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Evaluating
Gem Diamonds
Color
varieties of beryl include: emerald (green), aquamarine
(blue, blue-green), morganite (pink, pale yellow-orange),
goshenite (color¬less), and heliodor, or golden
beryl (yellow, orange).Beryl crystals occur throughout
the world. Non-gemmy crystals can reach dimensions of
several feet and weigh many tons.
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The
mineral. consisting of beryllium aluminum silicate,
is the chief ore of beryllium and is mined extensively
for this metal content. Gem beryl, of course, is usually
not ground up as ore. |
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Emerald
crystals never reach very large size, but huge, transparent
masses of aquamarine and other color va¬rieties have been
found. Occasionally giant-sized gems are cut from such crystals,
but these thousand-carat baubles are museum curiosities rather
than jewelry items.
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DIAMONDS,
GEMSTONES & CRYSTALS
FACTS & FIGURES |
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beryl is completely colorless. Traces of impurities
present during crystal growth cause the color
variations. The blue of aqua¬marine and the
yellow of heliodor are both due to the presence
of iron. Chromium produces the rich green color
of emerald. Some green beryl< colored by iron
are occasionally marketed as emerald, but technical
they should not be so termed.
The
occurrence of emerald is basically different from
that of other beryl's. Emerald is found in metamorphic
rocks, where the mode o formation restricts crystal
size. Other beryl's are typically found in pegmatite's,
which normally produce crystals of large size.
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Emerald
was dedicated by the Greeks to the goddess Venus.
Cleopatra emerald mines in Egypt were worked as
early as 2000 a.c. and provided many stones for
the craftsmen of the ancient world. For century
emerald has been a wellspring of mystery and superstition.
It is the symbol of immortality and of faith.
It was once believed that gazing at are emerald
was beneficial to the eyes. |
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The
subtle change of color that the gem sometimes displays was
thought to verify the inconsistency o lovers. The magical
powers of emerald are no longer believed, yet the gem still
does possess a definite mystique. It is one of the most high
prized of all gems, as well as one of the rarest and most
valuable. |
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