What is Beryl?
Beryl is known mineral variety in gemstones. Beryl is a family name. This is formed of beryllium cyclosilicate with having formula Be₃Al₂(SiO₃)₆. The popular varieties of Beryl are emerald and aquamarine.
Chemical Composition: - Be-Al-Silicate
Crystals Structure: - 
Rectangular etch pits
Crystal system:- Hexagonal crystal system
Hardness (Mohs hardness scale): 7.5 – 8
Colors :- Green , Blue , Pink , Yellow , White , Rarely Red
S.G :- 2.75 Approx
R.I :- 1.56-1.60
DR :- 0.003-0.009
Luster :- Vitreous
Transparency :- Transparent to Translucent
Gem Species :- Beryl
Cleavage :- 3,1 - basal
Fracture :- Uneven to conchoidal
Tenacity:- Brittle
Striking Features:- Crystal form and hardness
Environment:- Beryl is most well-known from granite pegmatites. It can also be found in metamorphosed mica schists and in igneous rhyolite deposits.
Rock Type: - Igneous, Metamorphic
About Of Beryl
Beryl is generally colorless. Different impurities of traces cause colour diversification in the stone. Which produces different varieties of Beryl such as green emerald, blue aquamarine, pink morganite, yellow helidor, redy beryl and many others. Here is given detail of some beryl variety with names.
Beryl Varieties: - The Gems Varieties Are written by Following,
| 1.Rich Green = Emerald-(Chromium/vanadium) | Emerald is the famous variety of beryl. Emerald is known as precious gemstone. This is green variety of Beryl. |
Courtesy : The Arkenstone, iRocks.com |
| 2.Light Blue = Aquamarine –Fe (Iron) | Aquamarine, is the blue variety of beryl. It has aqua like blue colour. The aquamarine gemstones are beautiful and used in jewelry. |
Courtesy: The Arkenstone, iRocks.com |
| 3.Pink = Morgonite Mn (Magniece) | Morganite is named after the banker J.P. Morgan. This is pink variety of Beryl |  |
| 4.Yellow = Heliodor | Heliodor include light green, yellow, greenish yellow varieties of beryl. |
Courtesy The Arkenstone, iRocks.com |
| 5.Colorless White = Goshenite | Goshenite is commonly colorless beryl. Its colour goes from white to colourless. |  |
| 6.Light Green = Green Beryl – Fe(Iron) | Green Beryl has light green colour which can be turned into blue Aquamarine after heating. |  |
| 7. Red = Red Beryl – Magniece | Red Beryl, is also called as Bixbite. This is rare variety of beryl. It has deep red colour and only variety found in 2 localities Utah. |  |
| 8. Dark Blue = Maxixe |  |
Common Mineral Association
Quartz, Muscovite, Albite, Orthoclase, Calcite, Pyrite, Spodumene, Tourmaline, Apatite
Distinguish Mineral Assosiation
Apatite - Significantly softer (5).
Quartz - Softer (7), usually terminated, and crystals striated horizontally (whereas Beryl striated vertically).
Feldspars - Softer (6), have good cleavage.
Topaz - Different crystal forms. (Though difficult to distinguish in massive form).
Tourmaline - Different crystals forms, crystals heavily striated.
Noteworthy Localities
- Afghanistan has morgantie, emeralds, aquamarine in the Provinces of Laghman, Konar, Nuristan, and Nangarhar (especially Darra-i-Pech).
- Brazil produce finest quality of morgantie, aquamarine.
- USA
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Pakistan
- Burma
- Namibia
- Ethopia
- Zambia
- Columbia
- Madagascar
- Nigeria
- Eygpt
- Austria
Author: Rozina Gulzar