gemstone
Emerald
Beryl (Be3Al2Si6O18 with Chromium/Vanadium impurities)
Hardness: 7.5-8.0 (Mohs); Color: Vivid green to bluish-green; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal; Specific Gravity: 2.7-2.8
- Hardness
- 7
- Color
- Vivid green to bluish-green
- Luster
- Vitreous
Identified More gemstone →
Explore Emerald in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 7.5-8.0 (Mohs); Color: Vivid green to bluish-green; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal; Specific Gravity: 2.7-2.8
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites where beryllium-bearing fluids interact with chromium-rich host rocks (metamorphism). Significant deposits are Millions of years old.
Uses & applications
Primarily used in high-end jewelry as a precious gemstone and as a popular collector's mineral.
Geological facts
Emeralds are one of the 'Big Three' precious gems along with rubies and sapphires. Inclusions are so common in emeralds they are known as 'jardin' (French for garden).
Field identification & locations
Identify by deep green color and characteristic inclusions (jardin). Found in Colombia, Brazil, Zambia, and Ethiopia. Collectors should look for color saturation and clarity.
More like this
Other gemstone specimens
Cubic Zirconia (simulant) or Diamond
ZrO2 (Cubic Zirconia) or C (Diamond)
gemstone
Ammolite
Ammolite (Biogenic Aragonite with trace elements; fossils of Placenticeras meeki and Placenticeras intercalare)
mineral
Cubic Zirconia (or possibly Diamond)
Zirconium dioxide (or Carbon)
gemstone
Red Jasper
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Hematite inclusions
sedimentary
Faceted Gemstone
Unknown transparent mineral, possibly Diamond (C), Cubic Zirconia (ZrO2), Quartz (SiO2), or Glass
gemstone
Milky Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
mineral