Aquamarine and Some Beryl

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Questions and Answers

What is the typical crystal structure of Aquamarine?

Orthorhombic crystal system

Cubic crystal system

Tetragonal crystal system

Six-sided columns with flat faces at their ends (correct)

What is the typical size range of Imperial crystals of Topaz?

2.5 cm to 20 cm in length with 10 cm diameter (correct)

Up to 1 meter in length

1-5 cm in length

5-10 cm in length

What is the effect of heat treatment on Aquamarine?

Removes the blue color leaving the gem colorless

Enhances the yellow color

Removes the yellow leaving the pure blue (correct)

Creates a pink color

Which country is the most significant source of Aquamarine?

Brazil Signup and view all the answers

What is the phenomenon exhibited by Aquamarine?

Pleochroism Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical weight range of large Aquamarine crystals?

Up to 45 kg (100 lbs) Signup and view all the answers

What is the treatment used to restore the color of Maxixe Beryl?

Irradiation Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical color of Aquamarine after heat treatment?

Blue Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a country of origin for Aquamarine?

Russia Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of heat treatment on Yellow Beryl?

Turns it into an Aquamarine color Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of most Aquamarine in terms of inclusions?

Typically eye clean Signup and view all the answers

What is the main synthetic process for Aquamarine?

Hydrothermal synthetic from Russia Signup and view all the answers

What is a common imitation material for Aquamarine?

Pale blue glass, treated blue topaz, synthetic spinel Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical cut for Aquamarine?

Emerald cut or round brilliant Signup and view all the answers

What is the major cutting center for Aquamarine?

Idar-Oberstein, Germany Signup and view all the answers

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

Hydrothermal synthesis Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical clarity of Aquamarine and Yellow Beryl?

Typically eye clean Signup and view all the answers

What is the origin of hydrothermal synthetic Aquamarine?

Russia Signup and view all the answers

What other types of jewelry is Aquamarine found in?

Used in pendants, brooches, and rings Signup and view all the answers

What is the synthetic Aquamarine material that is colored by cobalt?

Synthetic blue spinel Signup and view all the answers

What is the most valuable type of Topaz, characterized by its medium reddish orange to orange-red color?

Imperial Topaz Signup and view all the answers

In which country is the market for Aquamarine the strongest?

China Signup and view all the answers

What is the chemical composition of Aquamarine, which affects its color?

Trace elements of iron Signup and view all the answers

What is the range of colors exhibited by Aquamarine?

Blue, very slightly greenish blue, greenish blue, or green-blue Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the color of Aquamarine, which makes it highly valuable?

Moderately strong medium-dark blue Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of Morganite, which is a type of Beryl?

It is a Pink Beryl Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of Red Beryl, which is a type of Beryl?

It has a Rasberry red, purplish red to orange-red hue Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of Yellow/Golden Beryl, which is a type of Beryl?

It has a rich shade of yellow and gold Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of Green Beryl ?

It has a very strongly bluish green color Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the chemical composition of Green Beryl, which affects its color?

Trace elements of iron and perhaps some chromium Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Topaz and Beryl

Topaz and Beryl are two varieties of minerals with distinct characteristics and properties.

Sources of Red Beryl

Afghanistan, Mozambique, Namibia, and the US are minor and inconsistent sources of Red Beryl.
The Wah Wah Mountains in Utah, US, was a significant source, but the mine closed in the early 2000s.

Sources of Yellow Beryl

Minas Gerais, Brazil, is a significant source of Yellow Beryl.
Namibia, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka are other sources of Yellow Beryl.

Sources of Green Beryl

Brazil, Zimbabwe, and Australia are sources of Green Beryl.

Cutting Styles

Topaz is often cut into oval, pears, and emeralds due to its elongated crystal structure.
It's often placed in protective mounting due to cleavage issues.
Aquamarine is cut into emerald cuts or round or oval brilliants.
Red Beryl is often cut into melee sizes, with an average faceted Red Beryl weighing 0.15 ct.
Yellow Beryl is typically cut into emerald cuts and placed in rings, brooches, pendants, or earrings.

Clarity Characteristics

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

Synthetic Process

Aquamarine can be synthesized using the hydrothermal process in Russia.
Morganite (Pink Beryl) can also be synthesized using the hydrothermal process in Russia.

Imitation Materials

Aquamarine can be imitated using treated blue topaz, pale blue glass, and synthetic blue spinel colored by cobalt.
Maxixe Beryl can be irradiated to create a blue color.

Trade Names

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

Cutting and Trading Centers

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

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Description

Learn about the different types of Beryl, including Aquamarine, Morganite, and Red Beryl, and their characteristics, such as crystal structure and trace elements. Also, discover Topaz's unique features.