Chemical Formula

Be3Al2Si6O18

Chemical Class

Silicates

Properties

Emerald is beryl green color variety, a mineral that is commonly presented in prismatic crystals, with hexagon bases, rarely bi determined, several centimeters long, usually striated and corroded, with fractures and fissures, several of them filled in by impurities. The green color is due to the chrome presence in Beryl composition, where the replacement of Al for Cr weakens the structure, thus the abundant fractures the emerald presents.

Origin

This image was extracted from Carnaíba Mining Reserve Area – Carnaíba, BA.

Curiosities

Emerald is human kind´s old known gemstone, as it was marketed around 6000 years ago in Babylon. Emerald was Incas sacred goddess. In the past, this gemstone was given to young women as talisman for protection and ease at labor time. It has also been associated with the forest Roman goddess, Diana, protector of young women and labor patroness. Egyptians believed that this gemstone was associated with fertility and rebirth. Currently, Brazil is the world´s 2nd largest emerald explorer. It is believed the world´s largest emerald was found in Brazil, weighing 57 thousand karats, or 11.4 kg, and the piece was cut in India.

Use

Emeralds are used as gemstones, that is, in jewelry, adornments and decoration objects. Emerald photo credit: Henry Yu

Source: MM Gerdau - Museu das Minas e do Metal -