View source for Corundum

{{short description|Oxide mineral}}
{{distinguish|Carborundum|Conundrum (disambiguation){{!}}Conundrum}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox mineral
| name        = Corundum
| category    = [[Oxide mineral]] – Hematite group
| boxwidth    =
| boxbgcolor  =
| image       = Several corundum crystals.jpg
| imagesize   = 260px
| caption     =
| formula     = Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>
| IMAsymbol   = Crn<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|volume=85|issue=3|pages=291–320|doi=10.1180/mgm.2021.43|bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W|s2cid=235729616|doi-access=free}}</ref>  
| strunz      = 4.CB.05
| dana        = 4.3.1.1
| system      = [[Trigonal]]
| class       = Hexagonal scalenohedral ({{overline|3}}m)<br/>[[H-M symbol]]: ({{overline|3}} 2/m)
| symmetry    = {{mvar|R}}{{overline|3}}{{mvar|c}} (No. 167)
| unit cell   = {{nowrap|{{mvar|a}} {{=}} 4.75 Å}}, {{nowrap|{{mvar|c}} {{=}} 12.982 Å}}; {{nowrap|{{mvar|Z}} {{=}} 6}}
| color       = Colorless, gray, golden-brown, brown; purple, pink to red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet; may be color zoned, asteriated mainly grey and brown
| habit       = Steep bipyramidal, tabular, prismatic, rhombohedral crystals, massive or granular
| twinning    = Polysynthetic twinning common
| cleavage    = None – parting in 3 directions
| tenacity    = Brittle
| fracture    = Conchoidal to uneven
| mohs        = 9 (defining mineral)<ref>{{cite web |title=Mohs' scale of hardness |url=http://www.minsocam.org/msa/collectors_corner/article/mohs.htm |work=Collector's corner |publisher=Mineralogical Society of America |access-date=10 January 2014}}</ref>
| luster      = Adamantine to vitreous
| refractive  = {{nowrap|{{mvar|n}}{{sub|{{math|ω}}}} {{=}} 1.767–1.772}} <br/>{{nowrap|{{mvar|n}}{{sub|{{math|ε}}}} {{=}} 1.759–1.763}}
| opticalprop = Uniaxial (&minus;)
| pleochroism = None
| streak      = Colorless
| diaphaneity = Transparent, [[translucent]] to [[opacity (optics)|opaque]]
| gravity     = 3.95–4.10
| melt        = {{cvt|2044|°C}}
| fusibility  = Infusible
| diagnostic  =
| solubility  = Insoluble
| other       = May fluoresce or phosphoresce under UV light
| alteration  = May alter to mica on surfaces causing a decrease in hardness
| references  = <ref name=Handbook>{{cite book |editor1=Anthony, John W. |editor2=Bideaux, Richard A. |editor3=Bladh, Kenneth W. |editor4=Nichols, Monte C. |title=Handbook of Mineralogy |year=1997 |publisher=Mineralogical Society of America |place=Chantilly, VA, US |url=http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/corundum.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060905204655/http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/corundum.pdf |archive-date=2006-09-05 |url-status=live |chapter=Corundum |isbn=0962209724 |volume=III Halides, Hydroxides, Oxides}}</ref><ref name=Mindat>{{cite web |url=http://www.mindat.org/min-1136.html |title=Corundum |website=Mindat.org}}</ref><ref name=Webmin>{{cite web |url=http://www.webmineral.com/data/Corundum.shtml |title=Corundum |website= Webmineral.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061125202622/http://webmineral.com/data/Corundum.shtml |archive-date=2006-11-25 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=Hurlbut>{{cite book |author1=Hurlbut, Cornelius S. |author2=Klein, Cornelis |year=1985 |title=Manual of Mineralogy |url=https://archive.org/details/manualofmineralo00klei |url-access=registration |edition=20th |publisher=Wiley |pages=[https://archive.org/details/manualofmineralo00klei/page/300 300]–302 |isbn=0-471-80580-7}}</ref>
| var1        = [[Sapphire]]|var1text = Any color except red
| var2        = [[Ruby]]    |var2text = Red
| var3        = [[Emery (mineral)|Emery]]  |var3text = Black granular corundum intimately mixed with [[magnetite]], [[hematite]], or [[hercynite]]
}}
'''Corundum''' is a [[crystal]]line form of [[aluminium oxide]] ({{chem2|Al2O3}}) typically containing traces of [[iron]], [[titanium]], [[vanadium]], and [[chromium]].<ref name=Handbook/><ref name=Mindat/> It is a [[rock (geology)|rock]]-forming [[mineral]]. It is a naturally [[transparency and translucency|transparent]] material, but can have different colors depending on the presence of [[transition metal]] impurities in its crystalline structure.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |title=Gem Corundum |last1=Giuliani |first1=Gaston |last2=Ohnenstetter |first2=Daniel |last3=Fallick |first3=Anthony E. |last4=Groat |first4=Lee |last5=Fagan |last6=Andrew J. |publisher=Mineralogical Association of Canada |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-921294-54-2 |location=Research Gate |pages=37–38 |chapter=The Geology and Genesis of Gem Corundum Deposits}}</ref> Corundum has two primary [[gemstone|gem]] varieties: [[ruby]] and [[sapphire]]. Rubies are red due to the presence of chromium, and sapphires exhibit a range of colors depending on what transition metal is present.<ref name=":0"/> A rare type of sapphire, [[Sapphire#Padparadscha|padparadscha]] sapphire, is pink-orange.

