Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Virgem de Lapa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
SIZE : 12 x 9 x 11 cm

This specimen is a pink association of orthose crystal with a transparent crystal, beryl blue-sky aquamarine. The whole specimen measures 12 x 9 x 11 cm. Aquamarina crystal is not more than 5 cm in length. The two species are perfectly crystallized.

The Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle bought it from a collector in 1990. It comes from the site of Virgem de Lapa in Brazil. This sample is kept in the storage rooms of the collections (i.e., not yet displayed to the public).

Photography: Louis-Dominique Bayle, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Beryl
VARIETY :Aquamarina

HISTORY : Name inspired from the Greek word "βερυλλοσ" [beryllos] that designed precious stones having the color of seawater

Word used in 77 by Caius Plinius Secundus better known as Pliny the Elder (AD 23 – August 24, AD 79), an ancient author, naturalist and naval and military commander

Type-locality: undefined because species already known by the Ancients
ANCIENT NAME : Beril

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Be3 Al2 Si6O18
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Hexagonal
COLOR : Colourless, white, green, yellow, pink, red, blue
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to translucent
LUSTER : Vitreous
STREAK : White
MORPHOLOGY : Prismatic crystals, hexagonal, forming aggregates, massive
HARDNESS : 7,5-8,0
DENSITY : 2,64

CHEMICAL CLASS : IX - Silicates
GROUP : Beryl
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 8/E.12-10
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 9.CJ.05

Explore the Mineral Treasures of the Muséum

Welcome to
the Virtual Gallery of Mineralogy

Beryl

Aquamarina

MNHN N°190.1

general description

The Species page

Mineralogy