Ä [42] PODS Crystals, Gem, Gematra (93:9300/0) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ LAPIDAR Ä
 From : Tandika Star                        93:9600/5       Tue 16 Mar 93 21:29 
 Subj : Sapphire                                                                
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SAPPHIRE

SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION: Sapphire is a member of the Corundum family, along with
ruby. Both are basically aluminum oxide. It's chemistry is Al2O3. All colors of
Corundum are considered to be "sapphire" unless they are red (Ruby.) It ranges
in color from pink, blue, green, violet, gray, yellow and many shades in
between. Black sapphire is colored by an admixture of magnetite, hematite or
spinel (emery). Corundum is one of the hardest stones, rated at 9. The streak is
white.

ENVIRONMENT: The crystals are Hexagonal; sometimes tapering prismatic; also
pyramidal, tabular. It is often striated.

OCCURENCE: Gem quality sapphire have been found at only a few places in North
America: at Yogo Gulch, Judith Basin Co., Montana, and at several places in
North Carolina. Thailand, Ceylon, and Burma are the principal sources.

NAME: Corundum is from [kuruntam], a Tamil word derived from Sanskrit
[kuruvinda,] meaning "ruby." (I have not been able to locate a source for the
word "sapphire".)

LEGEND and LORE: Sapphire has been associated with divine favor. The Budhists
believed that the sapphire favored devotion and spiritual enlightenment. It is
the birthstone for the month of September:

    "A maiden born when autumn leaves
    Are rustling in September's breeze.
    A Sapphire on her brow should bind;
    'Twill cure diseases of the mind. (5)

MAGICAL PROPERTIES: The ancient Greeks linked sapphire with Apollo, and wore it
as an aid to prophecy when consulting oracles. For this reason, it is considered
an aid for developing the "third eye". It was also considered to be able to
guard its owner from being captured. It is worn and utilized in rituals to
strengthen the ability to tap and send forth power.

HEALING: Sapphire has been use as an aide to healing aliments of the eyes. It is
also considered a booster for the immune system, protecting the body in general
from disease.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: I've only recently acquired two sapphires. One of them is
from Saudi Arabia, and is faceted. The second one I bought on March 13, 1993,
and is probably from Thailand. As a result, I haven't really had a chance to
work with them, so I have no comments at the moment.

NOTES: Corundum is used as an abrasive. It is also used as the "jewels" in
watches with "jewel movements."

-------bibliography-------

1. Scientific, Environment, Occurance and Name are from (or paraphrased from)
"The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals".

2. Legends and Lore, Magical Properties are from "Cunningham's Encyclopedia of
Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic", by Scott Cunningham.

3. Some of the healing information may come from "Color and Crystals, A Journey
Through the Chakras" by Joy Gardner.

4. Personal Experience is from MY personal experience, journals and notebooks,
by <grin> Tandika Star.

5. Birthstone poem from "The Occult and Curative Powers of Precious Stones" by
William T. Fernie, M.D.

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