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| + | [[File:Noahs statue.jpg|thumb|A statue encrusted with topaz, rubies, sapphires and tourmaline]] |
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| − | '''Corundum''' is an extremely hard mineral, aluminum oxide (AL<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>). One of the hardest naturally occurring substances, it is useful for grinding, drilling, and polishing. Corundum is found in [[gemstone|gem]] varieties; the beauty and rarity of these crystals made them highly sought after through at least the [[21st century]]. Pure corundum is clear; impurities produce crystals of different colors and transparencies. |
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| + | A '''ruby''' was [[gemstone]]-quality red corundum; its color came from inclusions of [[chromium]]. |
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| + | By the mid-[[23rd century]], synthesizing [[technology]] had become sophisticated enough that rubies could be easily created in large quantities whenever needed, greatly reducing their value. Standard technology aboard the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} was capable of performing this process. |
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| − | Gem quality red corundum is called ''ruby''; its color comes from inclusions of chromium. Properly polished and mirrored, a ruby can be used to generate [[laser]] (coherent) light; it was commonly used for this purpose until more efficient artificial crystals supplanted it prior to the [[23rd century]]. Rubies range from pinkish red to very dark red, and can be translucent or opaque. |
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| ⚫ | In [[2267]], an alien named [[Korob]] created a plateful of precious stones, including rubies, [[diamond]]s and [[sapphire]]s, in an ill-conceived attempt to [[bribe]] [[James T. Kirk|Kirk]], [[Spock]], and [[Leonard McCoy|McCoy]] into leaving [[Pyris VII]] and abandoning two ''Enterprise'' crewmen. An error led Korob to believe that the stones were still valued. ({{TOS|Catspaw}}) |
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| − | Gem quality corundum of any other shade is called ''sapphire''. The most well known examples of sapphire are blue, although it occurs in other shades, including pink, yellow, orange, purple, green, and black. Sapphires owe their color to inclusions of iron, titanium, vanadium, and other elements. They range from very palely to very deeply colored, and (like rubies) can be translucent or opaque. When the term "sapphire" appears by itself, it is understood to refer to the blue variety; other shades are properly described with a color prefix, e.g. yellow sapphire. |
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| + | In the [[holosuite]] adventure ''[[Julian Bashir, Secret Agent]]'', [[Julian Bashir|Bashir]], posing as [[geologist]] [[Patrick Merriweather]], had his knowledge of gemstones tested by [[Dr.]] [[Hippocrates Noah|Noah]] introducing him to a statue encrusted with rubies, [[tourmaline]], [[sapphire]]s and [[topaz]]. Merriweather identified the stones as "''a most striking collection''," and surmised that based on the high chromium content of the rubies, they must have originated from the hydrothermal deposits of the [[Tibetan plateau]] region. ({{DS9|Our Man Bashir}}) |
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| − | Opaque gem quality corundum with inclusions of rutile (titanium dioxide, TiO<sub>2</sub>), properly cut and polished, can be made to display asterism, a six pointed star-like figure. Such a stone is called a star ruby or star sapphire, and the best examples were among the most valuable gems. |
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| + | ===See also=== |
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| − | Synthesis of corundum became possible in the middle of the [[19th century]], and practical by the end of that century. Through at least the early 21st century, it was still valued as a gemstone, but by the 23rd century, easy synthesis had made all varieties essentially valueless. |
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| + | * [[Rubindium]] |
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| + | == External link == |
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| ⚫ | In [[2267]], |
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| + | * {{wikipedia|Ruby}} |
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| + | [[de:Rubin]] |
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| + | [[Category:Materials]] |
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Revision as of 22:26, 22 January 2016
A statue encrusted with topaz, rubies, sapphires and tourmaline
A ruby was gemstone-quality red corundum; its color came from inclusions of chromium.
By the mid-23rd century, synthesizing technology had become sophisticated enough that rubies could be easily created in large quantities whenever needed, greatly reducing their value. Standard technology aboard the USS Enterprise was capable of performing this process.
In 2267, an alien named Korob created a plateful of precious stones, including rubies, diamonds and sapphires, in an ill-conceived attempt to bribe Kirk, Spock, and McCoy into leaving Pyris VII and abandoning two Enterprise crewmen. An error led Korob to believe that the stones were still valued. (TOS: "Catspaw")
In the holosuite adventure Julian Bashir, Secret Agent, Bashir, posing as geologist Patrick Merriweather, had his knowledge of gemstones tested by Dr. Noah introducing him to a statue encrusted with rubies, tourmaline, sapphires and topaz. Merriweather identified the stones as "a most striking collection," and surmised that based on the high chromium content of the rubies, they must have originated from the hydrothermal deposits of the Tibetan plateau region. (DS9: "Our Man Bashir")