igneous
Granite (with Beryl/Aquamarine)
Granite (Feldspar, Quartz, Mica, and Beryl Be3Al2Si6O18)
Hardness 6-7.5 (Beryl component), phaneritic texture (visible crystals), light green to blue-green beryl crystals set in a matrix of pinkish-tan feldspar, smoky quartz, and black biotite. Vitreous luster.
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Physical properties
Hardness 6-7.5 (Beryl component), phaneritic texture (visible crystals), light green to blue-green beryl crystals set in a matrix of pinkish-tan feldspar, smoky quartz, and black biotite. Vitreous luster.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling and crystallization of silica-rich magma deep within the Earth's crust, often in pegmatite veins where larger crystals can grow. Commonly associated with Precambrian or Paleozoic tectonic events.
Uses & applications
Primarily collected as a mineral specimen. If the Beryl crystals are high quality, they are used as gemstones (Aquamarine). Granite itself is used in construction and decorative slabs.
Geological facts
The light green mineral visible in this specimen is a member of the beryl family. Beryl is the source of the rare metal beryllium, which is used in high-tech alloys for spacecraft and missiles.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by looking for distinct hexagonal prisms of light green beryl embedded in a coarse-grained crystalline matrix of quartz and feldspar. Found in pegmatite-rich areas like New Hampshire, California, or Brazil.
