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Beryl - Wikipedia

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Beryl
Beryl  (/ˈbɛrəl/  BERR-əl) is a  mineral  composed
Beryl
of  beryllium  aluminium  silicate  with the  chemical
formula  Be3Al2Si6O18.[6]  Well-known varieties of beryl
include  emerald  and  aquamarine. Naturally
occurring, hexagonal crystals of beryl can be up to several
meters in size, but terminated crystals are relatively rare.
Pure beryl is colorless, but it is frequently tinted by
impurities; possible colors are green, blue, yellow, pink,
and red (the rarest). It is an ore source of beryllium.[7]

Etymology
The word  beryl  –  Middle English:  beril  – is borrowed, Three varieties of beryl (left to
via  Old French:  beryl  and  Latin:  beryllus, from  Ancient right): morganite, aquamarine and emerald
Greek  βήρυλλος  bḗryllos, which referred to a 'precious General
blue-green color-of-sea-water
[2] Category Cyclosilicate
stone';  from Prakrit veruḷiya, veḷuriya 'beryl' (compare
the pseudo-Sanskritization  वैडू र्य  vaiḍūrya  'cat's eye; Formula Be3Al2Si6O18
jewel;  lapis lazuli', traditionally explained as '(brought) (repeating unit)
from (the city of) Vidūra'),[8]  which is ultimately IMA symbol Brl[1]
of  Dravidian  origin, maybe from the name
Strunz classification 9.CJ.05
of  Belur  or  Velur, a town in  Karnataka,
southern  India.[9]  The term was later adopted for the Crystal system Hexagonal
mineral beryl more exclusively. Crystal class Dihexagonal
dipyramidal
When the first  eyeglasses  were constructed in 13th-
(6/mmm)
century Italy, the lenses were made of beryl (or of  rock
crystal) as glass could not be made clear enough. H-M symbol:
Consequently, glasses were named  Brillen  in (6/m 2/m 2/m)
German[10] (bril in Dutch and briller in Danish). Space group P6/mcc
Unit cell a = 9.21 Å, c =
Deposits 9.19 Å; Z = 2
Identification
Beryl is a common mineral, and it is widely distributed in
Formula mass 537.50 g/mol
nature. It is found most commonly in granitic pegmatites,
but also occurs in mica schists, such as those of the Ural Color Green, blue,
Mountains, and in  limestone  in  Colombia.[11]  It is less yellow,
common in ordinary granite and is only infrequently colorless, pink,
found in  nepheline syenite. Beryl is often associated and others
with  tin  and  tungsten  ore bodies formed as high-
Crystal habit Prismatic to
temperature hydrothermal veins. In granitic pegmatites,
beryl is found in association with  quartz,  potassium tabular
feldspar, albite, muscovite, biotite, and tourmaline. Beryl crystals; radial,
is sometimes found in  metasomatic  contacts of igneous columnar;
intrusions with  gneiss, schist, or  carbonate granular to
[12]
rocks.   Common beryl, mined as beryllium ore, is compact
found in small deposits in many countries, but the main massive
producers are Russia, Brazil, and the United States.[11] Twinning Rare

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New England's  pegmatites  have produced some of the Cleavage Imperfect on


largest beryls found, including one massive crystal from {0001}
the  Bumpus Quarry  in  Albany, Maine  with dimensions
Fracture Conchoidal to
5.5 by 1.2  m (18.0 by 3.9  ft) with a mass of around 18
tonnes (20 short tons); it is New Hampshire's state irregular
mineral. As of 1999, the world's largest known naturally Tenacity Brittle
occurring crystal of any mineral is a crystal of beryl from Mohs scale hardness 7.5–8.0
Malakialina, Madagascar, 18  m (59  ft) long and 3.5  m
(11  ft) in diameter, and weighing 380,000  kg Luster Vitreous to
(840,000 lb).[13] resinous
Streak White
Crystal habit and structure Diaphaneity Transparent to
translucent
Beryl belongs to the  hexagonal crystal system. Normally Specific gravity 2.63–2.92
beryl forms hexagonal columns but can also occur in
massive habits. As a cyclosilicate beryl incorporates rings Optical properties Uniaxial (−)
of silicate tetrahedra of  Si6O18  that are arranged in Refractive index nω = 1.564–
columns along the  C  axis and as parallel layers 1.595
perpendicular to the  C  axis, forming channels along nε = 1.568–
the  C  axis.[7]  These channels permit a variety of ions, 1.602
neutral atoms, and molecules to be incorporated into the
Birefringence δ = 0.0040–
crystal thus disrupting the overall charge of the crystal
0.0070
permitting further substitutions in  aluminium,  silicon,
and  beryllium  sites in the crystal structure.[7]  These Pleochroism Weak to
impurities give rise to the variety of colors of beryl that distinct
can be found. Increasing alkali content within the silicate Ultraviolet fluorescence None (some
ring channels causes increases to the  refractive
fracture filling
indices and birefringence.[14]
materials used
to improve
Human health impact emerald's
clarity do
Beryl is a beryllium compound that is a known fluoresce, but
carcinogen with acute toxic effects leading to the stone itself
pneumonitis when inhaled.[15]  Care must thus be used does not).
when mining, handling, and refining these gems.[16] Morganite has
weak violet
Varieties fluorescence.
[2][3][4][5]: 112 
References