The name "corundum" is derived from the [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-[[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] word ''kurundam'' (ruby-sapphire) (appearing in [[Sanskrit]] as ''kuruvinda'').<ref>{{OEtymD|corundum}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Jeršek |first1=Miha |last2=Jovanovski |first2=Gligor |last3=Boev |first3=Blažo |last4=Makreski |first4=Petre |date=2021 |title=Intriguing minerals: corundum in the world of rubies and sapphires with special attention to Macedonian rubies |url=https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s40828-021-00143-0 |journal=ChemTexts |language=en |volume=7 |issue=3 |pages=19 |doi=10.1007/s40828-021-00143-0 |bibcode=2021ChTxt...7...19J |s2cid=233435945 |issn=2199-3793}}</ref>

Because of corundum's hardness (pure corundum is defined to have 9.0 on the [[Mohs scale]]), it can scratch almost all other minerals. [[Emery (rock)|Emery]], a variety of corundum with no value as a gemstone, is commonly used as an [[abrasive]] on [[sandpaper]] and on large tools used in machining metals, plastics, and wood. It is a black granular form of corundum, in which the mineral is intimately mixed with [[magnetite]], [[hematite]], or [[hercynite]].<ref name=Hurlbut/>

In addition to its hardness, corundum has a density of {{cvt|4.02|g/cm3|lb/cuft}}, which is unusually high for a transparent mineral composed of the low-[[atomic mass]] elements [[aluminium]] and [[oxygen]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.galleries.com/Corundum |title=The Mineral Corundum |website=galleries.com}}</ref>

