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Alexandrite

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Alexandrite

Carnaíba mining district, Pindobaçu, Campo Formoso ultramafic complex, Bahia, Brazil
Alexandrite

Carnaíba mining district, Pindobaçu, Campo Formoso ultramafic complex, Bahia, Brazil
Alexandrite

Malacacheta district, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Alexandrite

Carnaíba mining district, Pindobaçu, Campo Formoso ultramafic complex, Bahia, Brazil
Alexandrite

Carnaíba mining district, Pindobaçu, Campo Formoso ultramafic complex, Bahia, Brazil
Alexandrite

Malacacheta district, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Alexandrite

Carnaíba mining district, Pindobaçu, Campo Formoso ultramafic complex, Bahia, Brazil
Alexandrite

Carnaíba mining district, Pindobaçu, Campo Formoso ultramafic complex, Bahia, Brazil
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 exibits 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.


Classification of Alexandrite

Chemical Properties of Alexandrite

Formula:
BeAl2O4
Elements listed in formula:
Al, Be, O - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Other Names for Alexandrite

Synonyms:

Diaphanite

Name in Other Languages:
German:Alexandrit
Spanish:Alexandrita

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:
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.

http://www.alexandrite.net/

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

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https://www.mindat.org/min-109.html
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    Localities for Alexandrite

    This 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.
    (TL) indicates type locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) indicates first recorded locality for everything else. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Australia
     
    • Western Australia
      • Cue Shire
        • Poona
    		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
      • Dowerin Shire
    		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
     
    • Bahia
      • Campo Formoso ultramafic complex
        • Pindobaçu
    • Goiás
      • Minaçu
    		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.
    • Minas Gerais
      • Antônio Dias
        • Hematita
    		; Emeralds of the World English extraLapis Vol. 2 2002 pp46-51
      • Ferros
    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
        • Setubinha
    		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
      • Mucuri valley
    		Proctor, K. (1984). Gem pegmatites of Minas Gerais, Brazil: exploration, occurrence, and aquamarine deposits. Gems and Gemology, 20(2), 78-100.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Liberec Region
        • Jizerské Mtn (Iser Mtn)
    		geological prospecting, 2008 - 2009, Czech geological Organization
    India
     
    • Chattisgarh (Chhattisgarh)
      • Raipur District
    		Gem Stone Occurrences in Chhattisgarh. Directorate of Geology and Mining, Chhattisgarh
    Madagascar
     
    • Fianarantsoa Province
      • Horombe Region
        • Ihosy District
          • Ilakaka Commune
    		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.
      • Vatovavy-Fitovinany Region
        • Mananjary District
          • Mananjary emerald District
            • North Zone
    		JULIEN RAOUL
    Myanmar
     
    • Mandalay Region (Mandalay Division)
      • Pyin-Oo-Lwin District
    		http://www.ruby-sapphire.com/r-s-bk-burma2.htm
          • Kyatpyin Central
    		Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
          • Kyatpyin North
    		Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
          • Mogok Valley
    		Themelis, Ted, 2008, Gems and Mines of Mogok.; Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
    • Shan State
      • Loilem District (Loilen District)
    		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
     
    • Urals Region
      • Middle Urals
        • Sverdlovskaya Oblast'
    		[MinRec 32:41]
            • Malyshevo
              • Izumrudnye Kopi area
    		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
    Spain
     
    • Galicia
      • Pontevedra
        • A Cañiza
    		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
     
    • Sabaragamuwa Province
      • Ratnapura District
    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
    • Western Province
      • Kalutara District
    Tanzania
     
    • Arusha Region
      • Dumbawanga District
    		http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/tanzania-mines.htm
      • Lake Manyara
    		Emeralds of the World English extraLapis Vol. 2 2002 pp24-35
    • Ruvuma Region
      • Tunduru District
    		Macfarlane, M., Tallontire, A., & Martin, A. (2003). Towards an Ethical Jewellery Business. Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, London.
    USA
     
    • New Mexico
      • Rio Arriba Co.
        • Petaca District
    		Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd rev. Ed., 1996
    Zimbabwe
     
    • Masvingo
    		Cairncross, B. (2004) Field Guide To Rocks & Minerals Of Southern Africa: 74.
      • Masvingo (Fort Victoria)
    		[www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com]
    J. E. Shigley et al. (2010), Gem Localities of the 2000s, Gems and Gemology, Fall 2010, pp. 188–216; Cairncross, B. (2004) Field Guide To Rocks & Minerals Of Southern Africa: 74.
    • Matabeleland South
    		Cairncross, B. (2004) Field Guide To Rocks & Minerals Of Southern Africa: 74.
    • Midlands
      • Gweru District (Gwelo District)
        • Somabula
    		Cairncross, B. (2004) Field Guide To Rocks & Minerals Of Southern Africa: 74.
    Mineral and/or Locality  
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