Name/Title
Beryl var. AquamarineEntry/Object ID
2004.1.107Description
Chemical Composition: Be3 Al2 Si6 O18
Crystal System: Hexagonal System
Description: Common Name: Aquamarine
Group Name: Silicates
Chemistry: Be3 Al2 Si6 O18
Location: Shigar Valley, Pakistan
Description: Large white plan base with cylinder shaped light blue crystals coming off of it.
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: Vitreous
Occurrence: Occurs in and embedded in pegmatites, attached in druses in pegmatites, in mica schists and hydrothermal calcite veins.
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
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.9
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: greenish-yellow variety is called Heliodor, pink variety is called Morganite, and 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 CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2004.1Source or Donor
Suomynona Mineral CollectionAcquisition Method
DonationDimensions
Width
6 inDepth
7-1/2 inLength
9 inWeight
10.11 ozDimension Notes
Dimension taken at widest pointsLocation
Location
Display Case
FS-3Room
Frieda Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
ExhibitMoved By
Ian C.Date
January 29, 2025Notes
Major mineral groups installationLocation
Display Case
FS-5Room
Frieda Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumDate
January 3, 2024
