Free Worldwide Shipping over $38 · Duties Covered on Eligible Routes · Trusted by 2,000+ Collectors · ★ Top-Rated Etsy Seller

Beryl

Curated by Maggie Liu · Updated:

Crystal system · Hexagonal

Beryl is a silicate mineral prized by collectors for its exceptional color range, with several world-class Chinese localities.

Beryl specimen
Photo: Reno Chris at English Wikipedia · Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

About Berylextended article

Crystal Structure
Cyclosilicate — Si₆O₁₈ rings stacked; channels along c-axis host trace cations + H₂O.
Elemental Composition (by mass)
ElementMass %Visual
O Oxygen53.58%
Si Silicon31.35%
Al Aluminum10.04%
Be Beryllium5.03%
Computed from simplified end-member formula. Solid-solution series, water content, and trace substitutions cause real-world variation.
IMA Abbreviation (Whitney-Evans 2010)
Brl
→ Beryl
Pegmatite assemblages
Standard symbol from American Mineralogist (Whitney & Evans, 2010). Used in thin-section labeling, phase diagrams, and IMA-style species records.
Pronunciation
/ˈbɛrəl/
↔ BEH-ril
two syllables (Greek)
Lapidary & Faceting Recommendations
Recommended cut:
step / oval
Also seen:
cushion, emerald
Typical yield:
35% of rough
General beryl group — see species (emerald/aquamarine etc.).
UV Fluorescence
SW (254 nm)
—
none
LW (365 nm)
—
none
Pure beryl inert; Cr/V-bearing emerald may show weak red.
SW = shortwave (germicidal lamp). LW = longwave (blacklight). Response varies with locality, trace impurities, and treatment.
Tenacity
Behavior:
brittle
Under stress:
Conchoidal fracture
Hard but brittle — emerald especially fragile due to "jardin".
Luster
vitreous
Standard glass-like.
Diaphaneity (Transparency)
transparent-to-translucent
Gem-quality transparent.
Type Locality
(ancient term — Greek "beryllos") — Worldwide
Source: Pliny
› Browse all type localities
Magnetism
Category:
diamagnetic
Test result:
Slight repulsion
Be₃Al₂(SiO₃)₆; pure form diamagnetic.
Test with rare-earth magnet (N42 or N52 neodymium). Suspend specimen on thread for sensitive paramagnetic detection. Diamagnetic minerals are weakly repelled (visible only with strong magnets like bismuth).
Specific Gravity
2.66–2.92
g/cm³
light
Higher SG in Fe-rich (heliodor) and Cs-rich pegmatitic material.
For comparison: water = 1.00, glass ≈ 2.5, quartz = 2.65, corundum ≈ 4.00, galena ≈ 7.50, gold ≈ 19.3.
Geological Setting
Environment:
pegmatite
Host rock:
granitic pegmatite, mica schist (emerald)
Companions:
Quartz · Feldspar · Mica · Tourmaline
Pegmatitic for most varieties; emerald is the exception — forms in metasomatized mica schist.
Characteristic Inclusions
Two-phase / three-phasethree-phase
Pegmatitic beryl commonly hosts multi-phase fluid inclusions.
★ Diagnostic inclusions are characteristic enough to help identify origin or species under 10× loupe.
Care notesStable. Gem-clarity pieces should not be ultrasonic-cleaned (filled inclusions). Full cleaning guide →
Formation eraGranite pegmatite; Brazilian pegmatites Precambrian (Eastern Brazilian Province ~500 Ma).
Cleavage & Fracture
Cleavage:
indistinct 1 indistinct {0001} — basal
Fracture:
conchoidal / uneven
Mostly fractures conchoidally; very poor basal cleavage.
Market availability: Uncommon
Found at major shows and select dealers. Quality varies by locality.
Collector tier: Cabinet Classic
Display species collected for cabinet presentation, with specimens recorded from named localities.
Named varieties — color spectrum
Often found withQuartz · Feldspar · Tourmaline · Mica · Spodumene
Mohs 7.5–8
Vickers (~) 1650 HV
Knoop (~) 1340 HK
Nickel–Strunz 9.CJ.05
Dana 61.01.01.01
Geological setting
PegmatiteMetamorphicHydrothermal
Element composition by mass

Formula: Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈ · molar mass: 537.49 g/mol

O 53.58%
Si 31.35%
Al 10.04%
Be 5.03%

Computed from atomic weights (IUPAC 2021). Site-occupancy groups (Fe,Mn) split equally.

GroupBeryl Group
Mohs Hardness 7.5–8

Beryl sits at 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale — very hard; only diamond or corundum scratches it.

