Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Dara Petch, Kunnar area, Afghanistan
SIZE : 17 x 16 cm

This sample shows a great association of various minerals that some are very colorful : pink beryl (morganite variety), measuring about 6 cm in diameter, violett tranparent spodumen (kunzite variety) measuring 8 cm in its maximal length, bluish-green elbaite, bluish-white albite and grayish white quartz. The whole sample measures 17 x 16 cm.

This sample has been discovered in Dara Petch, Kunnar area in Afghanistan. The Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle could obtain it thanks to support from Total. It 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 :Morganite

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 from 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 : 2,63-2,97

CHEMICAL CLASS : VIII - 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

Morganite

MNHN N°204.46

general description

The Species page

Mineralogy