Precious Stones
They shine, they sparkle, and they flash and shimmer. They are only stones, small pieces of minerals, but they are so beautiful and hard to find that they are precious. Precious means “having great value”. Diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and opals are examples of precious stones or gems.
Diamonds come from deep inside the earth. They are buried in rock that is in or near volcanoes that are no longer erupting. When first taken from the ground, diamonds are dull and greyish. After they are cut and polished, they sparkle.
A diamond is the hardest of all things. It is so hard that it can even cut rocks. The only thing that can scratch a diamond is another diamond.
Corundum is a common mineral. But when tiny bits of other minerals are added, it becomes a precious stone. With a bit of titanium and iron mixed in, it becomes a clear, blue sapphire. With chromium mixed in, it becomes a dark red ruby. With beryl mixed in, it becomes a deep green emerald.
Picture Credit : Google