==Geology and occurrence==
[[File:Corindon azulEZ.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Corundum from [[Brazil]], size about {{convert|2|×|3|cm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}}]]
Corundum occurs as a mineral in mica [[schist]], [[gneiss]], and some [[marble]]s in [[metamorphic]] [[terrane]]s. It also occurs in low-silica [[igneous]] [[syenite]] and [[nepheline syenite]] [[intrusive rock|intrusive]]s. Other occurrences are as masses adjacent to [[ultramafic]] intrusives, associated with [[lamprophyre]] [[dike (geology)|dikes]] and as large crystals in [[pegmatite]]s.<ref name=Hurlbut/> It commonly occurs as a [[detrital]] mineral in stream and beach sands because of its hardness and resistance to weathering.<ref name=Hurlbut/> The largest documented single crystal of corundum measured about {{convert|65|×|40|×|40|cm|in|abbr=on}}, and weighed {{convert|152|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Rickwood, P. C. |year=1981 |title=The largest crystals |journal=American Mineralogist |volume=66 |pages=885–907 |url=http://www.minsocam.org/ammin/AM66/AM66_885.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620081033/http://www.minsocam.org/ammin/AM66/AM66_885.pdf |archive-date=2009-06-20 |url-status=live}}</ref> The record has since been surpassed by certain synthetic [[boule (crystal)|boules]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ledinside.com/news/2009/4/Rubicon_Technology_Grows_Super_boule_of_200kg_Weight_20090421 |title=Rubicon Technology grows 200&nbsp;kg "super boule" |website=LED Inside |date=April 21, 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Corundum for [[abrasive]]s is mined in Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, and India. Historically it was mined from deposits associated with [[dunite]]s in [[North Carolina]], US, and from a nepheline syenite in [[Craigmont, Ontario]].<ref name=Hurlbut/> [[Emery (mineral)|Emery]]-grade corundum is found on the [[list of islands of Greece|Greek island]] of [[Naxos]] and near [[Peekskill, New York]], US. Abrasive corundum is synthetically manufactured from [[bauxite]].<ref name=Hurlbut/>

Four corundum axes dating to 2500&nbsp;BC from the [[Liangzhu culture]] and Sanxingcun culture (the latter of which is located in [[Jintan District]]) have been discovered in China.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4555235.stm |title=Chinese made first use of diamond |publisher=BBC |date=May 2005 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Alexandra |first1=Goho |title=In the Buff: Stone Age tools may have derived luster from diamond |url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/buff-stone-age-tools-may-have-derived-luster-diamond#:~:text=He%20found%20that%20all%20four,Earth%3B%20only%20diamond%20is%20harder |website=Science News |date=16 February 2005 }}</ref>

==Synthetic corundum==
* In 1837, [[Marc Antoine Auguste Gaudin|Marc Antoine Gaudin]] made the first synthetic rubies by reacting [[alumina]] at a high temperature with a small amount of [[chromium]] as a [[colourant]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.gem-a.com/media/94808/duroc%20danner%20website.pdf |journal=Journal of Gemmology |volume=32 |pages=175–178 |year=2011 |title=Untreated yellowish orange sapphire exhibiting its natural colour |author=Duroc-Danner, J. M. |issue=5 |doi=10.15506/jog.2011.32.5.174 |bibcode=2011JGem...32..174D |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516231326/http://www.gem-a.com/media/94808/duroc%20danner%20website.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-16 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* In 1847, [[Jacques-Joseph Ebelmen|J.&nbsp;J. Ebelmen]] made white [[sapphire#Synthetic sapphire|synthetic sapphires]] by reacting [[Aluminium oxide|alumina]] in [[boric acid]].
* In 1877, Frenic and Freil made crystal corundum from which small stones could be cut. Frimy and [[Auguste Victor Louis Verneuil|Auguste Verneuil]] manufactured artificial ruby by fusing {{chem2|link=barium fluoride|BaF2}} and {{chem2|link=aluminium oxide|Al2O3}} with a little chromium at temperatures above {{convert|2000|C|abbr=on}}.
* In 1903, [[Auguste Victor Louis Verneuil|Verneuil]] announced that he could produce synthetic rubies on a commercial scale using this [[flame fusion]] process.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://farlang.com/books/bahadur-a-handbook-of-precious-stones |author=Bahadur |title=A Handbook of Precious Stones |work=Farlang |year=1943 |access-date=2007-08-19 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The [[Verneuil process]] allows the production of flawless single-crystal [[sapphire]] and [[ruby]] gems of much larger size than normally found in nature. It is also possible to grow gem-quality synthetic corundum by flux-growth and [[hydrothermal synthesis]]. Because of the simplicity of the methods involved in corundum synthesis, large quantities of these crystals have become available on the market at a fraction of the cost of natural stones.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Walsh |first1=Andrew |title=The commodification of fetishes: Telling the difference between natural and synthetic sapphires |journal=American Ethnologist |date=February 2010 |volume=37 |issue=1 |pages=98–114 |doi=10.1111/j.1548-1425.2010.01244.x}}</ref>

