Alexandrite
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About Alexandrite
Tsar Alexander II
Formula:
BeAl2O4
Name:
Named in 1842 by Nils Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld in honor of Alexander II (1818-81), Czar of Russia, 1855-81.
A variety of Chrysoberyl
Green chromian variety of chrysoberyl (intermediate member of Chrysoberyl-Mariinskite series) that exhibits a color change in natural and artificial light from green to amethystine (Alexandrite effect).
Originally reported from Emerald mines (Izumrudnye Kopi; Malyshevskoye deposit), Malyshevo, Ekaterinburg (Yekaterinburg; Sverdlovsk), Sverdlovskaya Oblast', Urals Region, Russia.
Effective substition of Fe3+ on the mirror-symmetry site has a strong effect to the Cr3+ lifetime, Cr being responsible for the color effects.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Alexandrite.
Green chromian variety of chrysoberyl (intermediate member of Chrysoberyl-Mariinskite series) that exhibits a color change in natural and artificial light from green to amethystine (Alexandrite effect).
Originally reported from Emerald mines (Izumrudnye Kopi; Malyshevskoye deposit), Malyshevo, Ekaterinburg (Yekaterinburg; Sverdlovsk), Sverdlovskaya Oblast', Urals Region, Russia.
Effective substition of Fe3+ on the mirror-symmetry site has a strong effect to the Cr3+ lifetime, Cr being responsible for the color effects.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Alexandrite.
Pronounciation of Alexandrite
Pronounciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon & Katya Ralph | United Kingdom |
Chemical Properties of Alexandrite
Formula:
BeAl2O4
Elements listed:
Synonyms of Alexandrite
Other Language Names for Alexandrite
German:Alexandrit
Spanish:Alexandrita
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 8 photos of Alexandrite associated with Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 8 photos of Alexandrite associated with Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| 5 photos of Alexandrite associated with Chrysoberyl | BeAl2O4 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Alexandrite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Nordenskiöd (1842) Russ. Ges. Min. Schr.
Wild, Klemm (1926) Zentralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 31.
Palache, C., Berman, H., Frondel, C. (1944) The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 718.
Schmetzer K., Bank H., Gübelin E. (1980) The alexandrite effect in minerals: chrysoberyl, garnet, corundum, fluorite. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie Abhandlungen: 138: 147-164.
Schmetzer, K. (2010) Russian alexandrites. Schweizerbar Science Publishers, Stuttgart 2010. 141p.
Voll, E., Pimenta, V.B. (1997) Mapeamento geológico da área garimpeira de alexandrita entre Setubinha e Malacacheta, MG. Trabalho Geológico de Graduação, IGC-UFMG, 52 p.
Basílio, M.S., Pedrosa-Soares, A.C., Jordt-Evangelista, H. (2013) Depósitos de alexandrita de Malacacheta, Minas Gerais. Revista Geonomos: 8(1):47-54.
Schmetzer, K., Hyršl, J., Bernhardt, H.-J., Hainschwang, T. (2014) Purple to Reddish Purple Chrysoberyl from Brazil. Journal of Gemmology: 34(1): 32-40.
Ollier, N., Fuchs, Y., Cavani, O., Horn, A.H., Rossano, S. (2015): Influence of impurities on Cr3+ luminescence properties in Brazilian emerald and alexandrite. European Journal of Mineralogy: 27(6): 783-792
Internet Links for Alexandrite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-109.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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Localities for Alexandrite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Groat, L.A., Giuliani, G., Marshall, D.D., and Turner, D. (2008): Ore Geology Reviews 34, 87-112. |
| Fetherston, J., Stocklmayer, S., Stocklmayer, V(2013): Gemstones of WA, Geological Survey of WA | |
| MinMag 66(6):985-1002 |
| Downes, P. J., & Bevan, A. W. R. (2002). Chrysoberyl, beryl and zincian spinel mineralization in granulite-facies Archaean rocks at Dowerin, Western Australia. Mineralogical Magazine, 66(6), 985-1002 | |
Brazil | Gübelin, E. and Wolgensinger, M. (1976) Edelstenen. Uitgeverij Artis, Brussel (in Dutch). |
| Sauer, J.R. (1982) Brazil, Paradise of Gemstones. Gemological Institute of America, 135 pp. (p. 66). |
| Gift from old miner native |
| Petersen Jr, K. J., Schultz-Güttler, R. A., & da Silveira Bello, R. M. (2008). Alexandrita do pela ema, Minaçu/Go: inclusões fluidas e condições genéticas. Brazilian Journal of Geology, 32(3), 307-316. |