Aquamarine and maxixe

Aquamarine (from Latin: aqua marina, "sea water"[17]) is a blue or cyan variety of beryl. It occurs


at most localities which yield ordinary beryl. The gem-gravel placer deposits of Sri Lanka contain
aquamarine. Green-yellow beryl, such as that occurring in Brazil, is sometimes called  chrysolite
aquamarine.[18] The deep blue version of aquamarine is called maxixe[19] (pronounced mah-she-
she).[20] Its color results from a radiation-induced color center.[21]

The pale blue color of aquamarine is attributed to Fe2+. Fe3+ ions produce golden-yellow color, and
when both Fe2+ and Fe3+ are present, the color is a darker blue as in maxixe.[22][23] Decoloration of
maxixe by light or heat thus may be due to the charge transfer between Fe3+ and Fe2+.[24]

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In the
United
States,
aquamarines
can be found
at the
summit
of  Mount
Antero  in
Beryl crystal structure with view the  Sawatch
down C axis Range  in
central
Colorado, Main beryl producing countries
and in the
New
England and North Carolina
pegmatites.[25] Aquamarines
are also present in the state
of  Wyoming, aquamarine
has been discovered in
the  Big Horn Mountains,
near  Powder River
[26]
Pass.   Another location
Aquamarine within the United States is Faceted aquamarine
the  Sawtooth
Range  near  Stanley, Idaho,
although the minerals are within a wilderness area which prevents collecting.[27]  In Brazil, there
are mines in the states of Minas Gerais,[25] Espírito Santo, and Bahia, and minorly in Rio Grande
do Norte.[28]  The mines of Colombia, Madagascar,
Russia,[25] Namibia,[29] Zambia,[30] Malawi, Tanzania, and Kenya[31] also produce aquamarine.

Emerald

Emerald is green beryl, colored by around 2%  chromium  and


sometimes  vanadium.[32][33]  Most emeralds are
highly  included, so their brittleness (resistance to breakage) is
classified as generally poor.[34]

The modern English word "emerald" comes via  Middle


English  emeraude, imported from modern French via  Old
Rough emerald on matrix French  ésmeraude  and  Medieval Latin  esmaraldus,
from  Latin  smaragdus,
from  Greek  σμάραγδος  smaragdos  meaning ‘green gem’, from
Hebrew  ‫ברקת‬  bareket  (one of the twelve stones in the  Hoshen  pectoral pendant of the Kohen
HaGadol), meaning ‘lightning flash’, referring to ‘emerald’, relating to Akkadian baraqtu, meaning
‘emerald’, and possibly relating to the  Sanskrit  word  मरकत  marakata, meaning
‘green’.[35]  The  Semitic  word ‫אזמרגד‬  izmargad, meaning ‘emerald’, is a back-loan, deriving from
Greek smaragdos.

Emeralds in antiquity were mined by the Egyptians and in what is now Austria, as well as Swat in


contemporary  Pakistan.[36]  A rare type of emerald known as a  trapiche emerald  is occasionally
found in the mines of Colombia. A trapiche emerald exhibits a "star" pattern; it has raylike spokes
of dark carbon impurities that give the emerald a six-pointed radial pattern. It is named for
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the trapiche, a grinding wheel used to process sugarcane in the


region.  Colombian emeralds  are generally the most prized due
to their transparency and fire. Some of the rarest emeralds
come from the two main emerald belts in the Eastern Ranges of
the Colombian Andes: Muzo and Coscuez west of the Altiplano
Cundiboyacense, and  Chivor and Somondoco  to the east. Fine
emeralds are also found in other countries, such

Faceted emerald, 1.07 carats


(0.214 g), Colombia

as  Zambia,  Brazil,  Zimbabwe,  Madagascar,  Pakistan,  India,  Afghanistan  and  Russia. In the US,
emeralds can be found in Hiddenite, North Carolina. In 1998, emeralds were discovered in Yukon.