Synthetic corundum has a lower environmental impact than natural corundum by avoiding destructive mining and conserving resources.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.preciseceramic.com/blog/comparing-alumina-and-corundum.html |title=Comparing Alumina and Corundum: From Raw Form to Crystal Clarity |date=March 1, 2024 |website=Advanced Ceramic Materials |access-date=Oct 7, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Walsh |first=Andrew |year=2010 |title=The commodification of fetishes: Telling the difference between natural and synthetic sapphires |journal=American Ethnologist |volume=37 |issue=1 |pages=98–114 |doi=10.1111/j.1548-1425.2010.01244.x}}</ref> However, its production is energy-intensive, contributing to [[carbon]] emissions if fossil fuels are used, and involves chemicals that can pose risks.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sudiro |first1=Maria |last2=Bertucco |first2=Alberto |year=2007 |title=Synthetic Fuels by a Limited CO2 Emission Process Which Uses Both Fossil and Solar Energy |journal=Energy Fuels |volume=21 |issue=6 |pages=3668–3675 |doi=10.1021/ef7003255 |bibcode=2007EnFue..21.3668S }}</ref>

Apart from ornamental uses, synthetic corundum is also used to produce mechanical parts (tubes, rods, bearings, and other machined parts), scratch-resistant optics, scratch-resistant [[watch#Overview|watch]] crystals, instrument windows for satellites and spacecraft (because of its transparency in the ultraviolet to infrared range), and [[laser]] components. For example, the [[KAGRA]] gravitational wave detector's main mirrors are {{cvt|50|lb|adj=on|order=flip}} sapphires,<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Eiichi |last1=Hirose |display-authors=etal |year=2014 |title=Sapphire mirror for the KAGRA gravitational wave detector |journal=Physical Review D |volume=89 |issue=6 |article-number=062003 |doi=10.1103/PhysRevD.89.062003 |bibcode=2014PhRvD..89f2003H |url=https://authors.library.caltech.edu/45938/1/PhysRevD.89.062003.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724161640/https://authors.library.caltech.edu/45938/1/PhysRevD.89.062003.pdf |archive-date=2018-07-24 |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Advanced LIGO]] considered {{cvt|40|kg}} sapphire mirrors.<ref>{{cite web |first=GariLynn |last=Billingsley |title=Advanced Ligo Core Optics Components – Downselect |url=https://labcit.ligo.caltech.edu/~gari/LIGOII/Downselect/ |publisher=LIGO Laboratory |year=2004 |access-date=2020-02-06 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Corundum has also found use in the development of ceramic armour thanks to its high hardiness.<ref>Defense World.Net, [https://www.defenseworld.net/news/27805/Russia___s_Armored_Steel_Comparable_Ceramic_Plate_Clears_Tests Russia’s Armored Steel-Comparable Ceramic Plate Clears Tests], 5 September 2020, Retrieved 29 December 2020</ref>

==Structure and physical properties==
[[File:Corundum.png|thumb|250 px|left|Crystal structure of corundum]]
[[File:Corundum-pV.svg|thumb|250 px|right|Molar volume vs. pressure at room temperature]]
Corundum crystallizes with trigonal symmetry in the space group [[hexagonal crystal family#Crystal classes|{{mvar|R}}{{overline|3}}{{mvar|c}}]] and has the lattice parameters {{nowrap|{{mvar|a}} {{=}} 4.75 Å}} and {{nowrap|{{mvar|c}} {{=}} 12.982 Å}} at standard conditions. The unit cell contains six formula units.<ref name="Mindat" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Newnham |first1=R. E. |last2=de Haan |first2=Y. M. |title=Refinement of the α Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, Ti<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> structures* |journal=Zeitschrift für Kristallographie |date=August 1962 |volume=117 |issue=2–3 |pages=235–237 |doi=10.1524/zkri.1962.117.2-3.235|bibcode=1962ZK....117..235N }}</ref>

