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Chrysoberyl

Big Photo

Tanzania
6.01 carats
© Palagems

Chrysoberyl Gemstones by Colour

This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
 
 
 
 
 

Chrysoberyl Gemstones by Size

This table shows distribution of Chrysoberyl gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:0.49 cts
Heaviest:12.01 cts
Average:3.53 cts
Total photos:17
Do you have a larger Chrysoberyl? Why not upload a photo?
0.49ct to 1.64ct1.64ct to 2.79ct2.79ct to 3.95ct3.95ct to 5.10ct5.10ct to 6.25ct6.25ct to 7.40ct7.40ct to 8.55ct8.55ct to 9.71ct9.71ct to 10.86ct10.86ct to 12.01ct
General Information
Varieties/Types:
Alexandrite - A variety of Chrysoberyl which displays a color change.
Cymophane - Chrysoberyl Cat'e eye.
Chemical Formula
BeAl
 
2
O
 
4
Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
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Physical Properties of Chrysoberyl
Mohs Hardness8.5
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
Specific Gravity3.71 to 3.76
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
TenacityBrittle
Anthony et al, Handbook of mineralogy (2001)
Cleavage QualityGood
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
More from other references
FractureUneven,Conchoidal
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) Weak conchoidalMore from other references
Optical Properties of Chrysoberyl
Refractive Index1.739 to 1.770+
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
Optical CharacterBiaxial/+,-
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
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Birefringence0.007 to 0.013
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
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PleochroismYellow - weak: colorless - light yellow - yellow-(green); Green - weak: yellowish - olive-yellow - (colorless)
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
Dispersion0.015
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
ChatoyancyStar 4
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Colour
Colour (General)Golden-yellow, green-yellow, green, brownish, red
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
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Causes of ColourYellow, Fe3+ in octahedral coordination. Color-change (alexandrite), Cr3+ in octahedral coordination
W. William Hanneman, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011)
TransparencyTransparent,Translucent,Opaque
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
LustreVitreous
Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
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Fluorescence & other light emissions
Fluorescence (General)Usually none. Green: weak, dark red
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
More from other references
Crystallography of Chrysoberyl
Crystal SystemOrthorhombic
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
HabitPseudo-hexagonal, multiple contact and penetration twinned or prominently striated short prismatic crystals
Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
More from other references
Geological Environment
Where found:Characteristic of some granite pegmatites associated with high-grade mica schists or reaction zones in ultramafic rocks; also detrital in placers.
Anthony et al, Handbook of mineralogy (2001)
Inclusions in Chrysoberyl
Clouds of tiny rutile needles, actinolite, goethite needles, liquid fingerprint -Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 3
Healing cracks, liquid and two-phase inclusions, growth and twinning structures -Gemmological Tables, Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, 2004, p 25
Further Information
Mineral information:Chrysoberyl information at mindat.org
Significant Gem Localities
Australia
 
  • Western Australia
    • Cue Shire
      • Poona
[var: Alexandrite] Groat, L.A., Giuliani, G., Marshall, D.D., and Turner, D. (2008): Ore Geology Reviews 34, 87-112.
    • Dowerin Shire
[var: Alexandrite] MinMag 66(6):985-1002
Downes and Bevan (2006)
Brazil
 
  • Bahia
    • CuraƧƔ river valley
      • Jaguarari
[var: Alexandrite]
    • PindobaƧu
[var: Alexandrite] Pinto and Pedrosa-Soares (2001)
  • EspĆ­rito Santo
Cassedanne and Roditi (1993)
J. Hyrsl (2009)
  • GoiĆ”s
    • MinaƧu
[var: Alexandrite] Petersen et al. (2002)
  • Minas Gerais
    • Ferros
[var: Alexandrite]
    • Ipatinga
      • AntĆ“nio Dias
        • Hematita
[var: Alexandrite] ; Emeralds of the World English extraLapis Vol. 2 2002 pp46-51
[var: Alexandrite] Cassedanne and Roditi (1993)
[var: Alexandrite]
    • Padre ParaĆ­so
L. Barbosa (2009)
    • Setubinha
Cassedanne and Roditi (1993)
Czech Republic
 
  • Liberec Region
    • Jablonec nad Nisou District
      • Kořenov
        • Jizerka
[var: Alexandrite] geological prospecting, 2008 - 2009, Czech geological Organization
India
 
  • Chhattisgarh
    • Raipur District
[var: Alexandrite] Michelou (2006)
Choudhuri and Gurachary (1993)
Madagascar
 
  • Alaotra-Mangoro
    • Ambatondrazaka
Pezzotta (1999)
  • Analamanga
    • Ankazobe District
      • Ambolotarakely
Henn et al. (1996)
  • Ihorombe
    • Ihosy
      • Ilakaka
[var: Alexandrite] 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.
Myanmar
 
  • Mandalay Region
    • Pyin-Oo-Lwin District
      • Mogok Township
        • Bernardmyo
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Kyatpyin Central
[var: Alexandrite] Themelis, Ted, 2008, Gems and Mines of Mogok.
        • Kyatpyin North
[var: Alexandrite] Themelis, Ted, 2008, Gems and Mines of Mogok.
        • Mogok Valley
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
[var: Alexandrite] Themelis, Ted, 2008, Gems and Mines of Mogok.
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Pein-Pyit (Painpyit; Pyan Pyit)
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Russia
 
  • Sverdlovsk Oblast
    • Malyshevo
[var: Alexandrite] Hochleitner (2005)
[var: Alexandrite] Hochleitner (2005)
Sri Lanka
 
  • Central Province
Milisenda and Henn (1999)
  • Sabaragamuwa Province
    • Ratnapura District
[var: Alexandrite]
Milisenda and Henn (1999)
[var: Alexandrite] Gemexplorer.org
[var: Alexandrite] Econ Geol (1981) 76:733-738
  • Southern Province
    • Matara District
Milisenda and Henn (1999)
  • Western Province
    • Kalutara District
[var: Alexandrite]
Tanzania
 
  • Arusha Region
    • Lake Manyara
[var: Alexandrite] Emeralds of the World English extraLapis Vol. 2 2002 pp24-35
  • Manyara Region
[var: Alexandrite] http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/tanzania-mines.htm
  • Ruvuma Region
    • Tunduru District
[var: Alexandrite] Milisenda et al. (1997)
USA
 
  • New Mexico
    • Rio Arriba County
      • Petaca Mining District
[var: Alexandrite] Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd rev. Ed., 1996
Zimbabwe
 
  • Masvingo
    • Masvingo District
[var: Alexandrite] J. E. Shigley et al. (2010), Gem Localities of the 2000s, Gems and Gemology, Fall 2010, pp. 188–216
    • Mwenezi District
[var: Alexandrite] [www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com]
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