Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Arassnahy, Minas Gerais, Brazil
SIZE : 4.6 x 2.7 x 1.4 cm

This sample is a group of emerald crystals on quartz. The crystal of emerald are light green and imbricated inside crystals of smoked quartz.

It comes from the mineral deposit of Arassnahy in Brazil. Before it was acquired by the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, this sample was part of the collection of colonel Louis Vésignié. It was known with the inventory number 428E.

It 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: A. Dahmane / Photo Saint-Hilaire, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Beryl
VARIETY :Emeraude

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 (30-79 AD), Roman naturalist

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

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Be3 Al2 Si6O18
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Hexagonal
COLOR : Colorless, 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 : VIII - Silicates
GROUP : Beryl
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 8/E.12-10
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 9.CJ.05

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Beryl

Emerald

MNHN N°199.224

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