| The
Chrysoberyl family is best known
for the more valuable alexandrite
and catseye varieties. Faceted chrysoberyl
is a beautiful gem which is not
as well known in its own right.
Apart from the high hardness, it
takes a good polish and has a good
luster. |
| Gemological
Information |
| Color
: |
Yellow,
Green, Color Changing, Red, Blue-Green,
Greenish-Yellow or Brown. |
| Refractive
Index: |
1.741
- 1.760 |
| Chemical
Composition: |
BeAl2O4 |
| Hardness: |
8.50 |
| Density: |
3.73 |
| Crystal
Group: |
Orthorhombic |
| Ocurrence: |
Sri
Lanka, Tanzania, Russia, Madagascar,
Brazil. |
| With
a hardness of 8.5 on Moh's scale,
chrysoberyl is extremely hard and
third only to corundum (9.0), and
diamond (10) in hardness. Faceted
chrysoberyl is a beautiful gem. |
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