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Beryl Pictures

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Light blue, mottled beryl crystals from a pegmatite.  

Olive green beryl crystals showing their typical hexagonal prism shape.

Beryl in Quartz

Beryl (Variety Emerald) in Biotite Mica.

Prismatic Beryl crystal with a cluster of Muscovite.  From Pakistan

CHEMISTRY  Be₃Al₂Si₁₆O₁₈      Beryllium aluminum silicate

CRYSTALLOGRAPHY  Hexagonal

CRYSTAL GROWTH AND HABITS  Beryl crystals are normally prismatic, often with vertical striations or grooves.

COLOR AND OTHER OPTICAL PROPERTIES  Beryl has a wide range of colors but it is typically bluish green to light yellow.  Large crystals are commonly mottled.  Gemstones designation by color are:  Aquamarine - greenish blue;  Morganite - pink;  Emerald - green;  Golden Beryl - golden yellow;  Heliodor - other shades of yellow.   

HARDNESS  7.5 - 8       

SPECIFIC GRAVITY  2.7 - 2.8       

LUSTER  Vitreous        

STREAK  White

BREAKABILITY  1 imperfect basal cleavage 

OCCURRENCE  Beryl is normally found in granitic rocks and especially pegmatites.  It is also found in mica schists.

ASSOCIATED MINERALS  Quartz, Feldspars, Muscovite, Kunzite, Tourmaline, Phenacite, Chrysoberyl and Rutile.