Beryl
Beryllium Aluminum Silicate Be3Al2SiO3

Beryl is an important ore mineral of beryllium. It is typically found in cavities in granite and pegmatite and is also associated with tin ores and mica schists.

Other beryls are aquamarine, morganite, and beryls that are red, brown, yellow and pale green. The variations in color exhibited by beryls are probably due to small included quantities of different metallic oxides. Chromic oxide is probably responsible for the dark, lustrous green color associated with emeralds. The darkest green stones may contain some organic matter.

Principal emerald producing localities include Colombia, Egypt, the Urals, South Africa, and Brazil. The earliest stones mentioned in history were of Egyptian origin. The finest stones have come from South American mines for hundreds of years.

The 'Angel of the Andes' is considered to be a very fine and unusual emerald specimen due to its multiple terminations at 90 degrees to the main crystal. It is currently in the collection of Tim Schmanski of the Red Beryl Mine. Tim's provided the following anecdote concerning this rock:

"The 'Angel of the Andes' was found in December of 1992 at the Chivor mine in Colombia. Apparently, two brothers found the stone and one of them decided to take it to America. Needless to say he sold it, and the other brother has vowed his revenge. Last we heard the brothers still haven't met. Wouldn't want to be around when they do meet..."

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Rocks from Tim Schmanski's Collection

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bkeller@rockhounds.com 11/16/97