Chrysoberyl is a relatively rare mineral found mainly in granitic pegmatites. Often forms germination tees. Well-formed chrysoberyl crystals are a valuable collectible material, the value of which can be several times higher than its value in a piece of jewelry. Not being generally a precious stone, it has a precious variety - alexandrite.
You can see chrysoberyl stone for sale and buy it in the Minerals of Russia online store.
General | |
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Category | Oxide minerals |
Formula (repeating unit) |
BeAl2O4 |
IMA symbol | Cbrl |
Strunz classification | 4.BA.05 |
Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
Crystal class | Dipyramidal (mmm) H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
Space group | Pbnm |
Unit cell | a = 5.481 Å, b = 9.415 Å, c = 4.428 Å; Z = 4 |
Identification | |
Color | Various shades of green, emerald-green yellow, blue, brownish to greenish black, may be raspberry-red under incandescent light when chromian; colorless, pale shades of yellow, green, or red in transmitted light |
Crystal habit | Crystals tabular or short prismatic, prominently striated |
Twinning | Contact and penetration twins common, often repeated forming rosette structures |
Cleavage | Distinct on {110}, imperfect on {010}, poor on {001} |
Fracture | Conchoidal to uneven |
Tenacity | Brittle |
Mohs scale hardness | 8.5 |
Luster | Vitreous |
Streak | White |
Specific gravity | 3.5–3.84 |
Optical properties | Biaxial (+) |
Refractive index | nα=1.745 nβ=1.748 nγ=1.754 |
Pleochroism | X = red; Y = yellow-orange; Z = emerald-green |
2V angle | Measured: 70° |
References | [2][3][4][5] |
Major varieties | |
Alexandrite | Color change; green to red |
Cymophane | Chatoyant |