Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Erongo Mountains, Namibia
SIZE : 20 x 15 cm

This specimen shows a gemmeous beryl aquamarine crystal association with crystals of schorl (mineral species belonging to the group of tourmalines) on an albite matrix. Some black fine rods crystals are in fact foitite (another species of the tourmaline group of minerals).

Aquamarines are perfectly crystallized (cf detail 2), the crystals measure up to 4 cm in length and 1 cm in diameter. Schorl shows out as black and striated lengthened crystals, which measure 2 to 3 cm in length. The specimen measures 20 X 15 cm.

This sample, acquired thanks to support from Total, comes from the Erongo Mountains in Namibia and is kept today in the storage rooms of the collections of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (i.e., not yet displayed to the public).

Photography: Louis-Dominique Bayle, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Beryl
VARIETY :Aquamarina

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

Word used en 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 : Béril

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

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Beryl

Aquamarina

MNHN N°204.92

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