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RubyThe July BirthstoneRuby is the official US birth stone for July. It's a form of corundum (aluminium oxide) with a distinctive red colour produced by an admixture of chromium trioxide. The exact shade of red varies between pink and brownish red and these shades are often named after the regions in which they are usually found. The majority of high quality natural ruby today comes from Myanmar (formerly Burma).Corundum of other colours is simply called sapphire. Light red corundum is known as "pink sapphire". The borderline between pink sapphire and true ruby can sometimes be difficult to determine. It has been said to depend on whether you are tryng to buy or sell the stone! The ruby is one of the hardest stones in nature, second only to the diamond, but can still be chipped or fractured if improperly handled. Natural rubies are very rare and valuable, however artificial ("created") rubies can be produced relatively cheaply. Ruby can also be found as inclusions in zoisite. The combination of red ruby flecks within the green zoisite gives a distinctive and very attractive appearance.
Symbolism and LoreThe name "ruby" comes from the Latin rubeus meaning "red". Most of its mythological associations stem fom its colour.The ruby is usually considered a stone of power and passion. It is supposed to bestow energy and willpower, counteracting lethargy. It has sometimes been associated with the sun. This connection with power and the heat of the sun led to a legend that a ruby dropped in water would cause it to boil. The homes of the gods were sometimes said to be lit by the glow of rubies. Rubies the colour of pigeon blood were referred to as being drops of the blood of mother Earth herself. Ruby was also associated with health and long life. The alchemists adopted the "perfect ruby" as a symbol of the philosopher's stone or elixir of life. According to Ben Jonson:
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