that are wait-listed, so I’d like to get them turned in promptly.


655 posted on 07/03/2021 4:06:18 AM PDT by Tax-chick (I found that yelling at my screen did not effect the change I sought.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 654 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick

Wednesday is my library day, for now. It changes if I get bored with the constant “climate change” dialog.

I just listened to a talk that reminded me of the changes that will take place around the world in the Last Days, and I think “climate change” is the only way that atheists and other non-believers can explain the things that are happening. Boy! Are THEY in for a surprise!

Off to change the sheets!


656 posted on 07/03/2021 4:51:18 AM PDT by Monkey Face (The inventor of auto-correct has died. His funnel is tomato. ~~ Boyet Alvero ~~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 655 | View Replies]

To: Monkey Face

I got dressed and went for a walk. It’s less hot and humid here than on some other days. Now I’m going to chivvy the driving brothers out of bed.


657 posted on 07/03/2021 6:37:16 AM PDT by Tax-chick (I found that yelling at my screen did not effect the change I sought.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 656 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick

Huh. My 20th anniversary snuck by me!


658 posted on 07/03/2021 6:45:46 AM PDT by null and void (We're the only country where so many people believe pro wrestling is real and elections are honest!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 650 | View Replies]

To: null and void

Happy late 20th, Nully!

I’m always missing mine!


659 posted on 07/03/2021 7:00:13 AM PDT by Monkey Face (The inventor of auto-correct has died. His funnel is tomato. ~~ Boyet Alvero ~~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 658 | View Replies]

To: null and void; Monkey Face

Happy anniversary! If nothing else, it says you’re alive and cognitively participating 20 years later.

Tom the Son arrived and took the brothers driving. When they get back, he and his dad will go shopping. Maybe I’ll get up the library, maybe not. The next person wouldn’t get their reserve book before Wednesday, anyway, because of the Monday holiday.


660 posted on 07/03/2021 8:08:07 AM PDT by Tax-chick (I found that yelling at my screen did not effect the change I sought.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 658 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 621-640641-660661-680 ... 5,461-5,468 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson