Ruby & Sapphire Bibliography

First Published: 25 September 2026

Ruby & Sapphire Bibliography

Explore books, articles and historical sources on ruby, sapphire and corundum in Four Treasures, the Lotus Gemology reference database. This bibliography brings together matching records from the collection, with publication details, abstracts and cover images where available.

Ruby & Sapphire References

The list below matches the terms ruby, rubies, sapphire or corundum in the database's searchable fields. Some references discuss these gems as part of a broader subject. Linked titles take you to external links where you may find the full reference.

4,521–4,540 of 4,678 matching references

Gem mining in Ceylon

Journal Article

Semanada, M.K.J. (1958) Gem mining in Ceylon. Australian Gemmologist, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 11–13.

Record No. 1574 | not seen

The Chimwadzulu Hill ultrabasic body

Journal Article

Bloomfield, K. (1958) The Chimwadzulu Hill ultrabasic body. Transactions of the Geological Society of South Africa, Vol. 61, pp. 263–282.

Record No. 475 | not seen

Geologic and gemologic thought in early classical times, parts 1–13

Journal Article

Rosenblohm, W.E. (1957–1960) Geologic and gemologic thought in early classical times, parts 1–13. Lapidary Journal, Feb. 1957—June 1960,

Record No. 1495 | not seen

Sapphire carved into bust of Jefferson

Journal Article

Kohn, W. (1957) Sapphire carved into bust of Jefferson. Gems and Minerals, May, pp. 14–17, 70–73.

Record No. 1107 | not seen

Field investigation of the Bo Kéo and Chnon zircons deposits in Northern Cambodia

Report

Chatelat, E., de (1957) Field investigation of the Bo Kéo and Chnon zircons deposits in Northern Cambodia. U.S.O.M., Phnom Penh, March,

Record No. 499 | not seen

[Yogo Gulch sapphires]

Yogo Gulch sapphires

Newspaper Article

Billings Gazette (1957) [Yogo Gulch sapphires]. Billings Gazette, 14-Jul, Billings, MT

Record No. 467 | not seen

Rubies without pride

Magazine Article

Anonymous (1956) Rubies without pride. Newsweek,, November 5 p. 63.

Record No. 3058 | not seen

Inventory of the Jewels and Plate of Elizabeth I

Book

Collins, A.J. (1955) Inventory of the Jewels and Plate of Elizabeth I. London, British Library, 608 pp.

Record No. 600 | not seen

Lapin kullanhuuhtomoiden korundit (safiirit, rubiinit) ja granaatit

Corundums (sapphires, rubies) and garnets from the gold panning sites of Lapland

Journal Article

Laitakari, A. (1954) Lapin kullanhuuhtomoiden korundit (safiirit, rubiinit) ja granaatit. [Corundums (sapphires, rubies) and garnets from the gold panning sites of Lapland] Geologi (Suomen Geol. Seura), Vol. 6, No. 3, p. 21.

Record No. 1164 | Language: in Finnish | not seen

Laitakari reports the occurrence of corundum and garnet among the heavy minerals recovered during gold washing in Finnish Lapland. These resistant, high-density minerals remain with the heavy concentrate during panning and sluicing and were increasingly being collected by gold miners as potentially useful ornamental stones. The corundum occurs in several colors, including red and bluish material referred to as ruby and sapphire, although the Lapland material was generally of lower quality than commercial gem corundum. Garnets constitute another conspicuous component of the concentrates and include material suitable for cutting and polishing. The brief note is an early record of corundum from the Lapland placer-gold districts and reflects Laitakari’s broader effort to encourage recognition and use of Finland’s native gem and ornamental-stone resources. Later Finnish mineralogical compilations specifically cite Laitakari’s 1954 paper for corundum in the Lemmenjoki gold placers.

Zur optik und morphologie von synthetischen rubin

On the optics and morphology of synthetic ruby.

Journal Article

Jäger, E. and Huttenlocher, H. (1953) Zur optik und morphologie von synthetischen rubin. [On the optics and morphology of synthetic ruby.] Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paläontologie, Vol. 12, pp. 265–272.

Record No. 7660 | Sinkankas/Born No.: NIS/NIB | Language: in German | not seen

Jäger and Huttenlocher investigate synthetic ruby from the standpoint of crystallographic morphology and optical behavior, examining the relationship between the external form and growth of the synthetic material and the crystallographic structure of corundum. They consider the orientation of the optical and crystallographic axes and the characteristic morphology produced during artificial crystal growth, using optical observations to relate the grown material to natural corundum. Particular attention is given to features arising from the growth process and to the extent to which synthetic ruby retains the fundamental optical and crystallographic properties of natural ruby despite its artificial mode of formation. The study is primarily mineralogical and crystallographic rather than gemological, and represents an early investigation of the structure and growth characteristics of manufactured corundum at a time when synthetic ruby was becoming increasingly important for both jewelry and technical applications.

A gemmologist in Ceylon

Journal Article

Squires, S.J. (1953) A gemmologist in Ceylon. The Commonwealth Jeweller and Watchmaker, Vol. 10, December, pp. 153–155.

Record No. 1638 | not seen

The mineral production of India and Burma during 1939

Journal Article

Fox, C.S. (1953) The mineral production of India and Burma during 1939. Records, Geological Survey of India, Vol. 78, No. 2, pp. 301–405.

