Mineralogy: Beryl and Topaz

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Questions and Answers

What is the term used to describe Red Beryl?

Red Emerald

Raspberry Red

Bixbite

All of the above (correct)

Which city is a major cutting center for Morganite?

Jaipur, India (correct)

Idar-Oberstein, Germany

Thailand

Shenzhen, China (correct)

What is the average faceted weight of Red Beryl?

5 ct

1 ct

0.15 ct (correct)

0.5 ct

What is the term used to describe Pink Beryl?

Morganite Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of Red Beryl inclusions?

Fingerprint and two-phase inclusions Signup and view all the answers

What is the trade name for orange-to-yellow to brown topaz?

Sherry Topaz Signup and view all the answers

Which country is known for its hydrothermal synthetic Aquamarine?

Russia Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of Yellow Beryl?

Typically eye clean Signup and view all the answers

Which city is not a major cutting center for Topaz?

India Signup and view all the answers

What is the trade name for Red Beryl?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical crystal structure of Red Beryl?

Orthorhombic crystal system Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical color of Morganite (Pink Beryl) due to the presence of what element?

Pink due to manganese Signup and view all the answers

What is a common phenomenon observed in Morganite (Pink Beryl)?

Pleochroism Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary source of Red Beryl?

Brazil Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical treatment for Red Beryl?

Clarity treatment Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical phenomenon observed in Red Beryl?

Pleochroism Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between Morganite and Red Beryl?

Color Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary source of Morganite (Pink Beryl)?

Brazil Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical treatment for Morganite (Pink Beryl)?

Heat treatment Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of Red Beryl that distinguishes it from other types of Beryl?

Rarity Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic color of Red Beryl?

Raspberry red Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary source of Morganite?

Igneous rocks- pegmatite Signup and view all the answers

What is the hue of Morganite due to the presence of what element?

Manganese Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of Red Beryl that distinguishes it from other types of Beryl?

Its color Signup and view all the answers

Which market is known to prefer Imperial Topaz?

German market Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical color of Morganite?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

Which element is responsible for the natural pink and red colors in Topaz?

Chromium Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of Morganite that makes it susceptible to fading?

Prolonged exposure to heat and sunlight Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of Topaz?

Allochromatic Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical color of Imperial Topaz?

Medium reddish orange to orange-red Signup and view all the answers

What are trade terms for Blue Topaz ?

All the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the source rock for Topaz ?

igneous rocks like granite and pegmatite Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Beryl Group

Beryl is a mineral group that includes various colors and varieties, such as Aquamarine, Morganite, Red Beryl, Yellow Beryl, and Green Beryl.

Topaz

Topaz is a mineral that can be colorless, red, pink, purple, yellow, orange, and brown, as well as blue and green.
Imperial Topaz is the most valuable, with a medium reddish orange to orange-red color.
Red Topaz is rare and highly cherished, while pink topaz resembles pink diamond.
Golden or yellow topaz are the least valuable.

Crystal Structure

Topaz has an orthorhombic crystal system, typically elongated with strong parallel grooves or striations.
Aquamarine has a typically six-sided columns with flat faces at their ends, with crystals ranging from very small to very large (up to 45 kg or 100 lbs).

Possible Phenomena

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

Treatments

Topaz is often heat-treated or irradiated to create or change colors, such as turning yellow to reddish topaz into a salmon to purple-red color.
Aquamarine is often heat-treated to remove yellow, resulting in a pure blue color.
Morganite (Pink Beryl) is heat-treated and irradiated to enhance its color.

Countries of Origin

Topaz is mined in Brazil, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, and the US.
Aquamarine is primarily sourced from Brazil, Pakistan, Australia, Vietnam, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, the US, and Zambia.
Morganite (Pink Beryl) is mainly sourced from Brazil, Afghanistan, Mozambique, Namibia, and the US.

Common Cuts

Topaz is often cut into oval, pear, and emerald shapes due to its elongated crystal structure.
Aquamarine is often cut into emerald or round brilliant shapes, with fancy cuts and ornamental shapes.
Red Beryl is typically cut into melee sizes, with an average faceted size of 0.15 ct.

Clarity Characteristics

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

Synthetic Process

Aquamarine is hydrothermally synthesized in Russia.
Morganite (Pink Beryl) is hydrothermally synthesized in Russia.

Imitation Materials

Aquamarine is often imitated with treated blue topaz, pale blue glass, and synthetic blue spinel colored by cobalt.

Trade Names

"Rose Topaz" is used for pink topaz, while "Sherry Topaz" refers to orange-to-yellow to brown 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".

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Description

Learn about the formation and characteristics of Beryl and Topaz, including their crystal structures and trace elements.