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Macintosh Picture Format  |  1996-06-14  |  179.4 KB  |  640x310  |  8-bit (183 colors)
   ocr: the Museum's collections. The white star on the face of the stone, the defining characteristic of star sapphires, has inspired many legends. According to one, the three crossed lines are said to represent faith, hope, and destiny; another calls them sparks from the Star of Bethlehem. They are in fact something of a mirage, created by the refraction and reflection of light as well as the skill of the gem cutter. The mineral "rutile" occurs as tiny needles which grew inside the sapphire crystal 214