BERYL – EMERALD, AQUAMARINE & OTHERS

Emeralds and Aquamarines are different color varieties of the mineral Beryl. They have the same crystal structure and basic chemical composition, the formula is Be₃Al₂(SiO₃)₆.

There are other Beryls also, the soft pink Morganite, the bright Yellow Heliodore and the colorless Goshenite. For now we will concentrate on the two best known of the group, Emeralds and Aquamarines.

The name Emerald is derived originally from a Persian word, zomorrod, through Greek and Latin to middle English of Emeraude and the modern name of Emerald in the sixteenth century. The earliest known appearance of the gem was about 4,000 BCE in Babylon, the earliest known Gem Market. Emerald was dedicated to the Goddess Venus and the birthstone for May. Emerald is steeped in superstition and is the symbol for immortality and faith and if it changes color it reveals the inconsistency of lovers. Emerald is said to be beneficial to the eyes.

Historically the earliest known mines for Emeralds were by the Red Sea in Egypt, the so-called Cleopatra’s emerald mines. They were worked from about 2000 BCE to the middle ages and were then forgotten. Found again in 1818 and reworked they proved to be unprofitable due to low quality and low production

Emerald owes its beautiful deep green color to a trace chromium ion (Cr₂O₃) and a trace of vanadium and iron.

Austria from Roman times near Salzburg was the early European location for Emerald. The most famous and prolific locale for emerald is Columbia, South America. They were discovered by the native peoples there ages ago and one of the main reasons Pizarro ruthlessly conquered and despoiled Peru. The mines are in the Eastern Andes north of Bogata in Muzo and Cosquez and the newer mines in Pena Blanca and El Chivor.

In the 1550’s the hunt was on in Brazil for what was a legend of vast stores of Emeralds. These proved to be true and Brazil now is a major source for emerald in the world today.

Tanzania in Africa is a recent Emerald source of very good color and quality. Other locations are in Russia, Australia and South Africa, but one of the oldest and best sources for emerald is India. Not officially noted as an Emerald find until 1943 but used for 1500 years in native jewelry and called green Beryl not Emerald. The Indian Emerald s vary greatly in color and quality. Zambian Emerald from southern Africa has been an exceptional source of high quality gem emerald since the 1970’s. The other known sources are West Pakistan, Norway, North Carolina and Mozambique

Aquamarine is found in the same locales as other Beryls in Brazil and are found in large pale to dark blue-gteen crystals of considerable size. Unlike emerald they are not as flawed and produce large beautiful cut stones. Sometimes the crystals are heated to bring out the blue color and remove the yellow or brown color in the rough.

Aqua is also found in the Ural Mountains of Russia and many locales in the USA. It is also found in Burma, Rhodesia, India Tanzania and Argentina.

The other three colors of Beryl are pink Morganite, yellow Heliodor, and colorless Goshenite. Not as popularity because of it resemblance to Pink Tourmaline and Pink Sapphire and it is less expensive. Heliodor has a lot of less expensive competition like Citrine and more expensive Imperial Topaz and is not really in demand. The least in demand is Goshenite, the colorless stone with a low refractive index and not much sparkle to it. It does have collectors value.

Whichever you choose in Beryl, From one of the most expensive gems in Emerald to an inexpensive Goshenite you’ll find something to fit your style and budget.