Crystal and stones » beryl

History of birthstones

precious stones — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:27:19 +0000

The historian Josephus proclaimed a connection between the twelve stones in Aaron’s breastplate, the twelve months of the year and the twelve signs of the zodiac. The Breastplate of Aaron, referred to in Exodus 28:17-20:

10 Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there was a ruby, [...]

Virtues of Beryl

precious stones — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:17:42 +0000

Thomas de Cantimpré tells us that the beryl cures quinsy and swollen glands in the neck if the affected part be rubbed with the stone. It is also useful as a remedy for diseases of the eye, and if water in which it has been steeped be given to anyone suffering from an attack of [...]

Emerald

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:02:37 +0000

Considering the particular emerald which is a variety of beryl -although the name emerald in the trade is applied somewhat loosely to any stone which is of the same colour, or approaching the colour of the beryl variety -this emerald only differs chemically from the beryl, just described, in possessing an addition of oxide of [...]

Beryl

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:59:43 +0000

The beryl is a compound of silicates of beryllia and alumina, with the formula 3BeOSiO2 + Al2O3,3SiO2, or 3BeO,Al2O3,6SiO2. It differs very little indeed from the emerald, with the exception of its colour.

In the ordinary varieties this is somewhat poor, being mostly blue, or a dirty or a greenish yellow; the better kinds, [...]

Blue gemstones

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:16:45 +0000

Blue gemstones

Hardness. Specific Gravity.

Beryl 7-3/4 2.709-2.810 Diamond 10 3.502-3.564 Dichorite (Water Sapphire) 7-7-1/2 4.049-4.060 Disthene (Kyanite) 5-7 3.609-3.688 Iolite (Cordierite) 7-1/4 2.641 Lapis lazuli 5-1/2 2.461 Sapphire 9 4.049-4.060 Topaz 8 3.500-3.520 Tourmaline 7-1/4 3.160 Turquoise 6 2.800

Pink gemstones

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:13:50 +0000

Pink gemstones

Hardness. Specific Gravity.

Beryl 7-3/4 2.709-2.810 Diamond 10 3.502-3.564 Ruby 9 4.073-4.080 Spinel 8 3.614-3.654 Topaz (“burnt” or “pinked”), 8 3.500-3.520 Tourmaline 7-1/4 3.024

Yellow Stones

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:02:53 +0000

Yellow Stones

Hardness. Specific Gravity.

Amber 2-1/2 1.000 Beryl 7-3/4 2.709-2.810 Chrysoberyl 8-1/2 3.689-3.752 Chrysolite 6-7 3.316-3.528 Corundum (the yellow variety known as “Oriental Topaz”) 9 3.90-4.16 Diamond 10 3.502-3.564 Garnets (various) 6-1/2-7-1/2 3.4-4.5 Hyacinth (a form of Zircon) 7-1/2 4.7-4.88 Quartz (Citrine) 7 2.658 Sapphire 9 4.049-4.060 Spinel 8 .614-3.654 Topaz (for “Oriental [...]

White or colourless stones

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:58:08 +0000

White or colourless stones

Hardness. Specific Gravity.

Beryl 7-3/4 2.709-2.81 Corundum 9 3.90-4.16 Diamond 10 3.502-3.564 Jade 7 3.300-3.381 Opal 5-1/2-6-1/2 2.160-2.283 Phenakite 7-3/4 2.965 Quartz 7 2.670 Rock-crystal 7 2.521-2.795 Sapphire 9 4.049-4.060 Spinel 8 3.614-3.654 Topaz 8 3.500-3.520 Tourmaline 7-1/4 3.029 Zircon 7-1/2 4.700-4.880

Heat-rays to precious stones

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:30:16 +0000

Another method of isolating certain stones is by the action of heat-rays.

Remembering our lessons in physics we recall that just as light-rays may be refracted, absorbed, or reflected, according to the media through which they are caused to pass, so do heat-rays possess similar properties.

Therefore, if heat-rays are projected through precious [...]

Phenakite to Rock-crystal

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:17:44 +0000

Group E. -Stones whose specific gravity lies between 2.50 and under 3.000.

Phenakite 2.965 Turquoise 2.800 Beryl 2.709 and occasionally to 2.81 Aquamarine 2.701 ” 2.80 Labradorite 2.700 Emerald 2.690 Quartz 2.670 Chrysoprase 2.670 Jasper 2.668 Amethyst 2.661 Hornstone 2.658 Citrine 2.658 Cordierite 2.641 Agate 2.610 Chalcedony 2.598 and occasionally to 2.610 Adularia 2.567 Rock-crystal [...]