Chrysoberyl

Big Photo

Alexandrite
Sri Lanka
3.55 carats
© Palagems

Chrysoberyl is named after Greek "chrysos" - gold, plus "beryllos" - beryl, a name used from antiquity for gold-coloured beryl.

Chrysoberyl forms transparent to translucent yellow, yellowish-green, golden yellow or brown multiple contact and penetration twinned or prominently striated short prismatic crystals with vitreous lustre.

Chrysoberyl is cut into fine gemstones of remarkable clarity and high lustre. Chatoyant chrysoberyl shows an eye when translucent and cut into cabochon.
87 photos

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:0.04 cts
Heaviest:14.05 cts
Average:1.66 cts
Total photos:85
Do you have a larger Chrysoberyl? Why not upload a photo?
0.04ct to 1.44ct1.44ct to 2.84ct2.84ct to 4.24ct4.24ct to 5.64ct5.64ct to 7.05ct7.05ct to 8.45ct8.45ct to 9.85ct9.85ct to 11.25ct11.25ct to 12.65ct12.65ct to 14.05ct
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)
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Specific Gravity3.69 to 3.81
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
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TenacityBrittle
Anthony et al, Handbook of mineralogy (2001)
Cleavage QualityGood
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
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FractureUneven,Conchoidal
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) Weak conchoidalMore from other references
Optical Properties of Chrysoberyl
Refractive Index1.746 to 1.763
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
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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)
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Dispersion0.015
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
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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)
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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)
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Crystallography of Chrysoberyl
Crystal SystemOrthorhombic
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
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HabitPseudo-hexagonal, multiple contact and penetration twinned or prominently striated short prismatic crystals
Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
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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)
Spectrographic Data
Calculated Spectra:
Click spectra for more information
Chrysoberyl - Locality: Unknown
Chrysoberyl - Locality: Brazil
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)
Austria
 
  • Salzburg
    • Zell am See District
      • Hollersbach im Pinzgau
Brazil
 
  • Bahia
    • Curaçá river valley
      • Jaguarari
[var: Alexandrite]
    • Pindobaçu
[var: Alexandrite] Pinto and Pedrosa-Soares (2001)
  • Espírito Santo
Cassedanne and Roditi (1993)
J. Hyrsl (2009)
  • Goiás
    • Minaçu
[var: Alexandrite] Petersen et al. (2002)
  • Minas Gerais
    • Antônio Dias
      • Hematita
[var: Alexandrite] ; Emeralds of the World English extraLapis Vol. 2 2002 pp46-51
    • Ferros
[var: Alexandrite]
[var: Alexandrite] Cassedanne and Roditi (1993)
[var: Alexandrite]
    • Padre Paraíso
L. Barbosa (2009)
    • Setubinha
Cassedanne and Roditi (1993)
Bulgaria
 
  • Sofia Province
    • Samokov Municipality
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 District
      • Ambatosoratra Commune
Madagascar, extraLapis English No.1, 2001, p. 47
Pezzotta (1999)
Madagascar, extraLapis English No.1, 2001, p. 46
Madagascar, extraLapis English No.1, 2001, p. 46
  • Analamanga
    • Ankazobe District
      • Ambolotarakely
Henn et al. (1996)
  • Ihorombe
    • Ihosy District
      • 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.
  • Vakinankaratra
    • Antsirabe II District
      • Mangarano
- Ranorosoa, N. (1986): Etude mineralogique des pegmatites du champ de la Sahatany, Madagascar. These de Doctorat de l`Universite Paul Sabatier, Toulouse
Myanmar
 
  • Mandalay Region
    • Pyin-Oo-Lwin District
[var: Alexandrite]
        • 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]
[var: Alexandrite]
[var: Alexandrite]
[var: Alexandrite]
[var: Alexandrite]
[var: Alexandrite]
[var: Alexandrite]
[var: Alexandrite]
[var: Alexandrite]
[var: Alexandrite]
[var: Alexandrite] Hochleitner (2005)
Sri Lanka
 
  • North 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
[var: Alexandrite]
[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
 
  • Maine
    • Sagadahoc County
  • 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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