Corundum Stone – properties, virtues & benefits

Corundum stone is a versatile, durable mineral composed mainly of aluminum oxide, known for its precious sapphire and ruby varieties. Discover its properties, uses and impact on the jewelry industry.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CORINDON

  • Chakra: Solar plexus, Root chakra.
  • Properties: Protection, Courage, Energy.
  • Astrology: Mars.
  • Zodiac: ScorPio, Sagittarius.
  • Elements: Fire, Earth.
  • Colors: Blue, Red, Green, Yellow.
  • Hardness: 9.
  • Chemical Formula: Al2O3.
  • Associated god: Ares, Hera.

CORINDON – HIS STORY

Famous mineralogist John Woodward was the first to describe a mineral called corundum in 1725. The name corundum is derived from the Hindi name kurund for this mineral, which in turn comes from the Tamil term kuruntam meaning red stone. Many mineral enthusiasts have been fascinated by their beauty throughout history, including Louis XIV, who chose one of them as one of the principal Pieces for the Crown Jewels. Today, this magnificent gem is part of the Treasures of the Earth exhibition. Corundum stones are two families of minerals with a surface much harder than glass, almost as strong as diamond. These crystals of crystallized aluminum oxide are very rare and only found locally. The group takes the form of prismatic or conical crystals, transparent like glass or opaque, with slight striations. Some corundum exhibit a phenomenon known as asterism, caused by the presence of extremely fine rutile needles inside the rock, producing a six-pointed star. The sharpness of the asterism depends largely on the thinness of the inclusions, while the presence of bohemite, titanite or hematite inclusions can also cause this stellar image.

The ruby family, also known as red corundum, is characterized by a strong presence of chromium oxide, which gives it its red color. The name ruby comes from the Latin ruber, meaning red. The density of chromium in each specimen determines the intensity of its color, although the presence of iron can cause browner hues. In its raw, natural form, ruby can appear dull and greasy, with frequent inclusions. Rubies can also be created synthetically, by dissolving alumina in a molten flux. Verneuil, a type of synthetic crystal, was created thanks to the discovery of the flame-melting process by French chemist Auguste Victor Louis Verneuil in the early 20th century.

The sapphire family includes all other types of corundum, which can be blue, yellow, violet, green, colorless or black. Sapphires are predominantly blue due to the presence of titanium iron oxide, although bluish crystals are the only ones to have been so named in the past. Padparadscha, from Sri Lanka, is a salmon-colored variant. It can also show reddish or violet hues when exposed to an artificial light source, a phenomenon known as the alexandrite effect, due to a high concentration of chromium and vanadium within the rock. Other sapphire varieties, from Thailand, Tanzania and Colombia, can also exhibit this effect.

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CORINDON STONE – ITS ORIGIN AND COMPOSITION

Corundum is composed of anhydrous alumina in crystallized form, with the presence of titanium, chromium, iron, manganese, vanadium, nickel and silicon. In their natural state, corundum crystals can reach up to a metre in length. It is found in silica-undersaturated magmatic rocks and aluminum-bearing metamorphic rocks such as marble, bauxite and micaschist. It is also present in reworked form in certain detrital sedimentary minerals such as sand or sandstone.

Opaque varieties are often used as abrasives, while the more transparent and limPid ones are polished or cut into gems. Corundum can be natural or man-made and scores 9 on the Mohs scale, making it one of the hardest materials, capable of withstanding the abrasion of a grain of sand. Only diamond is harder in its natural, rough state. This hardness is due to the ionic nature of the bonds in anhydrous alumina. According to Strukturbericht notation, this crystal has a rhombohedron-shaped structure noted D51, with a pattern of two inverted pentahedra. Emery, a very hard mineral derived from corundum, is widely used as a refractory material in various industrial sectors.

CORINDON STONE – VERTIES AND PROPERTIES

Psychological aspects of the corsican

Ruby has many psychological and emotional benefits, such as stimulating enthusiasm and joie de vivre, regulating hyperactivity, enhancing self-confidence and creativity, and protecting against negative behaviors such as jealousy. This crystal of wisdom also increases courage and helps ward off bad dreams.

