Corundum

Name:	corundum
	Class:	Oxide/Hydroxides
	Chemistry:	Al2O3
	Color(s):	red (ruby), blue (sapphire), gray, black, yellow, purple, (just about all colors) streak: white
	Hardness:	9	SpecGrav:	3.9 - 4.1
	Fracture:	tough	Cleavage:	none
	Crystal:	hexagonal
	Envronment:	in pegmatites, in contact metamorphics, and in other metamorphic terrains.
	Association:
	Locals:	|Burma | China | Sri Lanka | NC, Mo., USA |
	Misc:	The name comes from the ancient Sanskrit, ³kuruvinda² meaning ³ruby². It is derived from the Tamil ³kuruntam², which also came from the Sanskrit. Do to its hardness it is also used as an abrasive.

C