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coral, these vibrant semi translucent to opaque gemstones, have
    been objects for adornment from prehistoric times. A coral
    unlike most other gemstones is actually the skeletal remains of marine
    polyps. The polyps are surrounded by a fleshy skin and excrete a carbonic
    substance from which the coral grows like trees and branches. This happens
    in the warm waters of the ocean at depths of around 10 to 500 feet where
    various coral species survive. In some places saltwater corals also exist.
 The hard skeleton of red coral branches is naturally matte, but can be
    polished to a glassy shine. It exhibits a range of warm reddish pink colors
    from pale pink to deep red; the word coral is also used to name such
    colors. A coral, therefore, like a pearl, can be categorized as an organic
    gem material..
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Coral Set of Queen Farida of Egypt |  | 
History
          &General
 Information
 on Coral
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Coral
        is among the most ancient of gem materials, used for adornment since
        prehistoric times. Coral inlays and ornaments have been found in Celtic
        tombs from the Iron Age around 3000 B.C. For almost 2000 years, the
        Romans used the coral gemstone extensively and made it popular. It's
        also the height of fashion today; its bold tones, so flattering against
        the skin, add a modern shot of strong color that adds drama to
        everything you wear. Always effective complementing black, white,
        brown, and khaki shades, coral is unforgettable when worn with other
        strong colors.The name coral however comes from the Greek 'korallion', which denotes
        the hard, calcareous skeleton of the coral animals, or from
        'kura-halos', for 'mermaid', as the fine branches of the coral
        sometimes look like small figures.
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In
    India, this gem is known by various names like mangal, moonga and pavlam.
    This gemstone is one of the Navagraha stones (stones that represent the
    nine planets that have a cosmic influence on all earthlings) and represents
    Mars (Mangal). It is related to attributes like courage, initiative,
    vitality, vigor, aggression. Coral has a special significance in Indian astrology
    and has found mention in ancient Indian Vedic Literature. It is one of the
    many starts that have an important place in the study of star signs. It is
    considered a sacred bead to be used in the mangalsutras. |  
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Coral
      Harvesting |  
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Coral Astology Ring | 
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Fragile
    Coral trees were once brought to the surface by means of drag nets. But
    today, the harvesters use more environmentally sound methods: deep-sea
    divers collect the branches by hand. In the next step, the pieces are
    cleaned, sorted, and sawed into pieces. Most coral is set into inlays,
    beads, carvings, or cabochon shapes. |  
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Coral in Ornaments |  |  
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Corals
      are usually cut into spherical and barrel shaped beads and cabochons. It
      is also carved into figures and statues. Thin branches of coral are
      usually polished, pierced and used unaltered in jewelry.Coral roses (roses carved into corals) are very popular and are often
      used in gold jewelry too. The most valuable colors of coral are red,
      black, and pale pink, which is known as angel skin coral.Good quality
      Coral has an even color and has no fissures, spots, bands or cavities.
      Since genuine untreated Coral is rare, it is valuable.
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Physical
    Properties and Chemical Composition |  
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The
    basic composition of this gem is calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the form of
    fibrous calcite accompanied by around 3 percent magnesium carbonate
    (MgCO3), organic matter and traces of iron. It is a semi-translucent to
    opaque material. The specific gravity is 2.65 and refractive index ranges
    between 1.486 and 1.658. It`s hardness on the Mohs scale is 3.5 to 4. |  | 
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How to detect
        genuiness of coral |  
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When
          a drop of hydrochloric acid is put on a coral it shows a strong effervescence
          (bubbling of acid on the surface) due to the reaction that
          hydrochloric acid has with calcium carbonate. This is one method that
          is used to distinguish it from plastic, glass or other non-calcium
          carbonate material. |  
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Caring for Coral
 Their beauty can easily be
    impaired by the wrong treatment, for example cosmetics, hot water or bright
    light. Coral jewelry should be kept in a safe place and from time to
    timecleaned with a soft, damp towel. If the surface of the coral does get
    scratched, the jeweler can have it re-polished.
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Trivia |  
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              Corals are sensitive to heat and acids and may fade
          with wear. |  
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              The two biogenic precious gemstones, coral and pearl,
          although drastically different in appearance, are chemically very similar.
          Both are mostly calcium carbonate deposited by marine invertebrates |  
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              In Hindu astrology red coral is associated with the
          planet Mars or Graha-Mangala and used for pleasing Mars. It should be
          worn in the ring finger. |  |  |  
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Decorative
      table tops in white coral 
Please share  
S.S.VENKATESHWAR 
A&NIslands  | 
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