Emeralds are actually the green version of the mineral Beryl. This type of Beryl contains small amounts of chromium and iron which give them thier unique color. Emeralds are commonly found in sedimentary rock that has undergone changes in temperature and pressure. Emeralds can be found in the Russian Federation, United States, Pakistan, Norway, India, Malagasy, and Australia.
Chemical Name
Beryl
Chemical Formula
Be3Al2(SiO3)6::Cr
Specific Gravity
2.70 - 2.78
Moh's Hardness
7.5 - 7.8
Color
Green
Some of the best emeralds are found Colombia and these crystals exhibit the best quality for thier size. The name Emerald comes from the Greek term "smaragdos", which loosely translates to "green gemstone". The quality in the emerald is determined by the clarity and it's deep grass green coloration which exhibits a slight hint of blue.
Emeralds have a deep history and folklore. The history of emeralds can be traced to ancient Babylonians and the Egyptians where tools have been found in ancient emerald mines where the Queen Cleopatra's emeralds originated. The Incas also mined emeralds and the largest and highest quality stones were once worn by the nobility. Unfortunately, these emeralds were lost to time, due to invasions, greed or through the inclusion of these gems in private collections.
