mineral

Beryl (likely var. Aquamarine or Goshenite) in Matrix

Beryllium Aluminum Silicate (Be3Al2Si6O18)

Hardness: 7.5-8.0 (Mohs scale); Color: Light blue, greenish-blue, or colorless; Luster: Vitreous to resinous; Crystal structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: Poor/Imperfect; Specific gravity: 2.63-2.80

Hardness: 7
Color: Light blue, greenish-blue, or colorless
Luster: Vitreous to resinous

Identified March 23, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 7.5-8.0 (Mohs scale); Color: Light blue, greenish-blue, or colorless; Luster: Vitreous to resinous; Crystal structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: Poor/Imperfect; Specific gravity: 2.63-2.80

Formation & geological history

Formed in granitic pegmatites or hydrothermal veins where beryllium is concentrated. These specimens typically form during the late stages of magmatic crystallization, often dating back to the Proterozoic or Mesozoic eras depending on the specific locality.

Uses & applications

Used primarily as a gemstone (aquamarine) when clear, a source of beryllium metal for aerospace/electronics industries, and as a popular specimen for mineral collectors.

Geological facts

Beryl crystals can grow to enormous sizes; some of the largest crystals ever found have been beryls weighing several tons. The presence of trace amounts of iron provides the blue 'aquamarine' tint seen in parts of this specimen.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its high hardness (won't be scratched by steel), hexagonal crystal habit (though often fragmented in matrix), and characteristic pale blue-green hue. Commonly found in Brazil, Pakistan, and the Ural Mountains. When collecting, look for glassy, prismatic structures within coarse-grained granite.

Other mineral specimens

See all

Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)

Arenite (SiO2 based)

sedimentary

Epidote

Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)

metamorphic

Nephrite Jade

Nephrite

Mineral/Rock

Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)

Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)

Metamorphic Rock

Green Apatite on Albite

Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]

mineral

Epidote

Epidote - Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)3(SiO4)3(OH)

mineral