Emerald - Large Chunk (2-3 inch)

This large chunk of Emerald, 2-3 inches in diameter, is great for any mineral collection.

Emerald belongs to the beryl group, being the most precious of the group. The pigment is chrome, sometimes vanadium. Emeralds are formed by rising magma and metamorphism. The stone is thought to emanate peace and harmony for body and soul.

FOUND IN: COLOMBIA, BRAZIL, SOUTH AFRICA, ZIMBABWE, RUSSIA, & USA.

 The name emerald comes from the Greek “smaragdos” via the Old French “esmeralde”, and really just means ‘green gemstone.’ The wonderful green color of emerald is unparalleled in the gem world. It is not surprising then that emerald is classified as one of the traditional four precious stones along with sapphire, ruby and diamond. Emerald is the birthstone for May and for commemorating the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.

Emerald derives it’s glorious green color from the presence of chromium and vanadium. Emeralds are rarely flawless, therefore stones are often enhanced by oiling them to hide the imperfects. As well, the step cut (or emerald cut) is used to maximize the stone.

Ancient mythology teaches us that the Emerald was associated with the Mercury, who was known to be the messengers of the gods, and of travel. It thus makes perfect sense that the Emerald is commonly referred to as the Travelers Protection Stone.

A lesser known “odd” fact of the Emerald is that when subjected to heat, it will actually sweat or expel water. Ancient writings speak of this extraordinary phenomenon.

Innumerable fantastic stories have grown up around this magnificent gem. The Incas and Aztecs of South America, where the best emeralds are still found today, regarded the emerald as a holy gemstone. However, probably the oldest known finds were once made near the Red Sea in Egypt. These gemstone mines, already exploited by Egyptian pharaohs between 3000 and 1500 B.C. and later referred to as ‘Cleopatra’s Mines’, had already been exhausted by the time they were rediscovered in the early 19th century. Written many centuries ago, the Vedas, the holy scriptures of the Indians, say of the precious green gems and their healing properties: ‘Emeralds promise good luck…’ and ‘The emerald enhances the well-being…’. So it is no wonder that the treasure chests of Indian maharajas and maharanis contained wonderful emeralds.

Emerald Specifications:

• Color: Emerald Green, Light Green, Yellow Green, Dark Green
• Color of streak: White
• Moh’s hardness: 7½-8
• Specific gravity: 2.67-2.78
• Cleavage: None
• Fracture: Small Conchoidal, Uneven, Brittle
• Crystal system: Hexagonal (Trigonal), Hexagonal Prisms, Columnar
• Chemical composition: AI2Be3(Si6O18) Aluminium Beryllium Silicate
• Transparency: Transparent to Opaque
• Refractive index: 1.576-1.582
• Double refraction: +0.006
• Dispersion: 0.014
• Pleochroism: Definite, Green, Blue-Green to Yellow-Green
• Absorption spectrum: 6835, 6806, 6620, 6460, 6370, 6060,5940, 6300-5800, 4774, 4725
• Fluorescence: Usually None