Difference between revisions of "Emerald"
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− | The trained eye should have little trouble recognizing an Emerald due to its silky green color, the main challenge however is | + | The trained eye should have little trouble recognizing an Emerald due to its silky green color, the main challenge however is distinguishing natural Emerald from the various types of synthetic Emerald. |
===Loupe=== | ===Loupe=== |
Revision as of 07:58, 23 October 2006
Emerald | |
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Chemical composition | Be3Al2(SiO3)6 Beryllium aluminum silicate |
Crystal system | Hexagonal |
Habit | Prismatic |
Cleavage | Imperfect, basal |
Fracture | Conchoidal to uneven |
Hardness | 7.5 (brittle) |
Optic nature | Uniaxial - |
Refractive index | 1.566 - 1.600 |
Birefringence | 0.004 - 0.010 |
Dispersion | Low, 0.014 |
Specific gravity | 2.67 - 2.78 |
Lustre | Vitreous |
Pleochroism | Weak to distinct |
Contents
Color
Emerald is the Chromium bearing variety of Beryl with a "grass green" color and a slight yellow or blue secondary hue. The purer the green, the finer the quality of the stone.
There are two other green varieties of Beryl that are also green, Vanadium Beryl and Green Beryl. Vanadium Beryl is also known as "Vanadium-Emerald" and can exhibit colors like the Chromium bearing cousin and is usually much less included. "Green Beryl" however is a pale green Beryl that shows more resemblance with Aquamarine and is colored by Iron. One will hardly ever confuse Green Beryl with Emerald unless you are at the selling end of the market.
Tsavorite Garnet is a gemstone that comes close to Emerald in color, but has a much "harder" color than the Chromium colored Emeralds.
Diagnostics
The trained eye should have little trouble recognizing an Emerald due to its silky green color, the main challenge however is distinguishing natural Emerald from the various types of synthetic Emerald.
Loupe
Spectroscope
Microscope
Dichroscope
Polariscope
Specific Gravity
Chelsea Colour Filter
Treatments
Sources
- Gems Their Sources, Descriptions and Identification 4th Edition (1990) - Robert Webster/ B.W. Anderson
- Secrets of the gem Trade (2003) - Richard W. Wise