Beryl var. Heliodor

Object/Artifact

-

Crater Rock Museum

Name/Title

Beryl var. Heliodor

Entry/Object ID

2004.1.25

Description

Assemblage Zone: pegmatite dikes Chemical Composition: Be3Al2Si6O18 Crystal System: Hexagonal System Description: Common Name: Beryl var. heliodor Group Name: Silicates Chemistry: Be3Al2Si6O18 Location: Minas Gerais, Brazil Description: Medium sized crystal green with six sides. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Color is varied and includes emerald green, blue to blue-green, yellow, greenish-gold, red, colorless and pink. Luster is vitreous. Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent. Crystal System is hexagonal; 6/m 2/m 2/m Crystal Habits typically include the hexagonal prism with pincoid terminations. The terminations are often modified by many different pyramidal faces which can sometimes produce a rounded termination in the rough shape of a used pencil eraser. Cleavage is imperfect in one direction (basal). Fracture is conchoidal. Hardness is 7.5 - 8. Specific Gravity is approximately 2.6 - 2.9 (average) Streak is white. Other Characteristics: Faces on large crystals are often pitted, striated lengthwise and rough. Associated Minerals include micas, quartz, euclase, calcite, tourmalines and some feldspars. Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, lack of good cleavage, hardness and color. Fracture: conchoidal Hardness: 7 Quartz Luster: Glassy Occurrence: Heliodor is the yellow variety of beryl, the "mother of gemstones". Notable Occurrences include Colombia and some African localities for emerald; Brazil, Russia and Pakistan for aquamarine; California, Brazil, Africa, and many other localities for other beryls. Specific Gravity: 2.63-2.80 Streak: White Variety: Beryl is often unknown to the general public, even the gemstone-buying public. However, it is one of the most important gem minerals. Beryl is colorless in pure form; it is the many different impurities that give beryl its varied coloration. Without these splendid color varieties, beryl would be a rather ordinary gemstone with only average fire and brilliance. Emerald is the green variety and Aquamarine is the blue variety of beryl. Other colors of beryl are also used as gemstones but are not as well known. The greenish-yellow variety is called Heliodor. The pink variety is called Morganite. The colorless variety is called Goshenite. The name beryl is used for the red and golden varieties, which are simply called red beryl and golden beryl, respectively.

Collection

Suomynona Mineral Collection, Suomynona Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2004.1

Source or Donor

Suomynona Mineral Collection

Acquisition Method

Donation

Dimensions

Width

1-3/4 in

Depth

1 in

Length

4-3/4 in

Weight

0.62 oz

Dimension Notes

Dimension taken at widest points

Location

Location

Display Case

FS-3

Room

Frieda Smith Hall

Building

Crater Rock Museum

Category

Exhibit

Moved By

Ian C.

Date

January 29, 2025

Notes

Major mineral groups installation

Location

Display Case

FS-5

Room

Frieda Smith Hall

Building

Crater Rock Museum

Date

January 3, 2024