Property |
Specification |
Chemical Composition |
Beryllium Aluminum Silicate (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) |
Color |
Green (varies from light to dark green) |
Hardness (Mohs scale) |
7.5 to 8 |
Density |
2.67 to 2.78 g/cm³ |
Crystal System |
Hexagonal |
Refractive Index |
1.57 to 1.60 |
Cleavage |
Imperfect (in two directions) |
Transparency |
Transparent to translucent |
Luster |
Vitreous (glassy) |
Fracture |
Conchoidal (smooth, curved surfaces) |
Inclusions |
Commonly contains inclusions, known as "jardin" (garden) |
Shape |
Irregular to ovoid, depending on the rough specimen |
Size |
Varies (from small fragments to large boulders) |
Color Intensity |
Dependent on origin, typically more intense from Colombia |
Origin |
Mainly found in Colombia, Zambia, Brazil, and Afghanistan |