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INDIA |
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KARNATAKA
(MYSORE) PROVINCE |
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Around 1999, huge ruby crystals were beginning to appear at
the Tucson Gem and Mineral shows. Their origin was
somewhere in Karnataka, but because the Indian government
tends to take over profitable mines, the miners will not
reveal the precise locality. When asked where it came
from, he will likely answer: "From the ground!"
The names "Red Mountain", "Ratnapuri", and "Subramaniam" are
names I have heard at one time or another. |
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18 pounds |
Layering
and translucency |
Heads |
Tails |
????? |
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iThis is the first
rock I have ever seen from Karnataka
with the huge ruby crystals embedded in the matrix. I
found it in Tucson in February, 2008. The second image
shows a crystal about 4" (10 cm.) long. The rock
itself weighs about 118 pounds (54 Kg.)! |
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Budhipata (Budhipada) is another
locality that produces smaller ruby crystals in gneiss. Both
matrix specimens and loose doubly terminated crystals are highly
collectible. Note also the translucent modified prisms and
twins on the left - these are unusual. |
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TAMIL
NADU PROVINCE |
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On the left is
a purplish star ruby cabochon from Tamil Nadu
Province, India.
Next to it are some interesting terminations
of 8 pound crystal from the same locallity. This
remarkable specimen may have survived because it was
too big for the cabbers' saws! (Also, this one does
not indicate asterism.)
On the right are some small
gem rubies from the province. |
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MISCELLANEOUS LOCALITIES |
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The pale tabular prism
and the greenish crystal
are of unknown Indian origin.
The ruby "spear point" is
from southern Madras. The
crystal on the right (two images) is from Hyderabad. |
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