MORGANITE, the pink gemstone variety of beryl

MORGANITE, the pink variety of beryl

VARIETY INFORMATION:

VARIETY OF: Beryl , Be3 Al2 Si6 O18 .
USES: Gemstone.
COLOR: various shades of pink.
INDEX OF REFRACTION: 1.57 - 1.60
BIREFRINGENCE: 0.004 - 0.008
HARDNESS: 7.5 - 8
CLEAVAGE: one direction, poor.
CRYSTAL SYSTEM: hexagonal
Pleochroic: weak
SPECIMENS

Morganite is the pink variety of beryl, the "mother of gemstones". Other gemstone color varieties that belong to beryl include emerald, heliodor, and aquamarine. Other colors of beryl are simply refered to by their color, such as red beryl.

Morganite is colored by trace amounts of manganese that find their way into the crystal structure. It is named after J.P. Morgan, a famous American industrialist. Morganite is found in Brazil, Madagascar, and California, Maine, Connecticut, and North Carolina in the U.S.