Gem Beryl Specimens
Beryl, the mineral species that includes aquamarine, emerald, goshenite, heliodor, morganite and the deep red beryl found only in Utah, is historically one of the most desirable and legendary gem minerals. To me, beryl's clarity, hardness, and variety & perfection of prismatic crystal forms and colors, in addition to the fascinating associations of other minerals with which it occurs inside the pockets and cores of fabulous pegmatites, make it the most exquisite of all the gem minerals.
Here are some really nice examples. I hope you like them!
|
|
Aquamarine with Schorl on Albite A bed of albite and small muscovite crystals host a number of hollow, triangular schorl crystals to 2.5 cm. The centerpiece is a wonderful, deep blue-green, gemmy aquamarine crystal measuring 4x1.6x1.7 cm. The aqua crystals are very clear and vivid blue in color. There is a miniscule ding on one corner of the termination of the main crystal, but it is barely visible. An absolutely stunning specimen that is difficult to part with! |
|
|
|
Aquamarine with Schorl, Quartz and Albite 2 large, lustrous schorls and a somewhat smoky quartz wrapped in sparkling white albite, with a centerpiece of aquamarine. The aqua is 1.5x2.5x5 cm, light blue, and has a beautifully modified termination.
|
 larger image |
|
|
Aquamarine with Albite, Quartz and Muscovite This specimen is probably the entire hanging wall of a small aquamarine pocket. A plate of perfectly white albite crystals, possibly encasing a couple of schorls, are flanked by several large, water-clear quartz crystals. Protruding from the main "knob" of albites are 4 blue-green aqua prisms with modified terminations. The largest aqua is about 1x2.5 cm. Several books of bright mica complete the combo.
|
|
|
|
Aquamarine and Muscovite on Feldspar An extremely delicate, aesthetic jaw-dropper. Clusters of small, often transparent feldspar crystals and immaculate, bright, hexagonal muscovite books host a glass-clear, 7 cm aquamarine crystal. The aqua is almost colorless at the top, deeper and deeper blue toward its base. About halfway up the aquamarine is a strand of tiny muscovite crystals, wrapping around the aqua like a spiral staircase. This is one of those specimens that makes me stop and stare in amazement at the wonders of nature.
|
|
|
|
Aquamarine with Quartz and Chlorite An interesting specimen which consists of a bizarre shaped, banded, striated, color-zoned aquamarine crystal wrapped around a nicely terminated quartz crystal that has some chlorite inclusions. The aqua also has a dusting of chlorite.
|
|
|
|
Schorl with Aquamarine and Albite A super-lustrous, transluscent schorl crystal next to a neat little aqua with a complex termination, all wrapped up in a jacket of very nice, curved or "rounded" albites. Very unusual and appealing specimen. |
 larger image |
|
|
Morganite (twin) and Elbaite on Feldspar You don't see many morganites like this. A very clear, pink/peach crystal with exquisite faces that appears to be a twin! At the base of the specimen is a small bed of massive feldspar, from which there are dozens of small, gemmy green elbaites. Some of the elbaites are also included inside the morganite. Super cool rock!
|
|
|
|
Morganite, Tourmaline &Topaz with Cleavelandite
and Quartz A killer combination. A very nice, light pink morganite is front & center, flanked by a quartz point and a couple of deep blue-green tourmalines with deep blue terminations. On the bottom of the specimen are two surprises: first, there is a 2 cm clear topaz with a classic termination. Second, there is a hole in the bottom termination of the morganite which reveals that about half of the inside of the crystal has been etched out! Amazing.
|
|
Alpine Minerals | Minerals | Beryl 2