South Royalston beryl locality (Clarke locality), Royalston, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, USA

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Granite pegmatite. An old gem beryl locality in South Royalston, 4 miles south of Beryl Hill.

Edward Hitchcock (1835) described the locality: "The recent discovery of a rich locality of this mineral [beryl] in South Royalston, enables me to place it as the first and most abundant of all the gems of Massachusetts. The specimens in the State Collection exhibit it in its natural state, as well as cut and polished by the lapidary. When set in gold it is often much richer in appearance than the common beryl, that goes by the name of aquamarine. Its color often approaches nearer to the genuine emerald, though some specimens have the peculiar blue color of aquamarine. Sometimes, though rarely, the color is a yellowish green, very much like the chrysolite. Hundreds of specimens have already been obtained from this spot; and the prospect is that a vast many more may be obtained. They occur in a vein of coarse granite, 10 or 12 feet wide, traversing gneiss; and the purest beryls are in the quartz. It ought, however, to be remarked that only a few of the specimens are free enough from fissures to be advantageously cut. Yet considering the large number of fine cabinet specimens that have been, and probably can be, obtained there I apprehend that no locality of beryl hitherto discovered in this country, can compare with this. My attention was first directed to it by Alden Spooner Esq. of Athol; who generously furnished me with several fine specimens."

Aquamarine, grass-green, and yellow-green beryl were found here. A beryl crystal more than 12 inches long was collected (Dana, 1844).

In Dana's 6th edition of the System of Mineralogy (1892), beryl is said to be only "found with great difficulty" at this locality.

Mineral List

Albite Beryl var: Aquamarine

'Biotite' 'Garnet' Magnetite

Microcline Muscovite Quartz

9 entries listed. 6 valid minerals.

References