Emerald

Other names:

Beryl (green)

Appearance:

Emerald-green, light-green, dark-green or yellow-green. Can be anything from transparent to opaque.

Esoteric beliefs and associations...

Associated with the Moon, the direction of North, the month of May, and with the Goddesses Ceres, Isis and Venus. The greener the stone, the greater its positive influence over matters of employment, money, growth and fertility. In folk lore, gazing at an emerald would help to soothe tired or sore eyes.

Other useful information...

The name of the Emerald is from the Greek word 'smaragdos' (which was originally a Persian word), meaning 'green'. In times past, 'emerald' has been used to refer to many other varieties of green stone.

Physical properties...

Chemistry	Aluminium beryllium silicate
System/Structure	Hexagonal (hexagonal prisms, columnar)
Refractive Index	1.576 - 1.582
Specific Gravity	2.67 - 2.78
Mohs' Hardness	7.5 - 8.0