BERYL

Photo courtesy of AfricaGems

Species:  Beryl
Mohs Hardness:  7.5 to 8 out of 10
Color:  Occurs in many colors including green, yellow, greenish yellow, blue, blue-green, red, pink and colorless.
RI:  Depends on variety
Birefringence:  Depends on variety
SR/DR/AGG:  DR
Clarity Type:  Type I (Heliodor), Type III (Emerald, Green Beryl & Bixbite)
Pleochroism:  Depends on variety
Spectrum:  Not diagnostic
Fluorescence:  Variable, not diagnostic
SG:  Depends on variety
Routine Treatments:  Heating
Additional Enhancements:  Irradiation

Beryl Facts

Beryl occurs in many different colors, including colorless.

There are several popular varieties of beryl, including emerald, aquamarine, morganite, and more.

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Beryl occurs in the following colors:

Green - Emerald
Blue - Aquamarine
Pink - Morganite
Colorless - Goshenite
Pale Green - Green Beryl
Yellow - Heliodor
Red - Bixbite

Beryl Varieties

AQUAMARINE

Aquamarine is the blue to bluish green variety of beryl.

BIXBITE

Photo courtesy of JTV

Bixbite is the deep red variety of beryl, and can only be found in Utah.

Fine quality natural beryl is very rare, and can command large premiums.

EMERALD

Emerald is the rich green variety of beryl, and is considered one of the three "Precious Gemstones", including ruby and sapphire.

GOSHENITE

Photo courtesy of JTV

​Goshenite is the colorless or white variety of beryl.

GREEN BERYL

Photo courtesy of AfricaGems

Green beryl is a pale green variety of beryl, not quite as rich of a green as emerald.

HELIODOR

​Heliodor is the greenish-yellow to yellow variety of beryl.

MORGANITE

Morganite is the pink to light purple variety of beryl.

Photos courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CMA (NAJA)