corundum, sources.12, Madagascar.12, gems

Strongly saturated, slightly purplish red rubies that have yielded cut stones up to 3 ct have been found recently in Madagascar. Characteristic inclusions are rounded transparent crystals, “treacle” type graining, and nests of short, flat, acicular 60° needles. The rubies contain uneven, strong, parallel growth lines and fingerprint-like veils, similar to those seen in both Burmese and Thai material. The color is somewhat dark in tone, and the ruby fluoresces moderate red to long-wave UV radiation. A dealer in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is distributing the faceted material in the U.S.