Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Beryl

Big Photo

Shengus (Shingus), Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan
© John Sobolewski

Show Beryl Photos (473)
Formula:
Be
 
3
Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
18
System:HexagonalColour:Green, blue, yellow, ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:7½ - 8
Name:Possibly from the Greek "beryllos" which refered to a number of blue-green stones in antiquity.


Largest beryl crystal was 18 m long and 3.5 m wide from Malakialina, Madagascar.

Classification of Beryl

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/E.12-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.CJ.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
J : [Si6O18]12- 6-membered single rings (sechser-Einfachringe), without insular complex anions
Dana 8th edition ID:61.1.1.1

61 : CYCLOSILICATES Six-Membered Rings
1 : Six-Membered Rings with [Si6O18] rings; possible (OH) and Al substitution
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.6.1

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
6 : Aluminosilicates of Be
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-819.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Occurrences of Beryl

Geological Setting:Commonly found in pegmatites. Red beryl is found in topaz rhyolites.

Physical Properties of Beryl

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Green, blue, yellow, white, pink, etc.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):7½ - 8
Cleavage:Imperfect/Fair
{0001}
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.63 - 2.92 g/cm3

Crystallography of Beryl

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Cell Parameters:a = 9.21Å, c = 9.19Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.998
Unit Cell Volume:V 675.10 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
Click on an icon to view
Beryl no.12 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Beryl no.23 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Beryl no.24 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Beryl no.32 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Beryl no.98 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Beryl - Tabular {001}

About Crystal Atlas

You may need to scroll this box using your mouse to view the full instructions.

The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

The 3d models and java code are kindly provided by www.smorf.nl. You can control the movement of the models by holding down the left mouse-button over the 3d model and moving your mouse. Keyboard controls are:

: default positions
t/T: decrease/increase transparency x/X: next/previous texture
b/B: next/previous background w: toggle wireframe
s: toggle sticks m: toggle miller indices
k: toggle crystallographic axes =/-: zoom in/out
r: stop/start rotation 1/2/3


Note: You will not be able to switch between different crystal models using the Opera 8.5x web browser due to a bug in Opera - you need to use either Firefox or Internet Explorer 6/7 or Opera 9.
Structure
  Reference
Artioli G Rinaldi R Stahl K Zanazzi P F (1993) Structure refinements of beryl by single-crystal neutron and X-ray diffraction Sample no. 2, aquamarine, probed with neutrons, T = 295 K. American Mineralogist 78:762-768.

Show
Unit Cell | Structure | Polyhedra

Style
Black Background | White Background

Rotation
Stop | Start

Labels
Label Atoms | Off

More Crystal Structures
Click here to view more crystal structures at the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Beryl

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.568 - 1.602 nε = 1.564 - 1.595
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.004 - 0.007

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate

Chemical Properties of Beryl

Formula:
Be
 
3
Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
18
Essential elements:Al, Be, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Be, O, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,Mn,Mg,Ca,Cr,Na,Li,Cs,O,H,OH,H2O,K,Rb

Relationship of Beryl to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.CJ.05Bazzite
Be
 
3
Sc
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
18
9.CJ.05Indialite
Mg
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
18
9.CJ.05Stoppaniite
(Fe,Al,Mg)
 
4
(Na,[ ])
 
2
[Be
 
6
Si
 
12
O
 
36
]·2(H2O)
9.CJ.05Pezzottaite
Cs(Be
 
2
Li)Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
18
9.CJ.10Cordierite
(Mg,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
18
9.CJ.10Sekaninaite
(Fe,Mg)
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
18
9.CJ.15Combeite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
9
9.CJ.15Kazakovite
Na
 
6
Ti[Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
]
9.CJ.15Lovozerite
(Na,Ca)
 
3
(Zr,Ti)[Si
 
6
(O,OH)
 
18
]
9.CJ.15Tisinalite
Na
 
3
H
 
3
(Mn,Ca,Fe)TiSi
 
6
(O,OH)
 
18
·2H
 
2
O
9.CJ.15Zirsinalite
Na
 
6
(Ca,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)Zr[Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.CJ.15Litvinskite
Na
 
2
([],Na,Mn)ZrSi
 
6
O
 
12
(OH,O)
 
