Heliodor (Golden Beryl)

Big Photo

Brazil
1.65 carats
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Heliodor is named after Greek "helios" - sun and "doron" - gift. It has a lemon to honey-yellow colour.

Heliodor and Golden Beryl are names given to the yellow varieties of Beryl. Many modern sources regard the two names as synonymous, although some sources state that the name Heliodor should be reserved for greenish-yellow beryl only, with the more golden coloured varieties being listed as Golden Beryl.

Heliodor Gemstones by Colour

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

Heliodor Gemstones by Size

This table shows distribution of Heliodor 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:0.19 cts
Heaviest:62.64 cts
Average:6.63 cts
Total photos:49
Do you have a larger Heliodor? Why not upload a photo?
Significant stones
Quarto Centario110,000 cts
0.19ct to 6.44ct6.44ct to 12.68ct12.68ct to 18.93ct18.93ct to 25.17ct25.17ct to 31.42ct31.42ct to 37.66ct37.66ct to 43.91ct43.91ct to 50.15ct50.15ct to 56.40ct56.40ct to 62.64ct
General Information
A variety or type of:Beryl
Other Names/Trade Names:
Significant stones
ImageNameWeightCountry of OriginCurrent Owner
Quarto Centario110,000.00 ctsBrazil
Heliodor Treatments
Color may be improved by heat-treatment or be created by irradiation of colorless variety - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 6
Physical Properties of Heliodor
Mohs Hardness7.5 to 8
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Specific Gravity2.68 to 2.72
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
TenacityBrittle
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Cleavage QualityIndistinct
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
FractureConchoidal
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Optical Properties of Heliodor
Refractive Index1.566 to 1.579
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Optical CharacterUniaxial/-
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Birefringence0.005 to 0.009
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
PleochroismWeak: golden-yellow, green-yellow
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Dispersion0.014
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
ChatoyancyYes
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
Colour
Colour (General)Lemon to golden yellow
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
Causes of ColourThe golden yellow color is attributed to Fe3+ ions.
Color in the Beryl group. (2009)
TransparencyTransparent,Translucent,Opaque
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Crystallography of Heliodor
Crystal SystemHexagonal
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
HabitHexagonal prisms
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Inclusions in Heliodor
Planes of tiny 2 phase inclusions - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 6
Further Information
Mineral information:Heliodor information at mindat.org
Significant Gem Localities
Afghanistan
 
Glas (2002)
Brazil
 
  • Espírito Santo
    • Mimoso do Sul
Menezes (2005)
  • Minas Gerais
    • Caraí
Cassedanne and Alves (1994)
    • Galiléia
      • Sapucaia do Norte
Cassedanne and Alves (1994)
    • Itinga
      • Monte Belo
Kievlenko E.Ya., Geology of gems, 2003, p. 113
    • Pedra Azul pegmatite district
Cassedanne and Alves (1994)
Madagascar
 
  • Betsiboka
    • Tsaratanàna District
Pezzotta (2001)
Laurs and Quinn (2002)
Madagascar, extraLapis English No.1, 2001, p. 50
Namibia
 
  • Erongo Region
    • Arandis Constituency
      • Rössing Mountains area
Glas (2002), Laurs (2002)
    • Dâures Constituency
      • Spitzkopje Area
        • Klein Spitzkopje granite stock (Kleine Spitzkoppe; Klein Spitzkoppe)
Jahn (2000), Jahn and Bahmann (2000), Glas (2002), Laurs (2002)
Nigeria
 
  • Nasarawa
J. Micheou (2009)
Russia
 
  • Sverdlovsk Oblast
    • Prigorodny District
Emlin (1996)
      • Yuzhakovo
        • Alabashka pegmatite field
Sri Lanka
 
  • Sabaragamuwa Province
    • Ratnapura District
      • Ratnapura
Dissanayake et al. (2000)
Ukraine
 
  • Zhytomyr Oblast
    • Zhytomyr Raion
Koivula et al. (1993), Lyckberg (2005)
USA
 
  • Connecticut
    • Middlesex County
      • East Hampton (Chatham)
Jarnot (2005)
  • Maine
    • Oxford County
      • Buckfield
Sinkankas (1997)
  • New Hampshire
    • Grafton County
      • Groton
Wise (2005)
Wise (2005)
Zimbabwe
 
  • Mashonaland West
Shmakin and Wedepohl (1999), Milisenda et al. (2000)
Milisenda et al. (2000), Cairncross (2005), Wise (2005)
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