Beryl

Other names:

Aquamarine (blue beryl) and Emerald (green beryl)

Appearance:

Gold, yellow-green, yellow, pink or colourless. Can be anything from transparent to opaque.

Common variations...

Bixbite (pale red), Golden (lemon yellow to golden), Goshenite (colourless), Heliodor (radioactive uranium oxide pigment - golden yellow) and Morganite (pink to violet).

Common confusions......

Because of the vast range of possible colours, Beryl can be confused with a huge range of other gems and synthetics.

Esoteric beliefs and associations...

Associated with the Goddesses Mara and Tiamat, and with the God Neptune (Poseidon). When over-all colouration is pink, love and friendships are helped.

Other useful information...

Beryl is almost completely resistant to chemical degradation, with the important exception of fluoric acid. Opaque beryl can have a cat's eye effect. Even in pale shades of yellow, it strengthens intellect, study and psychic skills (including divination).

Physical properties...

Chemistry	Aluminium beryllium silicate
System/Structure	Hexagonal (long prisms, generally)
Refractive Index	1.570 - 1.600
Specific Gravity	2.65 - 2.75
Mohs' Hardness	7.5 - 8.0