mineral

Emerald in Matrix

Beryl (Be3Al2Si6O18) containing Chromium/Vanadium impurities

Hardness: 7.5-8.0 on Mohs scale; Color: Intense green to bluish-green; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: Poor/Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.67-2.78.

Hardness: 7
Color: Intense green to bluish-green
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified March 14, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7.5-8.0 on Mohs scale; Color: Intense green to bluish-green; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: Poor/Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.67-2.78.

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites where beryllium-rich fluids interact with chromium-bearing metamorphic rocks (like schist). Formation typically occurs in tectonic zones over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Primary use is in high-end jewelry and as a prized collector's mineral specimen. Non-gem grade beryl is used as an ore for beryllium metal used in aerospace and electronics.

Geological facts

Emeralds are often more included (fractured) than other gemstones; these inclusions are nicknamed 'jardin' (French for garden). It is the birthstone for May and was famously mined by Cleopatra in Egypt.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its distinctive 'emerald green' color and hexagonal crystal terminations. Commonly found in Colombia, Brazil, Zambia, and Russia. Collectors look for crystals still attached to their natural host rock (matrix).

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