BERYL
Chemical Formula: Be3Al2Si6O18
Familly: Silicates
Status: IMA-GP
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Mineral for Display: No
Associated names (luminescent varieties, discredited names, synonymes etc.):
aquamarine, emerald, morganite, goshenite,
Luminescence:
UV Type |
Main color |
Intensity |
Observation Frequency |
|
| | | |
Long Waves (365nm): | Orangy yellow | | | Short Waves (254 nm): | Orangy yellow | | | | | | |
Other colors SW: | Bluish White , Dark Orange /Tawn , Blue , Bluish , |
Phosphorescence (in the common meaning of the term) seen by naked eye:
No phosphorescence seen by naked eye whatever the type of UV
Main Activator(s) and spectrum:
Most Common Activator: Cr3+
Other activators: Fe3+ , Mn4+ , V2+ , VO43- ,
Peaks in the spectrum (nm):
(VO4)3- : Broad band peaking at 433 nm
Mn2+ tetrahedral : Broad band peaking at 480nm
Mn2+ octaedral : Broad band peaking at 570nm
Fe3+ or V2+ or Mn4+ : Broad band peaking at 720 - 745 nm (140nm half-width)
Cr3+ or V2+ : Lines at 692 and 694nm
Spectrum: Michael Gaft, Petah Tikva, Israel. Plot: Institute of Mineralogy, University of Vienna, Austria, with permission of the authors.
...
To the spectrum gallery (3 spectra in the gallery)
Comments on activators and spectra:
Band peaking at 730 nm associated with Mn4+ (or Mn3+)
Broad band peaking at 480 (Mn2+ in tetrahedral) and 570 (Mn2+ in octaedral coordination).
Broad band peaking at 720 - 745 nm (Fe3+ or V2+ or Mn4+).
Lines at 692 and 694 (Cr3+).
Broad band peaking at 433 nm (VO4).
Best Locality for luminescence(*):
- Lavra Chia, Minas Gerais, Brazil;
- Pingwu beryl mine, Huya township, Mt Xuebaoding, Pingwu Co., Mianyang Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China (var. goshenite bluish-white SW);
- Weeks Quarry, East WakefieldNH, USA (faint peach color LW);
- Newry, Maine, USA (weak yellow LW, nothing SW)
- Gillette Quarry, Haddam Neck, Haddam, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, USA (var. morganite fluo blue-white SW);
- Strickland Quarry, Strickland pegmatite, Collins Hill, Portland, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, USA (blue SW);
- Tamminen Quarry, Greenwood, Oxford Co., Maine, USA (blue SW with fluorapatite yellow);
- Fillow Quarry, Branchville, Redding, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, USA (blue SW);
- Laghman Province, Afghanistan (var. morganite, blue SW);
- Konar Province, Afghanistan (var. morganite, blue SW);
- Mawi Pegmatite, Nilaw-Kolum Pegmatite Field, Du Ab District, Nuristan, Afghanistan (var morganite blue-white SW)
(*)Data are not exhaustive and are limited to the most important localities for fluorescence
Bibliographical Reference for luminescence:
- The Henkel Glossary of Fluorescent Minerals, Dr. Gerhard Henkel, Published by the FMS, 1989 ,
- Fluorescence: Gems and Minerals Under Ultraviolet Light, Manuel Robbins, 1994, Geoscience Press, ISBN 0-945005-13-X ,
- Luminescence Spectroscopy of Minerals and Materials, M. Gaft, R. Reisfeld, G. Panczer, Springer Editor, ISBN: 10 3-540-21918-8 ,
- Handbook of Fluorescent Gems and Minerals, a practical guide for the gem and mineral collector, Jack de Ment, 1949 ,
Luminescence Reference on internet:
Images:
- Gillette Quarry, Connecticut, USA (blue-white SW): http://www.mindat.org/photo-618479.html
- Strickland Quarry, Connecticut, USA (blue SW): http://www.mindat.org/photo-350719.html
- Tamminen Quarry, Maine, USA (blue SW): http://www.mindat.org/photo-350720.html
- Fillow Quarry, Connecticut, USA: http://www.mindat.org/photo-395962.html
- Mt Xuebaoding, Pingwu Co., China: http://www.mindat.org/photo-526048.html
- Mt Xuebaoding, Pingwu Co., China (var. goshenite): http://www.mindat.org/photo-530073.html
- Mt Xuebaoding, Pingwu Co., China (var. goshenite with fluorite & scheelite): http://www.mindat.org/photo-549299.html
- Laghman Province, Afghanistan (var. morganite): http://www.mindat.org/photo-662419.html
- Konar Province, Afghanistan (var. morganite, blue SW): http://www.mindat.org/photo-675578.html
- Various origins: https://www.mindat.org/photo-526048.html
Mineralogical Reference on internet:
http://www.mindat.org/show.php?name=Beryl
http://webmineral.com/data/Beryl.shtml
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