Gem127 - Corundum var. Sapphire - Kataragama, Moneragala District, Uva Province, Sri Lanka

Superb, cornflower blue sapphire crystal from the small, one-time find at Kataragama. Most of the sapphire from this find was cut for faceted stones as the color and clarity were exceptional. I purchased this crystal from a Sri Lankan gemologist who visited the find. The crystal has excellent color and is translucent to transparent with a soft, silky luster. 2.3 x 1.3 x 1.0 cm.

For more information on this find, see Gems and Gemology, Summer 2012, pages 98-107.