Emerald
Emerald is a beryl that owes its color to trace amounts of chromium or vanadium (or both) and, sometimes iron. Stones must have sufficient tone and saturation to be considered emerald.
Emerald Beryl
- Classification
- Optical Properties
- Characteristic Physical properties
Common Name
Emerald
CCF Reaction
Some appear pink or red; not diagnostic.
Pleochroism
Moderate to strong
Specific Gravity
2.670
Toughness
Poor
Inclusions
Emerald is a type III clarity stone. 3-phase inclusions typical of Colombian material. 2-phase inclusions usually found in stones from India. Tremolite needles are typical of Zimbabwe stones. Actinolite needles can be found in Siberian stones. Emeralds sometime have tube-like and bamboo-like inclusions, liquid and fingerprint inclusions, calcite, pyrite, mica, needles and amphibole inclusions.
Stability
Fair
Green Beryl
Green beryl, like emerald, owes its color to the presence of either chromium, vanadium, or both. It differs from emerald in that the green hues are lighter in tone and less saturated.
Green Beryl Beryl
- Classification
- Optical Properties
- Characteristic Physical properties
Common Name
Green Beryl
CCF Reaction
May appear pink or red
Pleochroism
Dichroic, Moderate to strong; variations of body color
Maxixe Beryl
Maxixe beryl is a rare intense blue to violet blue beryl that will lose its color when exposed to light. The stones were first reported in 1917 and are found from Minas Gerais, Brazil. The color is darker than aquamarine and the has the stronger blue pleochroic color parallel to the c-axis. The color is due to natural irradiation. Very rare examples of violet stones, also from Minas Gerais, Brazil, and greenish blues stones from Madagascar have also been reported.
Maxixe Beryl Beryl
- Classification
- Optical Properties
- Characteristic Physical properties
Common Name
Maxixe Beryl
Pleochroism
Weak to moderate
Specific Gravity
2.67
Toughness
Good
Inclusions
Fingerprints, liquid and 2-phase & 3-phase inclusions. Might have hollow or liquid filled inclusions, crystal inclusions, straight and angular growth structures
Maxixe Type Beryl
Maxixe type beryl is a rare intense blue to violet blue beryl that will lose its color when exposed to light. The stones were first reported in the market in 1973. The stones are typically more violet blue than natural maxixe beryl and will fluoresce deep green in LWUV and yellowish green in SWUV. The stones will have its stronger blue pleochroic color parallel to the c-axis. The color is due to artificial irradiation.
Maxixe Type Beryl Beryl
- Classification
- Optical Properties
- Characteristic Physical properties
Common Name
Maxixe Type Beryl
Birefringence
0.008
Pleochroism
Weak to moderate
Specific Gravity
2.67
Inclusions
Liquid and 2-phase inclusions, growth tubes, straight and angular growth structures
Morganite
Morganite is a peachy to pink or purplish pink variety of beryl. It was discovered in 1910 and named after American banker and financier J. P. Morgan. It might also be called pink beryl.
Morganite Beryl
- Classification
- Optical Properties
- Characteristic Physical properties
Common Name
Morganite
Pleochroism
Weak to unobservable
Specific Gravity
2.710
Toughness
Good
Inclusions
Morganite is a type I clarity stone. Inclusions are rare but liquid and two-phase inclusions, hollow or liquid-filled parallel tubes and fingerprints are sometimes seen.
Bixbite or Red Beryl
Bixbite or red beryl was named after Maynard Bixby who discovered it in 1904. The only commercially viable source of gem quality material is the Ruby Violet Mine in the Wah Wah Mountains of Utah.
Bixbite or Red Beryl Beryl
- Classification
- Characteristic Physical properties
Common Name
Bixbite or Red Beryl
Specific Gravity
2.630
Toughness
Good
Inclusions
Often highly included. Possible inclusions are liquid filled inclusions, fingerprints, two and/or three phase inclusions, hollow or liquid-filled tubes, small crystals or grains.
Stability
Fair
Goshenite
Goshenite is the highly collectible colorless variety of beryl. It is named for Goshen, Massachusetts where it was discovered.
Goshenite Beryl
- Classification
- Characteristic Physical properties
Common Name
Goshenite
Specific Gravity
2.660
Toughness
Good
Inclusions
Goshenite is a type I clarity stone but sometimes contains tubular, liquid or two-phase inclusions.
Stability
Good
Heliodor
Heliodor is the yellow to orangish yellow and greenish yellow variety of beryl. It is named from ancient Greek words meaning "gift from the sun," as it was once believed that heliodor harnessed the power and warmth of the sun and was responsible for the change between day and night.
Heliodor Beryl
- Classification
- Optical Properties
- Characteristic Physical properties
Common Name
Heliodor
Pleochroism
Weak to moderate
Specific Gravity
2.630
Toughness
Good
Inclusions
Heliodor is a type I clarity stone but sometimes contains tubular, liquid or planes of small two-phase inclusions.
Stability
Good