The toughness of corundum is sensitive to surface roughness<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://rd.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00638054?no-access=true |title=Effect of machining on fracture toughness of corundum |first1=Farrokh |last1=Farzin-Nia |first2=Terry |last2=Sterrett |first3=Ron |last3=Sirney |journal=Journal of Materials Science |year=1990 |volume=25 |issue=5 |pages=2527–2531 |doi=10.1007/bf00638054|bibcode=1990JMatS..25.2527F |s2cid=137548763 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1111/j.1151-2916.1976.tb09390.x |volume=59 |title=Fracture-Strength Anisotropy of Sapphire |journal=Journal of the American Ceramic Society |year=1976 |pages=59–61|last1=Becker |first1=Paul F. |issue=1–2 }}</ref> and crystallographic orientation.<ref name="Fracture of Sapphire">{{cite journal |doi=10.1111/j.1151-2916.1969.tb09199.x |volume=52 |title=Fracture of Sapphire |journal=Journal of the American Ceramic Society |year=1969 |pages=485–491|last1=Wiederhorn |first1=S. M. |issue=9 }}</ref> It may be 6–7&nbsp;MPa·m{{sup|1/2}} for synthetic crystals,<ref name="Fracture of Sapphire"/> and around 4&nbsp;MPa·m{{sup|1/2}} for natural.<ref>{{cite web |title=Corundum, Aluminum Oxide, Alumina, 99.9%, Al2O3 |website=www.matweb.com |url=http://www.matweb.com/search/datasheet_print.aspx?matguid=c8c56ad547ae4cfabad15977bfb537f1}}</ref>

In the lattice of corundum, the oxygen atoms form a slightly distorted [[hexagonal close packing]], in which two-thirds of the octahedral sites between the oxygen ions are occupied by aluminium ions.<ref name="nesse">{{cite book |last1=Nesse |first1=William D. |title=Introduction to mineralogy |date=2000 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York |isbn=9780195106916 |pages=363–364}}</ref> The absence of aluminium ions from one of the three sites breaks the symmetry of the hexagonal close packing, reducing the space group symmetry to {{mvar|R}}{{overline|3}}{{mvar|c}} and the crystal class to trigonal.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Borchardt-Ott |first1=Walter |last2=Kaiser |first2=E. T. |title=Crystallography |date=1995 |publisher=Springer |location=Berlin |isbn=3540594787 |page=230 |edition=2nd}}</ref> The structure of corundum is sometimes described as a pseudohexagonal structure.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gea |first1=Laurence A. |last2=Boatner |first2=L. A. |last3=Rankin |first3=Janet |last4=Budai |first4=J. D. |title=The Formation Al 2 O 3 /V 2 O 3 Multilayer Structures by High-Dose Ion Implantation |journal=MRS Proceedings |date=1995 |volume=382 |article-number=107 |doi=10.1557/PROC-382-107|url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc618580/ |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The Young's modulus of corundum (sapphire) has been reported by many different sources with values varying between 300 and 500 GPa, but a commonly cited value used for calculations is 345 GPa.<ref name=":1">{{Citation |last1=Dobrovinskaya |first1=Elena R. |title=Properties of Sapphire |date=2009 |work=Sapphire: Material, Manufacturing, Applications |pages=55–176 |editor-last=Pishchik |editor-first=Valerian |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-85695-7_2 |access-date=2024-05-12 |place=Boston, MA |publisher=Springer US |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-0-387-85695-7_2 |isbn=978-0-387-85695-7 |last2=Lytvynov |first2=Leonid A. |last3=Pishchik |first3=Valerian |editor2-last=Lytvynov |editor2-first=Leonid A. |editor3-last=Dobrovinskaya |editor3-first=Elena R.|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The Young's modulus is temperature dependent, and has been reported in the [0001] direction as 435 GPa at 323 K and 386 GPa at 1,273 K.<ref name=":1" /> The shear modulus of corundum is 145 GPa,<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Ramdas |first=Roshan L. Aggarwal, Anant K. |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.1201/9780429283260/physical-properties-diamond-sapphire-roshan-aggarwal-anant-ramdas |title=Physical Properties of Diamond and Sapphire |date=2019-05-03 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-0-429-28326-0 |location=Boca Raton |doi=10.1201/9780429283260}}</ref> and the bulk modulus is 240 GPa.<ref name=":2" />

