Beryl Information's

 

Beryl

Beryl is a mineral composed of beryllium aluminium cyclosilicate with the chemical formula Be3Al2(SiO3)6. It was discovered in 1798 by Louis Nicolas Vauquelin, a French chemist, and named after the Latin word for "beryllos", which means "precious blue-green color of sea water".

Origin and Varieties

Beryl is found in many parts of the world, including Brazil, Madagascar, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States. It occurs in a variety of colors, including green, blue, yellow, pink, red, and white. Some well-known varieties of beryl include:

• Emerald: Deep green color with a slight bluish tint
• Aquamarine: Light blue to blue-green color
• Morganite: Pink to peach color
• Heliodor: Bright yellow to greenish-yellow color
• Bixbite: Bright red color (also known as red beryl)

Physical Properties

• Hardness: 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale
• Density: 2.63-2.90 g/cm3
• Cleavage: Indistinct
• Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven
• Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Optical Properties

• Refractive Index: 1.57-1.60
• Birefringence: 0.004-0.009
• Dispersion: 0.014
• Pleochroism: Weak to moderate

Elementary Chemical Analysis

Beryl consists of about 14% beryllium, 19% aluminium, and 67% silicon by weight, with other elements such as iron, manganese, and chromium present in small amounts depending on the variety.

Most Desirable Color

The most desirable color for beryl depends on the variety. For emerald, the most desirable color is a deep green color with a slight bluish tint. For aquamarine, the most desirable color is a light blue to blue-green color. For morganite, the most desirable color is a pink to peach color. For heliodor, the most desirable color is a bright yellow to greenish-yellow color. For bixbite, the most desirable color is a bright red color.

Afghan Emerald in center and Natural Diamond before and after exposed under ultra violet rays long waves, note the fluorescence effect of Emerald and Diamond 

Most High Price Selling Record

The most expensive beryl ever sold was a 18.04 carat emerald, which was sold for $5.5 million at a Christie's auction in 2011.

The World's Most Biggest Crystal

The largest beryl crystal ever found was a 18 meter long and 3.5 meter wide crystal found in Bahia, Brazil in 2005.

Emerald Jewelry 

Uses

Beryl is used as a gemstone and in the manufacture of various products such as computer chips, ceramics, armor, and aerospace components. Emerald is one of the most valuable and popular gemstones in the world, while aquamarine is also a popular gemstone. Morganite is sometimes used as a substitute for diamond in jewelry. Heliodor is used as a gemstone and in ornamental carvings. Bixbite is very rare and is highly valued by collectors.