Also, sapphire offers psychological benefits such as improved concentration, insPiration and the ability to rise sPiritually. It also has a calming effect on mood and can help soothe anger and sadness. Sapphire helps restore serenity, concentration, willpower and courage, as well as the passion and drive to live things more positively. This crystal also helps you sleep better and have positive dreams.

PHYSICAL CORINDON

Ruby is known for its many physical benefits, such as improving blood circulation and heart function, regulating cholesterol levels, stimulating the adrenal glands and kidneys, strengthening the immune system, protecting against poisoning and infection, and soothing fevers. It is also effective for increasing vitality, energy and longevity, improving visual acuity and balance, relieving muscular and menstrual pain.

For its part, sapphire offers physical benefits such as relief from headaches, joint and back pain, tissue irritation and abnormal fever. It also has a regenerating effect on skin, nails and hair, as well as on the vascular system and eyesight. It is also effective in the treatment of certain throat and sinus disorders.

CORINDON STONE – CLEAN AND RECHARGE

To clean and refill a corundum stone, follow these steps:

  1. Water cleaning: rinse the stone under running water for a few minutes to remove impurities and negative energies.
  2. Drying: gently wipe the stone with a soft, clean cloth to dry.
  3. Recharging: Expose the corundum to sunlight or moonlight for several hours to recharge its energies. An exposure of 4 to 6 hours is generally sufficient.
  4. Meditation (optional): Hold the stone in your hand and meditate with it to strengthen your connection and activate its energetic properties.

WHERE DOES THE NAME CORINDON COME FROM?

The name “corundum” comes from the Tamil word “kurundam” or the Sanskrit word “kuruvinda”, meaning ruby or red gemstone. The word was adopted into French and English during the 18th century and now designates the mineral composed mainly of aluminum oxide, whose precious varieties are sapphire and ruby.

WHICH CHAKRA DOES THE CORINDON ACT ON?

Corundum, as a mineral, can act on different chakras depending on the specific color of the stone. The best-known corundum varieties, sapphire and ruby, have effects on the following chakras:

  1. Ruby (red corundum): Ruby is often associated with the root chakra (Muladhara) located at the base of the sPine. It is known to enhance vital energy, self-confidence and courage.
  2. Sapphire (blue corundum): Sapphire is generally linked to the throat chakra (Vishuddha) and the third eye chakra (Ajna). It helps improve communication, wisdom and mental clarity.

Other varieties of corundum, such as yellow sapphire or Pink sapphire, can also be associated with other chakras depending on their color. For example, yellow sapphire can be linked to the solar plexus chakra (Manipura) and Pink sapphire to the heart chakra (Anahata).

WHICH ASTROLOGICAL SIGN IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CORDON?

Corundum, as a mineral, can be associated with different astrological signs depending on the stone’s specific color. Here are the most common associations for the best-known corundum varieties, sapphire and ruby:

  1. Ruby (red corundum): Ruby is often associated with the zodiac signs Aries, Leo and ScorPio. It is reputed to enhance the energy, passion and motivation of these signs.
  2. Sapphire (blue corundum): Sapphire is generally linked to the zodiac signs Taurus, Libra and Aquarius. It is known to promote wisdom, communication and emotional balance in these signs.

SUMMARY OF THE CORINDON STONE

Corundum is an extremely hard, dense mineral stone composed mainly of aluminum oxide (Al2O3). It is rated 9 on the Mohs scale, just below diamond, making it one of the most scratch- and wear-resistant minerals. Corundum is a common mineral, found in a variety of metamorphic, igneous and sedimentary rocks.

The most famous corundum gems are ruby and sapphire. Rubies are red corundum, while sapphires come in a variety of colors, blue being the most common. The color of these gems is due to the presence of impurities, such as chromium, titanium and iron, incorporated into the corundum’s crystalline structure.

Corundum has many industrial applications due to its hardness and abrasion resistance. It is used as an abrasive for sanding, polishing and cutting, as well as in the manufacture of refractory materials and ceramics. Synthetic sapphires are also used in the production of various electronic and optical devices, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), quartz clocks and high-quality lenses.