beryl

views updated May 08 2018

beryl Accessory mineral, Be3Al2Si6O18; sp. gr. 2.6–2.8; hardness 7.5–8.0; hexagonal; normally green, sometimes blue, yellow, or pink, and translucent to transparent; vitreous lustre; crystals hexagonal prisms, often striated, also occurs massive; cleavage perfect basal hardness; occurs extensively in cavities in granites, pegmatites, mica schists and gneisses, and associated with rutile. It is an ore mineral for beryllium. Transparent green varieties are emeralds, bluish-green are aquamarine, and pink are morganite.

beryl

views updated Jun 08 2018

beryl Mineral, beryllium silicate. Its crystals are usually hexagonal prisms of the hexagonal system. Gemstone varieties are aquamarine (pale blue-green) from Brazil; emerald (deep green) from Colombia; and morganite (pink) from Madagascar. Cut stones have little brilliance, but are valued for their intense colour. Hardness 8; r.d. 2.6–2.8.

Beryl

views updated May 18 2018

Beryl

Group of precious stones that includes emerald and aqua-marine. Colorless beryl is known as goshenite; rose beryl is called verobyerite or morganite; golden beryl is called heliodor; and there are also pale blue stones (aquamarine) and blue-green stones. Beryl was traditionally recommended for curing throat or liver disorders. It was also said to preserve wedded love and to be a good medium for magical vision.

(See also Crystal Gazing )

beryl

views updated May 29 2018

ber·yl / ˈberəl/ • n. a transparent pale green, blue, or yellow mineral consisting of a silicate of beryllium and aluminum, sometimes used as a gemstone.

beryl

views updated May 09 2018

beryl a transparent pale green, blue, or yellow mineral consisting of a silicate of beryllium and aluminium, sometimes used as a gemstone, which in early sources is taken as a type of perfect clarity.

beryl

views updated May 18 2018

beryl precious stone. XIII. — (O)F. beril (mod. béryl) — L. bēryllus — Gr. bḗrullos.