The Pukhraj falls under the corundum mineral family of gemstones. Gemstones under this category come in various resplendent colors such as yellow, blue, red, purple, orange, and green. The variation in these colors can be attributed to the presence of elements such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper, or magnesium found in gemstones.
Thailand Yellow Sapphire
The element that gives this gemstone its characteristic yellow tinge is trace amounts of iron. The higher the content of iron, the deeper the hue and color.
It is important to authenticate and verify the specifications of the gemstone you are looking to purchase. In the case of Thailand Yellow Sapphires, be careful about selecting irradiated gemstones only. Yellow sapphires that are enhanced through low-level radiation lose their color over time and fade away due to heat and exposure.
Remember, the best clarity grade for Thailand Yellow Sapphires is ‘Perfection’ which is followed by VVS (Very Very Slightly included) and VS (Very Slightly included) grading.
Properties of the Thailand Yellow Sapphire:
Chemical Composition: Aluminum Oxide
Crystal System and Class: Trigonal
Crystal Habit: Prismatic
Hardness: 9 on Moh’s scale
Specific Gravity: 3.99 to 4
Refractive Index: 1.768 - 1.772
Origins: Srilanka, Thailand, Burma, Afghanistan, Australia, Cambodia, China, Columbia, India, Kenya, Nepal, and Vietnam.
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