Beryl

For other uses, see Beryl (disambiguation).

Beryl var. emerald specimen with host rock, showing clear hexagonal structure.

The mineral beryl is a beryllium aluminium cyclosilicate with the chemical formula Be₃Al₂(SiO₃)₆. The hexagonal crystals of beryl may be very small or range to several meters in size. Terminated crystals are relatively rare. Beryl exhibits conchoidal fracture, has a hardness of 7.5-8, a specific gravity of 2.63-2.80. It has a vitreous luster and can be transparent or translucent. Its cleavage is poor basal and its habit is dihexagonal bipyramidal. Pure beryl is colorless, but it is frequently tinted by impurities; possible colors are green, blue, yellow, red, and white. The name comes from the Greek beryllos for the precious blue-green color of sea water.

Varieties

Varieties of beryl have been considered gemstones since prehistoric times. Recognized for its beauty, in the Bible, in Ezekiel 1:16, the wheels of God's throne is described as having the appearance of "gleaming beryl". Green beryl is called emerald, red beryl is bixbite or red emerald or scarlet emerald, blue beryl is aquamarine, pink beryl is morganite, white beryl is goshenite, and a clear bright yellow beryl is called golden beryl. Other shades such as yellow-green for heliodor and honey yellow are common. Red beryl is extremely rare and is not used in jewelry as the crystals it forms are very small. Blue beryl (aquamarine) when exposed to sunlight will fade in color.

Deposits

Beryl is found most commonly in granitic pegmatites, but also occurs in mica schists in the Ural Mountains and is often associated with tin and tungsten orebodies. Beryl is found in certain European countries such as Austria, Germany, and Ireland. It also occurs in Madagascar (especially morganite).

The most famous source of emeralds in the world is at Muzo and Chivor, Boyacá, Colombia, where they make a unique appearance in limestone. Emeralds are also found in the Transvaal, South Africa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and near Mursinka in Urals. In the United States emeralds are found in North Carolina. New England's pegmatites have produced some of the largest beryls found, including one massive crystal with dimensions 5.5 m by 1.2 m (18 ft by 4 ft) with a mass of around 18 metric tons. Other beryl locations include South Dakota, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and California.

Applications

Massive beryl is a primary ore of the metal beryllium.

Cultural trivia

• The earliest crystal balls were made from beryl, later being replaced by rock crystal.
• The Scottish called them “stones of power”.
• The druids (the priestly class in ancient Celtic societies) used beryl for scrying (crystal gazing).

Image gallery

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  Beryl var. emerald.

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  Beryl var. aquamarine, from Brazil.

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  Beryl produced in Tajikistan.

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  Heliodor.

• Pierre-img 0592.jpg

  Morganite.

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  Morganite, Aquamarine, Heliodor (Golden Beryl).

See also

• Aquamarine
• Emerald
• Gemstone
• Mineral
• List of minerals

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Farndon, John, 2006. The Practical Encyclopedia of Rocks & Minerals: How to Find, Identify, Collect and Maintain the World's best Specimens, with over 1000 Photographs and Artworks. Lorenz Books. ISBN 0754815412 and ISBN 978-0754815419.

• Hurlbut, Cornelius S., and Klein, Cornelis, 1985. Manual of Mineralogy (20th ed.). New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons. ISBN 0-471-80580-7.

• Pellant, Chris, 2002. Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks and Minerals. New York, NY: DK Adult. ISBN 0789491060 and ISBN 978-0789491060.

• Shaffer, Paul R., Herbert S. Zim, and Raymond Perlman, 2001. Rocks, Gems and Minerals. Revised and Updated edition. St. Martin's Press, Golden Guide. ISBN 1582381321 and ISBN 978-1582381329.

• Sinkankas, John, 1994. Emerald & Other Beryls, Geoscience Press, ISBN 0-8019-7114-4.

External links

• Minerals.net
• Webmineral.com
• Gems Explained
• Mineral Galleries

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