Very rare form of beryl
Consumer Information
What color is it?: Red!
What is the story behind this gemstone?: This is a very rare form of beryl (the emerald family of gemstones) which occurs not in
green color but in red. It is only found in Utah, USA, and is only found in very small sizes. They are rare and beautiful red forms of
beryl so to have some fun a lot of people call them red emeralds.
Can I wear it everyday?: Yes, they wear fairly well if anyone can see a stone that small on your finger.
Is it expensive?: It can be. There are some claims that the mine is going to produce larger sizes which will make the stone more
economically viable. But they will always be expensive.
Is it a birthstone?: Not unless you don't want to buy a ruby for July.
What do I need to know before going shopping?: Where the phone book is. You should call around to your local independent,
professional jeweler before you go shopping to see if he or she has any in stock. Most likely they will have to go searching for one to
show you.
General Information
Source: Thomas Mountains, Utah, United States
Chemical: BeAlSiO2 colored by manganese
Formation: Hydrothermal vents
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Unusual Properties: Its RED!
Gemological Information
Ri: 1.577 - 1.583
Birefringence: .008
Optic Character: U-
Specific Gravity: 2.72 +-
Hardness: 7.5 - 8
Transparency: TL-TP
Special Identifying Properties and Tests: None
Synthetics: No
Imitations: Many possible but not probable
Courtesy: www.yourgemologist.com
