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Gemstone Crystal System Density Hardness Refractive index Treatments
Beryl hexagonal 2.72 7.5-8.9 1.577-1.583 heat, radiation, fracture filling, oiling

Color:
All colors, depending on variety.

 

Clarity: Type I with the exception of emerald
Optic Character:
DR Uniaxial Negative
Cause of Color: Blue (maxixe): unstable color centers; Green: Cr, V, Fe; Red/Pink: Mn; Yellow: Fe
Fluorescence: Generally Inert
Fracture : Concoidal
Luster : Vitreous to resinous
Cleavage :
One direction; indistinct; almost never seen
Durability: Fair

Characteristics for Identification:
Liquid and phase inclusions, Tubular inclusions

Locality:
Brazil, predominantly, but associated with pegmatite dykes worldwide.

Beryl

Beryl is a beryllium aluminum silicate that occurs in every color of the rainbow. When green, it's an emerald. When blue, it's aquamarine. When pink, it's morganite. There is a raspberry red variety found in Utah called Bixbite. Yellow is heliodor and colorless is goshenite. There is a very rare and costly variety termed riesling beryl, that can be described as pale green colour, with a warm golden yellow flash. Beryl had been used as a physician's tool and gazing stone since ancient times. Those beliefs persist today. Beryl is metaphysically attributed with the ability to cure a number of intestinal and stomach ills, such as nausea, ulcers, and seasickness.

Beryl May be confused with:
Labradorite
Quartz
Scapolite
Topaz
Fluorite

Beryl Family
Emerald
Aquamarine
Morganite
Bixbite or Red Beryl
Goshenite
Heliodor
RieslingBeryl
Green Beryl

The following books are my recommendations for further study.
They are some of the best available.
If you would like a larger selection, please visit the Book Shop.


Gemstones: Symbols of Beauty and Power
by Eduard J. Gubelin, Franz-Zaver Erni


The Curious Lore of Precious Stones:

by George Frederick Kunz


Gemstone Buying Guide: A Guide to Buying

by Renee Newman


Gems: Their Sources, Descriptions and Identification...
by Robert Webster, Peter G. Read (Editor)

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