Blue sapphires originating from basaltic rock typically have what characteristic?

Blue sapphires that originate from basaltic rock typically exhibit high iron content as a characteristic. The formation process of sapphires in basaltic environments involves the presence of significant amounts of iron and titanium, which play a crucial role in developing the gemstone's color. The high iron content is particularly important as it contributes to the rich blue hue that is often associated with sapphires from these volcanic sources. This mineral composition is a defining aspect of their origin and differentiates them from sapphires formed in other geological environments, such as metamorphic rocks, which may have different elemental compositions. Thus, high iron content is fundamentally linked to the characteristics and coloration of these specific blue sapphires.