Emerald is a rare and valuable gemstone and, as such, it has provided the incentive for developing
synthetic emeralds. Both hydrothermal[37]  and  flux-growth  synthetics have been produced. The
first commercially successful emerald synthesis process was that of Carroll Chatham.[38] The other
large producer of flux emeralds was Pierre Gilson Sr., which has been on the market since 1964.
Gilson's emeralds are usually grown on natural colorless beryl seeds which become coated on both
sides. Growth occurs at the rate of 1 millimetre (0.039 in) per month, a typical seven-month growth
run producing emerald crystals of 7  mm of thickness.[39]  The green color of emeralds is widely
attributed to presence of Cr3+  ions.[40][22][23]  Intensely green beryls from Brazil, Zimbabwe and
elsewhere in which the color is attributed to  vanadium  have also been sold and certified as
emeralds.[41][42][43]

Golden beryl and heliodor

Golden beryl can range in colors from pale yellow to a brilliant


gold. Unlike emerald, golden beryl generally has very few flaws.
The term "golden beryl" is sometimes synonymous
with  heliodor  (from Greek  hēlios – ἥλιος  "sun" +  dōron –
δῶρον  "gift") but golden beryl refers to pure yellow or golden
yellow shades, while heliodor refers to the greenish-yellow
shades. The golden yellow color is attributed to
Fe3+  ions.[32][40]  Both golden beryl and heliodor are used as
gems. Probably the largest cut golden beryl is the flawless Faceted golden beryl, 48.75 carats
(9.750 g), Brazil
2,054-carat  (410.8  g) stone on display in the  Hall of
Gems, Washington, D.C., United States.[44]

Goshenite

Colorless beryl is called goshenite. The name originates from Goshen, Massachusetts, where it was
originally discovered. In the past, goshenite was used for manufacturing eyeglasses and lenses
owing to its transparency. Nowadays, it is most commonly used for gemstone purposes.[45][46]

The gem value of goshenite is relatively low. However, goshenite can be colored yellow, green, pink,
blue and in intermediate colors by irradiating it with high-energy particles. The resulting color
depends on the content of Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Fe, and Co impurities.[40]

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Faceted goshenite, 1.88 carats


Goshenite (0.376 g), Brazil

Morganite

Morganite, also known as


"pink beryl", "rose beryl",
"pink emerald" (which is not
a legal term according to the
new Federal Trade
Commission Guidelines and
Regulations), and "cesian
(or  caesian) beryl", is a rare
light pink to rose- Faceted morganite, 2.01 carats
Morganite
colored  gem-quality variety (0.402 g), Brazil
of beryl. Orange/yellow
varieties of morganite can also be found, and color banding is
common. It can be routinely heat treated to remove patches of yellow and is occasionally treated by
irradiation to improve its color. The pink color of morganite is attributed to Mn2+ ions.[32]

Red beryl

Red variety of beryl (the "bixbite") was first described in 1904


for an occurrence, its type locality, at Maynard's Claim (Pismire
Knolls), Thomas Range, Juab County, Utah.[47][48] The dark red
color is attributed to Mn3+  ions.[32]  Old synonym "bixbite" is
deprecated from the  CIBJO  because of the possibility of
confusion with the mineral  bixbyite  (both named after
mineralogist  Maynard Bixby).[49]  Red "bixbite" beryl formerly
was marketed as "red" or "scarlet emerald", but these terms
involving "Emerald" terminology are now prohibited in the
US.[50]

Red beryl is very rare and has only been reported from a
handful of North American locations:  Wah Wah
Red beryl
Mountains,  Beaver County, Utah;  Paramount Canyon,  Round
Mountain, Juab County, Utah; and Sierra County, New Mexico,
although this locality does not often produce gem-grade stones.[47] The bulk of gem-grade red beryl
comes from the Ruby-Violet Claim in the Wah Wah Mts. of midwestern Utah, discovered in 1958
by Lamar Hodges, of  Fillmore, Utah, while he was prospecting for  uranium.[51] Red beryl has been
known to be confused with pezzottaite, a caesium analog of beryl, found in Madagascar and, more
recently, Afghanistan; cut gems of the two varieties can be distinguished by their difference

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in  refractive index, and the rough crystals easily by their


differing crystal systems (pezzottaite trigonal, red beryl
hexagonal). Synthetic red beryl is also produced.[52]  Like
emerald and unlike most other varieties of beryl, the red ones
are usually highly included.

While gem beryls are ordinarily found in pegmatites and certain


metamorphic stones, red beryl occurs in topaz-
[53]
bearing  rhyolites.   It is formed by crystallizing under low
pressure and high temperature from a pneumatolytic phase Faceted red beryl, 0.56 carats
along fractures or within near-surface miarolitic cavities of the (0.112 g), Utah, US
rhyolite. Associated minerals include

bixbyite, quartz, orthoclase, topaz, spessartine, pseudobrookite and hematite.[48]

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