Single crystal corundum fibers have potential applications in high temperature composites, and the Young's modulus is highly dependent on the crystallographic orientation along the fiber axis. The fiber exhibits a max modulus of 461 GPa when the crystallographic c-axis [0001] is aligned with the fiber axis, and minimum moduli ~373 GPa when a direction 45° away from the c-axis is aligned with the fiber axis.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wadley |first1=Haydn N. G. |last2=Lu |first2=Yichi |last3=Goldman |first3=Jeffrey A. |date=1995-03-01 |title=Ultrasonic determination of single crystal sapphire fiber modulus |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00735669 |journal=[[Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation]] |language=en |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=31–38 |doi=10.1007/BF00735669 |issn=1573-4862|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The hardness of corundum measured by indentation at low loads of 1-2 N has been reported as 22-23 GPa<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last1=Sinani |first1=A. B. |last2=Dynkin |first2=N. K. |last3=Lytvinov |first3=L. A. |last4=Konevsky |first4=P. V. |last5=Andreev |first5=E. P. |date=2009-10-01 |title=Sapphire hardness in different crystallographic directions |url=https://doi.org/10.3103/S1062873809100177 |journal=Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences: Physics |language=en |volume=73 |issue=10 |pages=1380–1382 |doi=10.3103/S1062873809100177 |bibcode=2009BRASP..73.1380S |issn=1934-9432|url-access=subscription }}</ref> in major crystallographic planes: (0001) (basal plane), (10{{overline|1}}0) (rhombohedral plane), (11{{overline|2}}0) (prismatic plane), and (10{{overline|1}}2). The hardness can drop significantly under high indentation loads. The drop with respect to load varies with the crystallographic plane due to the difference in crack resistance and propagation between directions. One extreme case is seen in the (0001) plane, where the hardness under high load (~1&nbsp;kN)  is nearly half the value under low load (1-2 N).<ref name=":3" />

Polycrystalline corundum formed through sintering and treated with a hot isostatic press process can achieve grain sizes in the range of 0.55-0.7 μm, and has been measured to have four-point bending strength between 600 and 700 MPa and three-point bending strength between 750 and 900 MPa.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Krell |first1=Andreas |last2=Blank |first2=Paul |last3=Ma |first3=Hongwei |last4=Hutzler |first4=Thomas |last5=van Bruggen |first5=Michel P. B. |last6=Apetz |first6=Rolf |date=2003 |title=Transparent Sintered Corundum with High Hardness and Strength |url=https://ceramics.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1151-2916.2003.tb03270.x |journal=Journal of the American Ceramic Society |language=en |volume=86 |issue=1 |pages=12–18 |doi=10.1111/j.1151-2916.2003.tb03270.x |issn=0002-7820|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===Structure type===
{{Main|Corundum (structure)}}
Because of its prevalence, corundum has also become the name of a major structure type (''corundum type'') found in various [[Binary compound|binary]] and [[ternary compound]]s.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Muller |first1=Olaf |last2=Roy |first2=Rustum |title=The major ternary structural families |date=1974 |publisher=Springer-Verlag |isbn=0-387-06430-3 |location=New York |oclc=1056558}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Commons category|Corundum}}
* [[Aluminium oxynitride]]
* [[Gemstone]]
* [[Spinel]] – natural and synthetic mineral often mistaken for corundum

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==References==
{{reflist|25em}}

{{Mohs}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Abrasives]]
[[Category:Aluminium minerals]]
[[Category:Corundum varieties]]
[[Category:Hematite group]]
[[Category:Industrial minerals]]
[[Category:Luminescent minerals]]
[[Category:Oxide minerals]]
[[Category:Polymorphism (materials science)]]
[[Category:Superhard materials]]
[[Category:Trigonal minerals]]
[[Category:Minerals in space group 167]]