Ruby in zoisite. Polished specimen showing rough rubies (purple) enclosed in a matrix of zoisite (green). Ruby is a red-coloured variety of the minera

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Ruby in zoisite. Polished specimen showing rough rubies (purple) enclosed in a matrix of zoisite (green). Ruby is a red-coloured variety of the mineral corundum, a crystalline aluminium oxide mineral. It is very hard, so used as an abrasive in industry, and clear samples can be cut into ornamental stones. Zoisite is a silicate of calcium and aluminium. This specimen, from Longida, Tanzania, measures 33 centimetres tall.

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Size: 3628px × 5221px
Photo credit: © DIRK WIERSMA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, aluminium, calcium, corundum, crystalline, crystals, gem, gemstone, geological, geology, hydroxy, matrix, mineral, mineralogy, oxide, prcious, rock, rough, rubies, ruby, zoisite