Blue Beryl (Maxixe)
Rectangle-cut Corners Blue Beryl
12.44 carats
© Rarestone.com
Originally (since 1917) it came only from the Maxixe Mine in Minas Gerais (Brazil). More recently beryl from multiple sources has been sold as 'Maxixe', which has lead to many in gemmological circles preferring to use the terms 'Blue Beryl' or 'Maxixe-type beryl'.
Since the 1970s it has been more widely available and enhanced through irradiation, but the colour fades after prolonged exposure to light or heat although it is much slower with indoor lighting.
Blue Beryl (Maxixe) Gemstones by Colour
This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
|
 |
Blue Beryl (Maxixe) Gemstones by Size
This table shows distribution of Blue Beryl (Maxixe) 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:1.65 cts
Heaviest:12.44 cts
Average:7.04 cts
Total photos:2
Do you have a larger Blue Beryl (Maxixe)? Why not upload a photo?
| General Information | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A variety or type of: | Aquamarine, which is a variety of Beryl | |||||||||||||||||
| Chemical Formula |
| |||||||||||||||||
| Physical Properties of Blue Beryl (Maxixe) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 7.5 to 8, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||||||||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 2.60 to 2.90, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||||||||||||||
| Fracture | Conchoidal, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||
| Optical Properties of Blue Beryl (Maxixe) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.560 to 1.604, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||||||||||||||
| Optical Character | Uniaxial/-, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||||||||||||||
| Birefringence | 0.003 to 0.010, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||||||||||||||
| Pleochroism | Strong dichroism: blue to colourless., Geology of gems (2003) | |||||||||||||||||
| Colour | ||||||||||||||||||
| Colour (General) | Blue, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||||||||||||||
| Transparency | Transparent,Translucent, Gemmological Tables (2004) | |||||||||||||||||
| Lustre | Vitreous, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||
| Crystallography of Blue Beryl (Maxixe) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crystal System | Hexagonal, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||||||||||||||
| Habit | Prismatic, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||
| Further Information | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Blue Beryl (Maxixe) information at mindat.org | |||||||||||||||||
| Significant Gem Localities | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||