gemstone

Rough Emerald

Beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) with Chromium/Vanadium impurities

Hardness: 7.5-8.0; Color: Vivid green to bluish-green; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal; Specific gravity: 2.67-2.78. This specimen shows a characteristic waxy surface typical of raw, water-worn or low-quality emerald rough.

Hardness: 7
Color: Vivid green to bluish-green
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 21, 2026More gemstone →

Explore Rough Emerald in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

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

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites where beryllium-rich fluids interact with chromium or vanadium-bearing rocks. Most emeralds are hosted in schist or limestone, with Colombian deposits originating in sedimentary environments roughly 30-60 million years ago.

Uses & applications

Primary use is in high-end jewelry (faceting or cabochon cutting). Lower grade material is used for beads, carvings, or as mineral specimens for collectors.

Geological facts

Emeralds are often more fragile than other beryls because they contain many internal fractures and inclusions, known as 'jardin' (garden). They are significantly rarer and often more expensive than diamonds when high quality and untreated.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its characteristic green color and hexagonal habit if preserved. Often found in proximity to quartz and mica. Professional testing for refractive index and specific gravity is recommended to distinguish it from green fluorite or chrome diopside.

Other gemstone specimens

See all

Diamond and Gold Jewelry

Carbon (Diamond) / Au (Gold)

gemstone

Ammolite

Ammolite (Biogenic Aragonite with trace elements; fossils of Placenticeras meeki and Placenticeras intercalare)

mineral

Cubic Zirconia (simulant) or Diamond

ZrO2 (Cubic Zirconia) or C (Diamond)

gemstone

Red Jasper

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Hematite inclusions

sedimentary

Cubic Zirconia (or possibly Diamond)

Zirconium dioxide (or Carbon)

gemstone

Faceted Gemstone

Unknown transparent mineral, possibly Diamond (C), Cubic Zirconia (ZrO2), Quartz (SiO2), or Glass

gemstone