Goshenite Crystal Identification Guide
How to identify a well-formed goshenite crystal in the field, focusing on hexagonal habit, terminations, and distinguishing it from quartz and other clear crystals.
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What a Goshenite Crystal Looks Like
A goshenite crystal is colorless beryl that has retained a recognizable crystal form. The hallmark is a six-sided (hexagonal) prism — a long, columnar crystal with six flat side faces meeting in a flat or stepped basal termination. Surfaces are glassy (vitreous), the body is transparent and uncolored, and the prism faces commonly show fine vertical striations running the length of the crystal. Crystals may be stubby or elongated and are often found attached to a pegmatite matrix.
Step-by-Step Field-ID Checklist
- Count the faces. Six prism faces plus a flat top is the signature of beryl. Rotate the crystal to confirm the hexagonal cross-section.
- Inspect the termination. Goshenite typically ends in a flat basal face (pinacoid), not a point.
- Read the striations. Vertical (lengthwise) striations on the prism faces support beryl; horizontal striations would suggest quartz.
- Test hardness. It scratches glass and quartz (7.5–8).
- Check clarity and inclusions. Look for the absence of color and any tube-like or planar inclusions typical of beryl.
Key Diagnostic Tests
- Mohs hardness: 7.5–8.
- Streak: White.
- Cleavage/fracture: Indistinct basal cleavage; conchoidal to uneven fracture.
- Habit: Hexagonal prism with flat termination — the defining feature for crystals.
- Refractive index: 1.57–1.60.
- Density: ~2.66–2.9; the crystal feels heavier than an equivalent quartz crystal.
Common Look-Alikes and How to Tell Them Apart
- Clear quartz crystal: Quartz is the most frequent confusion. Quartz terminates in a six-sided pyramid (a point); goshenite ends flat. Quartz striations run across (perpendicular to) the prism, beryl's run along it.
- Colorless topaz crystal: Topaz has perfect basal cleavage (you may see one flat, mirror-like break), higher density, and often a more orthorhombic, less symmetrical cross-section.
- Phenakite: Rare; rhombohedral and higher RI.
- Glass shards posing as crystals: No true crystal faces, often bubbles inside, and lower hardness.
Where Goshenite Crystals Are Found
Well-formed goshenite crystals come from granitic pegmatites and their miarolitic cavities. Productive localities include Minas Gerais (Brazil), the Ural Mountains (Russia), Pakistan and Afghanistan, Madagascar, Canada, and historic New England pegmatites near Goshen, Massachusetts, USA. Collectors search pocket zones where beryl grows alongside quartz, feldspar, and tourmaline.
Frequently asked questions
How can you tell if a goshenite crystal is real?
Look for a hexagonal prism with a flat termination and lengthwise striations, a hardness of 7.5–8, no easy cleavage, and a refractive index near 1.57–1.60. A flat top rather than a point is the quickest field clue versus quartz.
What does a goshenite crystal look like?
A colorless, glassy, six-sided columnar crystal with flat side faces, fine vertical striations, and a flat or stepped basal termination.
Goshenite crystal vs quartz crystal: how do I tell them apart?
Quartz ends in a six-sided point with cross-running striations, while goshenite ends flat with lengthwise striations and is slightly harder and denser.
Why is my goshenite crystal not perfectly clear?
Natural goshenite often contains tube-like or planar inclusions, fractures, or a faint grey tint. These do not make it fake; perfectly flawless crystals are uncommon.
Where do goshenite crystals come from?
From granitic pegmatites in Brazil, Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Canada, and New England (USA).