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Fakes & FraudsVorobyevite -- Pakistan -- do they exist?

29th Nov 2016 17:06 UTCScott Rider

Regarding the odd shaped Beryl crystals coming out of Pakistan recently, I heard that these are not really vorobyevite. Has someone done an analysis of these crystals for Ce? I've seen quite a variety of these beryls and they seem to have either a tabular, truncated morphology that does fit the Rosterite/Vorobyevite crystal shapes. However, I have also seen some with etched terminations that make the crystals look very unique. But sellers are considering a lot of dark, tabular blue Aqua as vorobyevite... Not sure if they are being deceitful or just ignorant, although the latter seems to be the case.

Basically, if it is not Vorobyevite, what is it? Oddly shaped Aquamarine?

Here is a link to an example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/176-GM-Rare-VOROBEYEVITE-BERYL-Rosterite-transparent-crystals-on-matrix-AFG-/162263749746?hash=item25c7ac5472:g:O-8AAOSw5cNYF23B

I was going to try winning some auctions that have these crystals, but I want to wait now... I definitely wasn't planning on buying that $1,600 piece!!!

29th Nov 2016 17:09 UTCScott Rider

Please respond to this one, I request a deletion to the other post.

29th Nov 2016 17:19 UTCWayne Corwin

Done ;-)

29th Nov 2016 20:47 UTCSteve Hardinger 🌟 Expert

It my understanding from a well-respected dealer (who exactly, I don't remember) that analysis showed these 'vorobyevite' beryls to be nothing more than deeply blue aquamarines. They contain little to no cesium; not enough cesium to call them anything other than beryl. The one's I've sold where all labeled beryl variety aquamarine ('vorobyevite'), and each customer was told about my doubts. I have yet to see analytical data to show otherwise, although I would certainly be willing to be proven wrong. If analysis does prove 'vorobyevite' then some of the four digit prices being asked for better specimens are realistic (that is if you need a four-digit-pricetag beryl in your collection).

An ebay search for 'vorobyevite' gives forty hits, so (assuming they really are 'vorobyevite') they can't be all that rare.

29th Nov 2016 21:50 UTCMark Heintzelman 🌟 Expert

Conclusion from an earlier discussion on these: http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,105,351767,page=1

Jolyon & Katya Ralph Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Various analysis saying no significant Cs detected

> means that it cannot possibly be "Cs-rich" beryl

> as was described.

>

> I agree that the name should not be used for this

> material and I will revert it to 'beryl' on all

> samples from this locality.

>

> Jolyon

A name used to merely to enhance their value, not an apt descriptor for these morphologically interesting beryls from this occurrence.

MRH

29th Nov 2016 22:05 UTCJosé Zendrera 🌟 Manager

This matter was discussed and cleared up some time ago:

Hingganite and Vorobyevite - Raman reference spectra request

Deo Darrah, Khash & Kuran Wa Munjan Districts, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan

29th Nov 2016 23:23 UTCScott Rider

Sweet, that is exactly what I was hoping for, thanks for saving me some time and money!!!

I did a search in Mindat and didn't get any results for this discussion, so I must have been misspelling things!!! :-S

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