Blue corundum (sapphire) (~5.0 cm across at its widest)
A mineral is a naturally-occurring, solid, inorganic, crystalline substance having a fairly definite chemical composition and having fairly definite physical properties. At its simplest, a mineral is a naturally-occurring solid chemical. Currently, there are over 5100 named and described minerals - about 200 of them are common and about 20 of them are very common. Mineral classification is based on anion chemistry. Major categories of minerals are: elements, sulfides, oxides, halides, carbonates, sulfates, phosphates, and silicates.
The oxide minerals all contain one or more oxide anions (O-2). The oxide minerals include species that are hydroxy-oxides. The hydroxide minerals (those with one or more OH-) are usually considered together with the oxides. Many sulfide minerals are not stable in Earth-surface conditions. In the presence of oxygen and moisture, sulfide minerals tend to tarnish or alter to oxides and hydroxy-oxides. All except the most inert elements (such as the platinum-group elements and gold and noble gases) readily form oxides. Gold oxide forms only under special conditions.
Corundum is aluminum oxide - Al2O3. At H≡9, it is the hardest common mineral, apart from diamond. Corundum forms hexagonal crystals, which is evident even in many river-worn specimens. The hexagonal columns of corundum typically have well-developed flat tops & bottoms. These flat ends are not cleavage planes - corundum has no cleavage. The cleavage-looking flat tops & bottoms of corundum are called partings (pseudocleavage). Additional breakages will not be along planar surfaces.
The color of corundum is variable - it can be any color, including plaid patterns. If transparent and relatively fracture-free & inclusion-free, corundum is said to be of gem-quality, and the color determines the name of the gem.
deep red = ruby
blue = sapphire
pale red = sapphire
pale green = sapphire
purple = sapphire
yellow = sapphire
Sapphire covers the largest number of colors. Gemologists and gem dealers will often deceivingly use the term "oriental" in referring to non-blue colored sapphires. For example, "oriental amethyst" is purple corundum, "oriental topaz" is yellow corundum, "oriental emerald" is green corundum, etc. Black-colored corundum is often called emery. Corundum-rich rocks are also called emery, or corundite (<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jsjgeology/albums/72157646922258716">www.flickr.com/photos/jsjgeology/albums/72157646922258716</a>).
Photo gallery of corundum and sapphire:
<a href="http://www.mindat.org/gallery.php?min=1136" rel="nofollow">www.mindat.org/gallery.php?min=1136</a>
and
<a href="https://www.mindat.org/gallery.php?min=3529" rel="nofollow">www.mindat.org/gallery.php?min=3529</a> |