| ; Emeralds of the World English extraLapis Vol. 2 2002 pp46-51 |
| |
| Basílio, M.S., Pedrosa-Soares, A.C., and Jordt-Evangelista, H. (2000) Depósitos de alexandrita de Malacacheta, Minas Gerais. Geonomos, 8(1), 47-54. | |
| Basílio, M. S., Pedrosa-Soares, A. C., & Jordt-Evangelista, H. (2013). Depósitos de alexandrita de Malacacheta, Minas Gerais. Revista Geonomos, 8(1) pp47-54 | |
| Basílio, M. S., Pedrosa-Soares, A. C., & Jordt-Evangelista, H. (2013). Depósitos de alexandrita de Malacacheta, Minas Gerais. Revista Geonomos, 8(1) pp47-54 |
| Basílio, M. S., Pedrosa-Soares, A. C., & Jordt-Evangelista, H. (2013). Depósitos de alexandrita de Malacacheta, Minas Gerais. Revista Geonomos, 8(1) pp47-54 | |
| Basílio, M. S., Pedrosa-Soares, A. C., & Jordt-Evangelista, H. (2013). Depósitos de alexandrita de Malacacheta, Minas Gerais. Revista Geonomos, 8(1) pp47-54 | |
| Proctor, K. (1984). Gem pegmatites of Minas Gerais, Brazil: exploration, occurrence, and aquamarine deposits. Gems and Gemology, 20(2), 78-100. | |
Czech Republic | |
| geological prospecting, 2008 - 2009, Czech geological Organization |
India | |
| Gem Stone Occurrences in Chhattisgarh. Directorate of Geology and Mining, Chhattisgarh |
Madagascar | |
| Giuliani, G., Fallick, A., Rakotondrazafy, M., Ohnenstetter, D., Andriamamonjy, A., Ralantoarison, T., Rakotosamizanany, S., Razanatseheno, M., Offant, Y., Garnier, V., Dunaigre, C., Schwarz, D., Mercier, A., Ratrimo, V., and Ralison, B. (2007): Mineralium Deposita 42, 251-270. |
| JULIEN RAOUL |
Myanmar | |
| http://www.ruby-sapphire.com/r-s-bk-burma2.htm; Mason, A. (1976) The world of Rocks and Minerals. New York, N.Y., Larousse & Co., 108 pages. |
| Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok |
| Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok |
| Themelis, Ted, 2008, Gems and Mines of Mogok.; Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok |
| Kyaw Khaing Win (2004): A study on gemstones occurrences of Monghsu and its environs. Unpublishes M.Res. thesis, University of Yangon, Department of Geology. |
Russia | |
| Popov, M. P., Sorokina, E. S., Kononkova, N. N., Nikolaev, A. G., & Karampelas, S. (2019, June). New Data on the Genetic Linkage of the Beryl and Chrysoberyl Chromophores of the Ural’s Emerald Mines with Chromium-Bearing Spinels of the Bazhenov Ophiolite Complex. In Doklady Earth Sciences (Vol. 486, No. 2, pp. 630-633). Pleiades Publishing. |
| E. Y. Kievlenko (2003) Geology of Gems, 82-83 | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov data | |
| E. Y. Kievlenko (2003) Geology of Gems, 82-83 | |
| Avdonin V.N., Polenov Yu.A. (2004) Essays on Uralian minerals, - UGGA press, p. 419 (in Rus.). | |
| E. Y. Kievlenko (2003) Geology of Gems, 82-83 | |
| [MinRec 32:41] | |
Spain | |
| Martin-Izard, A., Paniagua, A., Moreiras, D. (1995) Metasomatism at a granitic pegmatite-dunite contact in Galicia: the Franqueira occurrence of chrysoberyl (alexandrite), emerald, and phenakite. Canadian Mineralogist, 33, 775-792. |
Sri Lanka | Gübelin, E., Wolgensinger, M. (1976) Edelstenen. Uitgeverij Artis, Brussel (in Dutch).;
Mason, A. (1976) The world of Rocks and Minerals. New York, N.Y., Larousse & Co., 108 pages. |
| |
| http://gemexplorer.org/archives/ratnapura-sri-lanka; Shigley, J. E., Dirlam, D. M., Laurs, B. M., Boehm, E. W., Bosshart, G., & Larson, W. F. (2000). Gem localities of the 1990s. Gems & Gemology, 36(4), 292-335. | |
| Econ Geol (1981) 76:733-738 | |
| |
Tanzania | |
| Emeralds of the World English extraLapis Vol. 2 2002 pp24-35 |
| http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/tanzania-mines.htm |
| Macfarlane, M., Tallontire, A., & Martin, A. (2003). Towards an Ethical Jewellery Business. Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, London. |
USA | |
| Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd rev. Ed., 1996 |
Zimbabwe | |
| Cairncross, B. (2004) Field Guide To Rocks & Minerals Of Southern Africa: 74. |
| [www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com] |
| Gübelin, E. and Wolgensinger, M. (1976) Edelstenen. Uitgeverij Artis, Brussel (in Dutch).; Cairncross, B. (2004) Field Guide To Rocks & Minerals Of Southern Africa: 74. Shigley, J.E. et al. (2010) Gem Localities of the 2000s. Gems and Gemology, Fall 2010, 188–216.; | |
| Cairncross, B. (2004) Field Guide To Rocks & Minerals Of Southern Africa: 74. |
| Cairncross, B. (2004) Field Guide To Rocks & Minerals Of Southern Africa: 74. |
Carnaíba mining district, Pindobaçu, Bahia, Brazil