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Sapphires form inside the fiery hearts of volcanoes, not deep in the mantle like we thought


A new study of sapphires found in volcanic fields in Germany reveals that these beautiful blue stones form where magma and rocks from Earth's crust mix.

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Volcanoes

Photo of Sapphires form

Sapphires form

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The rocky walls of volcanoes are studded with crystals, formed underground in hot magma. By studying how long the crystals take to form, volcanologists are calibrating so-called "crystal clocks" that reveal how long magmas can linger below ground before erupting.