Corundum
General Information and Physical Properties of Corundum
- Corundum is an oxide mineral belonging to the Hematite group.
- Its chemical formula is represented by the repeating unit.
- It is classified under the Strunz classification as 4.CB.05 and under the Dana classification as 4.3.1.1.
- Corundum has a trigonal crystal system with a hexagonal scalenohedral crystal class.
- It has a space group of R3c and a density of 4.02g/cm.
- Corundum is a mineral composed of aluminum oxide.
- It has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, making it one of the hardest minerals.
- Corundum can occur in a variety of colors, including red (ruby) and blue (sapphire).
- It has a high refractive index, giving it excellent brilliance and luster.
- Corundum is chemically inert and resistant to most chemicals.
- Corundum crystallizes with trigonal symmetry in the space group R3c.
- Its lattice parameters are a = 4.75 Å and c = 12.982 Å at standard conditions.
- The unit cell of corundum contains six formula units.
- The toughness of corundum is influenced by surface roughness and crystallographic orientation.
- In the corundum lattice, oxygen atoms form a slightly distorted hexagonal close packing, with aluminum ions occupying two-thirds of the octahedral sites.
- Corundum is the second hardest natural mineral after diamond.
Gem Varieties of Corundum
- Corundum has two primary gem varieties: ruby and sapphire.
- Rubies are red due to the presence of chromium, while sapphires exhibit a range of colors depending on the transition metal present.
- Padparadscha sapphire is a rare pink-orange variety of corundum.
- The name 'corundum' is derived from the Tamil-Dravidian word 'kurundam' meaning ruby-sapphire.
- Corundum is a naturally transparent material, but its color varies based on impurities in its crystalline structure.
Uses of Corundum
- Corundum is commonly used as an abrasive on sandpaper and large tools in metal, plastic, and wood machining.
- Emery, a variety of corundum, is used as an abrasive and is mixed with magnetite, hematite, or hercynite.
- Corundum is used in the production of mechanical parts, scratch-resistant optics, watch crystals, and instrument windows for satellites and spacecraft.
- It is also utilized in the manufacture of laser components and ceramic armor due to its high hardness.
- The gravitational wave detectors KAGRA and Advanced LIGO use sapphire mirrors made from corundum.
- Corundum is widely used as an abrasive due to its hardness.
- It is used in the production of grinding wheels, sandpaper, and polishing compounds.
- Corundum is also used in the manufacturing of refractory materials, such as bricks and crucibles.
- It is a key component in the production of synthetic sapphires for various applications.
- Corundum is used in the electronics industry for making insulating substrates.
Industrial and Technological Applications of Corundum
- Corundum is used as a component in armor plating due to its high hardness and toughness.
- It is used in the production of cutting tools, such as drill bits and saw blades.
- Corundum is used in the manufacturing of high-temperature resistant ceramics.
- It is used as a catalyst support in various chemical processes.
- Corundum is used in the production of specialized lenses and windows for optical devices.
- Corundum is used in the construction of mirrors for gravitational wave detectors.
- It is used in the production of core optics components for advanced laser interferometers.
- Corundum is used in the development of high-performance ceramic materials.
Geology, Occurrence, and Interesting Facts about Corundum
- Corundum occurs in mica schist, gneiss, marbles, and low-silica igneous rocks like syenite and nepheline syenite.
- It can be found adjacent to ultramafic intrusives, lamprophyre dikes, and as large crystals in pegmatites.
- Corundum is commonly found in stream and beach sands as a detrital mineral due to its hardness and resistance to weathering.
- Major corundum deposits are mined in countries like Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, and India.
- Synthetic corundum is produced using various methods and is available on the market at a lower cost than natural stones.
- Corundum has been used in jewelry for centuries and is highly valued for its beauty and durability.
- The largest corundum crystal ever found weighed over 250 kilograms.
- Corundum is often found in metamorphic rocks, such as marble and schist.
- Synthetic corundum can be created through various processes, including flame fusion and flux growth.
- Corundum has been used in the study of crystallography, fracture mechanics, and material strength.
Corundum Data Sources
Reference | URL |
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Glossary | https://harryandcojewellery.com.au/blogs/glossary/corundum |
Wikipedia | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corundum |
Wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131777 |
Knowledge Graph | https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/01stq |