Beryl and Topaz Gemstones

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Questions and Answers

What is the most valuable type of topaz?

Maxi Blue Topaz

London Blue Topaz

Imperial Topaz (correct)

Sky Blue Topaz

What causes natural pink, red, and violet-to-purple colors in topaz?

Chromium (correct)

Iron

Color centers

Heat treatment

What is the result of heat and sunlight on topaz?

Color enhancement

Color fading (correct)

Color change

No effect

What is the most common color of topaz?

Colorless Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for blue topaz that has undergone heat treatment?

Swiss Blue and London Blue Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between blue topaz and other types of topaz?

Heat treatment Signup and view all the answers

What is the origin of most topaz where they form in cavities?

Igneous rocks Signup and view all the answers

What is the reason for the color yellow in topaz?

Color centers Signup and view all the answers

What is the rarest type of topaz?

Red topaz Signup and view all the answers

What affects the color of topaz?

Trace elements of Chromium and color centers Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary method used to create or change the color of Topaz?

Heat treatment and radiation Signup and view all the answers

What is the desired result of heat treatment on yellow to reddish Topaz?

A salmon to purple-red color Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of coating Topaz?

To create a descriptive term like 'mango' or 'peach' Signup and view all the answers

What combination of treatments is used to produce blue hues in Topaz?

Radiation and heat Signup and view all the answers

What is the risk of heat treatment on Topaz?

It can break or cloud the stone Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of irradiation on Greenish Yellow Beryl?

To improve the color Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of heating yellow to reddish brown Topaz?

A highly saturated yellow to reddish brown color Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of heating purplish-to-bluish Topaz?

To create a pink color Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of coating certain Topaz?

To create descriptive terms like 'mango' or 'peach' Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe orange-to-yellow to brown topaz?

Sherry Topaz Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a common imitation material for aquamarine?

Pale blue glass Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe a violet-pink topaz from Pakistan?

Cyclamen Pink Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the process used to create synthetic aquamarine?

Hydrothermal synthesis Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe a pink topaz?

Rose Topaz Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a common imitation material for aquamarine?

Synthetic blue diamond Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe a yellow-to-orange topaz?

Sherry Topaz Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of inclusions in Red Beryl?

Fingerprint and two-phase inclusions, unhealed fractures, solid crystal inclusions, distinct color zoning, and growth features Signup and view all the answers

What is the synthetic process used to create aquamarine?

Hydrothermal synthetic Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical cut of Yellow Beryl?

Emerald cut, placed in rings, brooches, pendants, or earrings Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a common imitation material for aquamarine?

Natural blue sapphire Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe a yellow-to-orange to brown topaz?

Sherry topaz Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical size of a faceted Red Beryl?

0.15 ct Signup and view all the answers

What treatment is used to improve the color of Yellow Beryl?

Irradiation Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of fill fractures with colorless oils or synthetic resins in Red Beryl?

To improve the clarity of the gemstone Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of heat treatment on bluish green or greenish yellow Aquamarine?

The gemstone turns blue Signup and view all the answers

What is used to bring back the blue color of Maxixe Beryl if it has faded?

Irradiation Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of heat treatment on greenish yellow Beryl?

To turn the gemstone into a blue-green color Signup and view all the answers

What treatment is used to eliminate the yellow or orange tint in Morganite (Pink Beryl)?

Heat treatment Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of color variation in Topaz?

Defects in its crystal structure Signup and view all the answers

Which type of Beryl is known for its dark blue color that fades at different rates in the sunlight or heat?

Maxixe Beryl Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for the use of heat treatment on Topaz?

To enhance the color Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the pleochroism exhibited by Imperial Topaz?

Purplish red to reddish orange Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a common color range for Aquamarine?

Reddish orange Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of the color variation in Green Beryl?

Presence of iron Signup and view all the answers

Which type of Beryl is known for its rich shades of yellow and gold?

Yellow/Golden Beryl Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between the color of Imperial Topaz and Red Beryl?

