Ruby is a variety of the mineral species corundum, which is an aluminum oxide.
It is a hard and durable mineral that is prized for its deep red color. The color of a ruby is caused by the presence of trace amounts of chromium in the crystal structure.
The deeper and more vibrant the red color, the more valuable the ruby is considered to be.
In terms of spiritual attributes, rubies are often associated with love, passion, and desire. They are believed to bring prosperity, success, and good fortune to those who wear them. In some traditions, rubies are also believed to have protective properties and are thought to ward off negative energy and bring peace and harmony to the wearer.
Rubies are found in a number of different locations around the world, including Africa, Asia, and Australia.
They are typically found in metamorphic or igneous rock formations and are mined through a variety of methods, including open-pit mining, underground mining, and alluvial mining.
The best quality rubies are generally found in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), which is known for producing some of the finest and most valuable rubies in the world.
Did you know? The most famous ruby is the "Hope Ruby" a large, historic ruby that is set in a ring and is part of the collection at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., United States.
The Hope Ruby is a pigeon's blood red Burmese ruby that weighs over 32 carats and is set in a gold and diamond ring.
It was donated to the museum in 1958 by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Francis du Pont and has been on display there since then.
The Hope Ruby is named after Henry Philip Hope, a 19th-century British banker and gem collector who owned the ruby before it was donated to the museum. The Hope Ruby is considered one of the most famous and valuable rubies in the world.