Sapphire

(sdf'fir.) [FromGr. sappheiros.] (Min.) A very hard gem, consisting of alumina. It is of various colors, the blue being generally called the S.; the red the oriental ruby; and the yellow the oriental topaz. Sare found in various places; as Pegu, Calicut, Can an or, and Ceylon, in Asia; and Bohemia and Silesia, in Europe. The asterias, or star-stone, is avery beautiful variety, in which the color is generally of a reddish violet, with an opalescent lustre. [s. 797]