Imperial Topaz is more orange-red Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Topaz

Largest consumers of topaz are in Eastern Asia, USA, and Europe
Preferred shades of topaz vary by region: pink and red in Eastern Asia, blue in the USA, and light yellow in Europe
Imperial topaz is the most valuable, with a medium reddish orange to orange-red color
Color range: commonly colorless, red, pink, purple, yellow, orange, brown, blue, and green
Red and pink topaz varieties are rare and highly cherished
Heat treatment is used to create or change color of topaz, but it's prone to breakage, clouding, and shattering

Aquamarine

Largest market for aquamarine is China, followed by Japan, Europe, Germany, Italy, and the USA
Color range: blue, very slightly greenish blue, greenish blue, very strongly greenish blue, or green-blue
Finest color is moderately strong medium-dark blue to slightly greenish blue
Heat treatment is used to remove yellow and produce pure blue colors
Most aquamarine is heat-treated to enhance color

Morganite (Pink Beryl)

Largest market for morganite is China and the USA
Color range: pink, rose, peach, and salmon
Trace elements of manganese are present
Found in pegmatite rocks

Red Beryl (Bixbite)

Rare and valuable with a raspberry red, purplish red to orange-red hue
Found in the Wah Wah Mountains in Utah, USA
Has inclusions of fingerprint, two-phase, and solid crystal inclusions, distinct color zoning, and growth features

Yellow/Golden Beryl

Rich shades of yellow and gold, sometimes with an orange or greenish tint
Found in pegmatite rocks in Brazil, Namibia, and Sri Lanka

Sources of Beryl and Topaz

Afghanistan, Mozambique, Namibia, and the US are minor and inconsistent sources of Red Beryl.
Wah Wah Mountains in Utah, US, are a source of Red Beryl, but the mine closed in the early 2000s.
Yellow Beryl is found in Minas Gerais, Brazil, as well as in Namibia, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka.
Green Beryl is found in Brazil, Zimbabwe, and Australia.

Characteristics of Cuts

Topaz is often cut into oval, pears, and emerald shapes due to its elongated crystal structure.
Aquamarine is often cut into emerald or round brilliants, and sometimes fancy cuts and ornamental shapes.
Red Beryl is often cut into melee sizes, with an average faceted weight of 0.15 ct, and 1 ct is considered rare.
Yellow Beryl is typically cut into emerald shapes and placed in rings, brooches, pendants, or earrings.

Clarity Characteristics

Aquamarine is often eye-clean, but may have liquid inclusions.
Red Beryl may have fingerprint and two-phase inclusions, unhealed fractures, solid crystal inclusions, distinct color zoning, and growth features.
Yellow Beryl is typically eye-clean.

Synthetic Processes

Aquamarine is often synthesized using hydrothermal methods in Russia.
Morganite (Pink Beryl) is synthesized using hydrothermal methods in Russia.

Common Imitation Materials

Aquamarine is often imitated by treated blue topaz, pale blue glass, and synthetic blue spinel colored by cobalt.
Maxixe Beryl is irradiated aquamarine.

Trade Names

"Rose Topaz" is a term used for pink topaz.
"Sherry Topaz" is orange-to-yellow to brown topaz, sometimes called "precious topaz".
"Cyclamen pink" is a violet-pink topaz from Pakistan.
Red Beryl is also known as "red emerald", "bixbite", and "raspberry red".
Yellow/Golden Beryl is also known as "heliodor".

Cutting and Trading Centers

Topaz mined in Brazil is cut in Brazil, while other important cutting centers are in Germany, Thailand, and China.
Aquamarine is cut in Idar-Oberstein, Germany.
Morganite (Pink Beryl) is cut in Shenzhen, China, and Jaipur, India.

Geological Origins

Aquamarine grows in pegmatites, and alluvial deposits yield most material.
Morganite (Pink Beryl) contains trace elements of manganese and is found in pegmatites.
Red Beryl contains trace elements of manganese and is found in fissures of rhyolite.
Yellow Beryl contains trace elements of iron.

Crystal Structure

Topaz has an orthorhombic crystal system, typically elongated with strong parallel grooves, and has basal cleavage issues.
Aquamarine has a six-sided columnar crystal structure with flat faces at its ends.

Possible Phenomena

Aquamarine exhibits pleochroism, showing near-colorless and strong blue in different crystal directions.
Morganite (Pink Beryl) exhibits distinct pleochroism, showing pale pink and a deeper violetish pink.
Red Beryl exhibits pleochroic shades of purplish red to red to orangy red.

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Description

Learn about the consumer markets and characteristics of Topaz and Beryl gemstones, including Aquamarine and Morganite. Discover the preferred shades and colors in different regions.