Mining and manufacturing processes for sapphire

Sapphire is a type of mineral called corundum which is composed of aluminum oxide (Al2O3). It is one of the hardest minerals on Earth second only to diamond with a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. This extreme hardness along with its high thermal conductivity and optical transparency makes sapphire an ideal material for a wide range of industrial and technological applications.Sapphire comes in a variety of colors including blue yellow green pink and even colorless. The blue variety of sapphire known as blue sapphire is the most popular and valuable with its deep blue hue and excellent clarity. The color of sapphire is determined by the presence of trace elements such as iron titanium and chromium as well as the crystal orientation of the mineral.