Beryl

Beryl is a mineral that is found in blue, green, pink, and yellow varieties. Beryl is used as a gemstone, with the green variety known as emerald and the blue variety known as aquamarine.

You can also sort by one of the more common variants of beryl:

Aquamarine – Emerald – Heliodor – Morganite

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Information about Beryl

Beryl is a silicate mineral that occurs in hexagonal crystal structures and can grow as large, well-formed prisms. It is renowned for its diverse range of colours, including green, blue, yellow, pink, white, and colourless.

Beryl crystals often exhibit a vitreous luster and are highly transparent to translucent, depending on the variety and purity. The mineral can also appear in massive or granular forms in some deposits.

The most well known forms of beryl include:

  • Aquamarine – a blue-green gemstone grade form of beryl.
  • Bixbite (red beryl) – an extremely rare red beryl from Utah, USA.
  • Emerald – one of the most famous gemstones on Earth, the green gem form of beryl.
  • Goshenite – a form of colourless beryl, sometimes irradiated to add colour.
  • Heliodor – a golden yellow form of beryl.
  • Morganite – a light pink to rose coloured form of beryl.

 

Uses and History

Beryl is highly valued as a gemstone, with its varieties such as emerald and aquamarine being particularly prized in jewellery.

Additionally, beryl serves as an industrial source of beryllium, a lightweight and strong metal used in aerospace, nuclear, and electronic applications.

Its vibrant colours and rarity have made it a favorite among collectors and mineral enthusiasts.

Beryl has been known and admired since ancient times, particularly for its gem-quality varieties.

Emeralds were treasured by ancient Egyptians, and aquamarine has been used as a talisman by sailors for centuries. The name “beryl” originates from the Greek word “beryllos,” referring to the mineral’s sea-green shades.

It gained scientific importance in the 18th century when beryllium was first identified as one of its constituent elements.

 

Mineralogy

Chemistry
A Beryllium aluminium silicate mineral with the chemical formula Be3Al2Si6O18.
Colours and Variations

Various – green, blue, yellow, colourless, pink and more.

Streak
White
Luster
Vitreous to resinous
Transparency
Transparent to translucent
Fracture
Conchoidal to irregular
Crystal habit
Prismatic to tabular crystals, radial, columnar, granular, massive.
Mohs hardness
7.5 – 8.0
Fluorescence
Rare, although some Morganite does fluoresce weakly.
Specific Gravity
2.63 – 2.92
Easiest testing method

Hazards and Warnings

Mineral collectors should wash their hands after handling specimens, to avoid any exposure to potential toxins.

Almost all rocks, minerals (and, frankly, almost all other substances on earth) can produce toxic dust when cutting, which can cause serious respiratory conditions including silicosis.

When cutting or polishing rocks, minerals, shells, etc, all work should be done wet to minimise the dust, and a suitable respirator or extraction system should be used.

 

Translations

Arabic:

Hindi:

Portuguese:

  • Berilo

Bengali:

Indonesian:

Punjabi:

English:

Italian:

  • Berillo

Russian:

  • Берилл

French:

  • Béryl

Japanese:

  • 緑柱石

Spanish:

  • Berilo

German:

  • Beryll

Korean:

Thai:

Gujurati:

Mandarin Chinese:

  • 绿柱石

Urdu:

Further Reading / External Links