Record No. 780 | not seen

Progress reports on Anakie sapphire field

Journal Article

Anonymous (1953) Progress reports on Anakie sapphire field. Annual Report of the Undersecretary of Mining, Queensland, Australia,

Record No. 299 | not seen

Sapphires of Australia

Journal Article

Altman, J.D. (1953) Sapphires of Australia. Lapidary Journal, August, p. 216.

Record No. 228 | not seen

Gem stones of Ceylon

Journal Article

Hulugalle, H.A.J. (1952) Gem stones of Ceylon. Ceylon Today, Vol. 1, No. 3, Nov., pp. 20–24.

Record No. 1021 | not seen

Note on the occurrence of corundum in Idaho

Journal Article

Fryklund, V.C. (1951) Note on the occurrence of corundum in Idaho. American Mineralogist, Vol. 36, Nos. 9–10, pp. 776–778.

Record No. 800 | not seen

Ruby and sapphire in Canada

Journal Article

Field, D.S.M. (1951) Ruby and sapphire in Canada. Canadian Mining Journal, Vol. 72, No. 7, pp. 75–77.

Record No. 762 | not seen

On Biruni’s “Mineralogy”

О «Минералогии» Бируни

Book Section

Belenitzki, A.M. (1950) On Biruni’s “Mineralogy”. [О «Минералогии» Бируни] In: Бируни: Сборник статей Biruni Sbornik [collected papers], Moscow-Leningrad: Akademija Nauk SSSR, Academy of Sciences (Akademia Nauk) 2. BS Biriini Sbornik (Moscow-Leningrad, 1950) 3. IAI Istoriko-astronomicheskie Issledovaniya., pp. 88–105.

Record No. 16876 | Sinkankas/Born No.: NIS/NIB | Language: in Russian | not seen

Belenitskii surveys al-Bīrūnī’s eleventh-century mineralogical treatise, Kitāb al-Jamāhir fī maʿrifat al-jawāhir [Book of the Multitude of Knowledge of Precious Stones], emphasizing its importance as a major medieval work on minerals, gemstones, and metals. He discusses al-Bīrūnī’s combination of information derived from earlier Greek, Arabic, Persian, and Indian authorities with direct observation and practical knowledge obtained from merchants, jewelers, craftsmen, and miners. Particular attention is given to the empirical character of al-Bīrūnī’s work: the description and differentiation of minerals by color, transparency, hardness, density, and other physical properties, together with his unusually accurate determinations of specific gravity. The treatise also preserves extensive information on the sources, varieties, working, uses, trade, and values of precious stones and metals. Belenitskii presents the work as an important stage in the development of scientific mineralogy in the medieval Islamic world and as evidence of al-Bīrūnī’s critical and observational approach to traditional mineralogical knowledge.

Corundum in Mysore

Journal Article

Radhakrishna, B.P. (1950) Corundum in Mysore. Records, Mysore Geological Department, Vol. 46, Pt. 2, pp. 25–63.

Record No. 1455 | not seen

The occurrence, varieties, and uses of corundum in general and the deposits in various districts of Mysore, India, are discussed. Data on the locality, mode of occurrence, and other features of more than 100 deposits are given in tabular form. Production statistics since 1900 are also given.

Mineralogical Information of al-Biruni

Минералогические сведения Ал-Бируни

Book Section

Lemmlein, G.G. (1950) Mineralogical Information of al-Biruni. [Минералогические сведения Ал-Бируни] In: Бируни: Сборник статей [Biruni: Collection of Articles], Moscow-Leningrad: Akademija Nauk SSSR, Academy of Sciences (Akademia Nauk) 2. BS Biriini Sbornik (Moscow-Leningrad, 1950) 3. IAI Istoriko-astronomicheskie Issledovaniya., pp. 106–127.

Record No. 1180 | Language: in Russian | not seen

Lemmlein examines the mineralogical information contained in al-Bīrūnī’s Kitāb al-Jamāhir fī maʿrifat al-jawāhir, assessing the work from the standpoint of modern mineralogy and the history of science. He considers al-Bīrūnī’s descriptions and identification of gemstones, minerals, metals, and alloys, including their colors, physical characteristics, localities, methods of extraction and working, and commercial uses. Particular attention is given to al-Bīrūnī’s quantitative investigations of specific gravity, which represent an unusually advanced experimental approach for the eleventh century, and to his attempts to distinguish minerals through observable and measurable properties rather than relying solely on traditional lapidary lore. Lemmlein also discusses the difficulties of correlating medieval Arabic mineral names with modern species and emphasizes al-Bīrūnī’s critical use of earlier authorities, craftsmen’s knowledge, and his own observations and experiments. The article presents the Jamāhir as one of the most important medieval contributions to mineralogy and gemology.

Exploring the Literature of Corundum

Ruby and sapphire research spans mineralogy, gem deposits, identification, treatments, synthesis and the history of the gem trade. Older publications can also be useful for tracing terminology, early observations and accounts of mining localities. Publication dates and the original source should be considered when using historical descriptions.

For an introduction to collecting books on this subject, read Ruby & Sapphire Books: Collecting the Literature of Corundum.

About Four Treasures

Four Treasures is Lotus Gemology's freely accessible gemological reference database. Use the full database to search by author, title or keyword and explore literature on gemology, mineralogy, jewelry and related fields. Where available, hyperlinks on titles may lead directly to the full publication.

Search the Complete Four Treasures Database