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Uncover raw rubies in the wild. Expert identification tips inside! Have you ever dreamed of uncovering real rubies in their natural state? This video is your ultimate gem hunter guide, packed with expert gem hunter tips to help you find rubies in the wild! While we often picture rubies as beautifully cut, vibrant gems, nature provides them in a raw, uncut form, and learning to identify rubies is key to recognizing these treasures. Rubies are the mineral corundum, getting their characteristic red color from chromium impurities. They are considered one of the "Big Four" gemstones and can command high per-carat prices, rivaling diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires in value depending on quality. To successfully identify natural rubies in the field, understanding their ruby properties and geological context is crucial: • Ruby Host Rocks & Location: Rubies form under specific geological conditions, typically in metamorphic marble or alkaline basalt. The presence of fragments of these rocks provides strong clues to the possibility of finding rubies in an area. You're most likely to find them in rivers, where friction with other stones can give them a more rounded, semi-polished, or broken shape. Look for associated minerals like white quartz, schist, mica, pegmatite, aluminous gneiss, and zoicite (light green mineral with pink flecks), which can indicate a region rich in precious stones. • Field Testing Rubies (Key Identification Methods): ◦ Hardness Test: Rubies have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, making them the second hardest gemstone after diamonds. A hardness test can show that rubies can scratch almost any other material but are not easily scratched themselves. When scratched on an unglazed porcelain plate, a real ruby should leave no colored marks, as its color is due to chromium impurities rather than being an inherent part of its chemical structure. ◦ UV Light Test (Fluorescence): A very effective method for ruby identification is using an UV light test. When exposed to ultraviolet light, many natural rubies, particularly Myanmar rubies, typically exhibit an intense pink or reddish glow. However, this is not infallible, as some stones can react similarly. Notably, Thai rubies may show weak or no fluorescence, and Mozambique rubies can have weaker fluorescence compared to Burmese ones. Be aware that synthetic rubies often show an overly bright fluorescence. ◦ Density/Weight: Real rubies are dense gemstones, feeling noticeably heavier than common stones like quartz, jasper, or agate. This higher density causes them to accumulate in riverbed rubies areas with other heavy minerals like ilmenite and chromite, as lighter stones are carried away by the current. ◦ Ruby Inclusions: Most raw rubies contain unique natural ruby inclusions that can help confirm authenticity, acting like a "fingerprint". Using a magnifying glass or loupe, look for needle-shaped inclusions (rutile "silk"), "fingerprints" (liquid-filled cavities), color zoning, and other mineral crystals trapped inside. An overly clean appearance or the presence of gas bubbles may indicate a synthetic or fake stone. Sometimes, inclusions like rutile silk can even enhance a ruby's beauty by creating a soft glow or a star effect (asterism). ◦ Color Analysis: While the color range of rubies varies from light pink to deep red, the most prized rubies, like the "pigeon's blood" from Myanmar, have a pure deep red with no hint of purple or orange. When distinguishing between ruby vs Garnet, rubies tend to be more pinkish-red, while garnets are typically more brownish-red. ◦ Fracture Patterns: Rubies and sapphires are extremely tough and hard, and unlike other gemstones such as quartz or jasper, they don't break easily. When they do break, they do so in a totally irregular manner with dull edges and little shine, rather than producing a smooth, shiny glass-like fracture. Gemstone mining is a complex process, often involving open-pit or underground methods for extraction. Many raw rubies and uncut rubies are found in secondary alluvial deposits, which are relatively easy to extract using methods ranging from primitive panning and sieving to more mechanized sluice boxes. For valuable finds, professional gemstone identification and certification from reputable labs like GIA are highly recommended to ensure authenticity and confirm origin. Start your ruby prospecting adventure today! With these ruby identification tips, you'll be well-equipped to spot these captivating gems and perhaps even uncover a life-changing treasure. Happy gem hunting! P. Geo. Ricardo A Valls, M. Sc. and Geo Gadfly Valls Geoconsultant ORCID ID- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5421-0914 Scopus Author ID: 7003369619/35335510700 ResearcherID: S-6604-2018 If you like this content, please "buy me a coffee" https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goldendroplets