Sapphire Gemstone. Sapphire, blue stone which probably referred instead at the time to lapis lazuli is a gemstone variety of the mineral Corundum, an Aluminium Oxide. Trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper or magnesium can give corundum respectively blue, yellow, purple, orange, or green color.
The cost of natural sapphires varies depending on their color, clarity, size, cut and overall quality as well as their geographic origin. Significant sapphire deposits are found in Eastern Australia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, China, Madagascar, East Africa and in a few locations mostly at Montana in North America. Yellow and green sapphires are also commonly found. Pink sapphires deepen in color as the quantity of Chromium increases. The deeper the pink color the higher their monetary value as long as the color is tending toward the red of rubies.
Blue Sapphire is a compound of Aluminum and Oxygen. Due to slight mixture with Cobalt it becomes blue. Blue Sapphire is found in Myanmar, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Australia, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tanzania, Kenya and China. Madagascar is the world leader in sapphire production with deposits in and around the city of Ilakaka. Blue sapphire found at Ceylon in Sri Lanka is the best deep light colored and transparent. Blue sapphire of deep colors and transparent is also found in Thailand and Australia.