Heliodor

Heliodor is the yellow to greenish-yellow gem variety of beryl, coloured by traces of iron. Its name, from the Greek for 'gift of the sun', captures its bright golden tones; the term is generally used for the more greenish-yellow stones, with pure yellow material sometimes called golden beryl.

Properties

Like all beryl it is hexagonal, hard (7.5–8) and forms clean prismatic crystals, frequently large and well terminated. Heliodor is typically very transparent and free of the fractures that trouble emerald.

Occurrence

Notable sources include Ukraine, Brazil, Madagascar, Namibia and the United States. It belongs to the same species as aquamarine, morganite and colourless goshenite.