6
9.CJ.15Kapustinite
Na
 
5
(Na,Mn
2+
 
)
 
<1
Zr[Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
]
9.CJ.20Imandrite
Na
 
12
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
2
[Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
 
2
9.CJ.20Koashvite
Na
 
6
(Ca,Mn)(Ti,Fe)Si
 
6
O
 
18
·H
 
2
O
9.CJ.25Baratovite
KCa
 
7
(Ti,Zr)
 
2
Li
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
36
F
 
2
9.CJ.25Katayamalite
KCa
 
7
Ti
 
2
Li
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
36
(OH)
 
2
9.CJ.30Dioptase
CuSiO
 
2
(OH)
 
2
9.CJ.35Kostylevite
K
 
2
ZrSi
 
3
O
 
9
·H
 
2
O
9.CJ.40Petarasite
Na
 
5
Zr
 
2
[(OH,Cl)|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]·2H
 
2
O
9.CJ.45Gerenite-(Y)
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Y,REE)
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
18
·2H
 
2
O
9.CJ.50Odintsovite
K
 
2
Na
 
4
Ca
 
3
Ti
 
2
Be
 
4
Si
 
12
O
 
38
9.CJ.55Mathewrogersite
Pb
 
7
(Fe
2+
 
,Cu)Al
 
3
Ge[(OH,H
 
2
O)
 
6
|(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
16.6.2Euclase
BeAl[OH|SiO
 
4
]
16.6.3Bavenite
Ca
 
4
Be
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
9
O
 
26
(OH)
 
2
16.6.4Aminoffite
Ca
 
2
(Be,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
7
(OH)·H
 
2
O
16.6.5Milarite
K
 
2
Ca
 
4
Al
 
2
Be
 
4
Si
 
24
O
 
60
·H
 
2
O
16.6.6Lovdarite
(Na,K,Ca)
 
4
(Be,Al)
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·4H
 
2
O
16.6.7Surinamite
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
Al
 
4
BeSi
 
3
O
 
16
16.6.8Ferrotaaffeite-6N'3S
(Be,Zn,Mg)FeAl
 
4
O
 
8

Other Names for Beryl

Synonyms:
BerilBeryliteBerylleBerylls
German names:
BerylitBeryll
Italian names:
Berillo
Japanese names:
緑柱石
Russian names:
Берилл
Spanish names:
Berylita
Traditional Chinese names:
柱石
Varieties:
AeroidesAlkali-berylAméthiste Basaltine (of Egleston)AquamarineEmerald
GosheniteHeliodorMaxixe-AquamarineMorganitePachea
Red BerylRiesling BerylVorobyevite

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Beryl

Reference List:Scandale, E., Scordari, F., and Zarka, A. (1979a) étude des défauts dans des monocristaux natures de béryl. I. Observations des dislocations. Journal of Applied Crystallography: 12: 70-77.

Scandale, E., Scordari, F., and Zarka, A. (1979b) étude des défauts dans des monocristaux natures de béryl. II. Etude de croissance. Journal of Applied Crystallography: 12: 78-83.

Graziani, G., Lucchesi, S., and Scandale, E. (1990) General and Specific Growth Marks in Pegmatite Beryls. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals: 17: 379-384.

Scandale, E., Lucchesi, S., and Graziani, G. (1993) Improvements on the growth history reconstruction of a beryl crystal by growth marks. Neues Jahrbuch für Minweralogie Monatshefte: 4: 172-184.

American Mineralogist (1993): 78: 762-768.

Scandale, E. and Lucchesi, S. (2000) Growth and sector zoning in a beryl crystal. European Journal of Mineralogy: 12: 357-366.

Beryl and Its Color Varieties, Extra Lapis English No. 7.

Internet Links for Beryl

Search Engines:
  • Look for Beryl on Google
  • Look for Beryl images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Beryl on Webmineral
  • Look for Beryl on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Beryl on Wikipedia
  • Look for Beryl on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Beryl in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Beryl details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Search for Beryl at Thames Valley Minerals
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Search for Beryl on minvision.com
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Beryl specimens
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Find Beryl on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    Localities for Beryl

    Show Locality List (2293 Items)
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mineral Specimens available here.