User Manual
9
Sapphire Sparkler
Sapphires are beautiful blue gems often used in jewelry. Historically, sapphires have been
thought to have healing properties! In this activity, you can create sparkling jewels as blue
as a sapphire!
What you need from your kit
• Alum, blue
• Granite rock
• Small cup
• Measuring beaker
• Goggles
• Magnier
Mix & Heat
1. Add 200 ml of water to the saucepan. Bring to a boil, and then remove from heat.
Measure 30 ml of Alum, and add it to the mixing bowl.
2. With an adult’s help, pour 100 ml of the hot water into the mixing bowl.
Throw out the rest of the water. Stir for 2-3 minutes to dissolve the powder.
3. Let the solution cool for 5 minutes, while you pick out a good rock on which your
crystals will grow. You can use one of the provided granite rocks, or you can
use your own. A good rock will be mostly at, cover most of the bottom of the
container, and won’t come up more than 1 inch from the bottom.
Pour & Grow
1. Put the rock in the bottom of the container, and pour in the solution. Be careful
to not let any remaining Alum get into the container—it should be liquid only.
Cover the container loosely with plastic wrap and put it in a safe spot.
2. Over the next few hours, tiny crystals will begin to form in your container.
After about 2 hours, uncover the container to let the water evaporate.
When you’re done growing the crystals, discard the remaining solution and
remove your crystals from the container. Pat them dry with a paper towel and
put them on display!
What happens
Sapphire Sparklers grow like the Cool Clear Crystals and Golden Citrine by solidifying
as the liquid evaporates. But this time, it’s a different kind of crystal, so the end result
should look different too. Use your magnier to get a closer look. Besides color, what
else is different? Can you see differences in shape or branching?
What you need to get
• Saucepan
(small, non-aluminum)
• Small mixing bowl
• Stovetop burner
• Water
• Spoon