Colors:
Streak
White
Crystal system
Hexagonal
Pronunciation/ˈbɛrɪl/
Type localityLimoges region, France (classical)
Discovery First described 1798 by Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin (France)
SilicatesSilicates (Cyclosilicates)
TL;DR · 1 min read
Beryl (Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈) is a beryllium aluminum cyclosilicate famous for its gem-variety daughters: aquamarine (blue), emerald (green from Cr/V), morganite (pink from Mn), heliodor (yellow from Fe), and goshenite (colorless). All are the same species — only trace-element coloration differs.

Beryl (Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈) is a beryllium aluminum cyclosilicate famous for its gem-variety daughters: aquamarine (blue), emerald (green from Cr/V), morganite (pink from Mn), heliodor (yellow from Fe), and goshenite (colorless). All are the same species — only trace-element coloration differs. Beryl forms in granitic pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and metamorphic rocks; well-formed hexagonal prisms are the signature crystal habit.

More minerals to explore

Varieties of Beryl

Beryl is a parent species — the following named varieties differ in color or chemistry but share the same fundamental mineralogy.

  • Aquamarine (u6d77u84ddu5b9du77f3)
    sky-blue to seawater-blue
    Iron-bearing blue/blue-green beryl variety, named for sea water.
  • Emerald (u7956u6bcdu7eff)
    rich green
    Chromium- and vanadium-bearing green beryl variety; one of the four cardinal gems.
  • Morganite (u6469u6839u77f3)
    pink to peach
    Manganese-bearing pink to peach beryl variety, named for J.P. Morgan.
  • Heliodor (u91d1u7effu67f1u77f3)
    golden-yellow
    Iron-bearing golden-yellow beryl variety.
  • Goshenite (u900fu7effu67f1u77f3)
    colorless
    Pure colorless beryl variety, used for facetable gems.
  • Red Beryl (u7ea2u7effu67f1u77f3)
    raspberry-red
    Manganese-rich red beryl variety, extremely rare; almost exclusively from Utah USA.

About Beryl

Beryl belongs to the silicate class in the beryl group and has the chemical formula Al₂Be₃(Si₆O₁₈). It crystallizes in the hexagonal system and is one of the most visually varied minerals in the collector market. Its combination of structural character and global distribution make it a recognized species in both systematic and aesthetic collections.

Identification & care

Specimens usually show long hexagonal prisms with flat terminations; massive. Its color range is broad, including colorless (goshenite), green (emerald), blue-green (aquamarine), pink (morganite), yellow (heliodor), and red (red beryl/bixbite). The luster is vitreous, the streak is white, and specimens range from transparent to opaque. The cleavage is imperfect basal {0001}. The fracture is conchoidal to uneven, which aids identification.

Collector context

How it forms

In terms of geology, Beryl forms in granitic pegmatites; hydrothermal veins; metamorphic rocks (emerald in schist). It is commonly found in association with quartz, tourmaline, topaz, muscovite, feldspar, cassiterite.

Classic Chinese localities

Documented Chinese occurrences are recorded at Jinduicheng Mine, Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic ore field and Xihuashan ore field, among others.

Why collectors care

Collectors pursue Beryl for its patterns, color depth, and polish response rather than for pattern character. Good material has a surface that polishes cleanly, a visual character that holds up in direct light, and enough size to anchor a display on its own. Chinese sources, where present, supply much of the material currently cut and sold as decorative pieces.

What affects value

Value in Beryl is assessed, in typical order of weight, against: (1) source locality; (2) size; (3) pattern and visual character; (4) color depth and distribution; (5) polish response and surface finish; (6) piece integrity (absence of major cracks or chips). Uniqueness of pattern and verified source region add significantly to decorative pieces.

Frequently asked questions

What is Beryl?

Beryl has the chemical formula Be3Al2Si6O18, crystallises in the Hexagonal system, has a Mohs hardness of 7.5–8. Beryl is a silicate mineral prized by collectors for its exceptional color range, with several world-class Chinese localities.

What is the chemical formula of Beryl?

The chemical formula of Beryl is Be3Al2Si6O18.

What crystal system does Beryl belong to?

Beryl crystallises in the Hexagonal crystal system.

Is Beryl rare?

As a collector mineral, Beryl is generally considered uncommon.

Related minerals

Looking for a Beryl specimen?

Our inventory is one-of-a-kind and turns over quickly. Tell us what you're after — species, size, budget — and we'll notify you when a matching Beryl arrives from our sourcing network.

Request this mineral