Gemstone profile and identification guide
Beryl is often discussed with one eye on colour and the other on where the material comes from. That combination of blue body colour, 7.5 Mohs hardness, and vitreous lustre is what usually makes it recognisable in practice. The secondary green note often matters more than people expect when separating it from lookalikes.
Beryl is often discussed with one eye on colour and the other on where the material comes from. That combination of blue body colour, 7.5 Mohs hardness, and vitreous lustre is what usually makes it recognisable in practice. The secondary green note often matters more than people expect when separating it from lookalikes.
Did you know? Beryl is commonly associated with material from Brazil, though the broader trade may draw on multiple localities.
Use this profile as a collector reference and educational guide for quick on-page comparison, then validate with the interactive identification system.
Name: Beryl
Scientific classification: Cyclosilicate (Beryl Group)
Hardness: 7.5 Mohs
Transparency: transparent
Lustre: vitreous
Crystal system: Hexagonal
Primary colour: Blue
Secondary colour: Green
Colour family: Blues & Cyans
A practical identification pass begins with the visible basics: transparent transparency, vitreous lustre, 7.5 Mohs hardness, and a hexagonal crystal system. The interaction between blue and green tones is more useful than the primary colour alone when comparing candidates. Useful side-by-side comparisons include Emerald, Aquamarine, Morganite.
Status: verified-family-derived
Reference priority: GIA, Gem-A, Mindat, International Gem Society
Core identity fields inherited from verified parent profile: emerald.
Beryl profile uses beryl species-level core identity fields.
Variety-level locality and treatment specifics can differ and should be reviewed before publication-grade claims.
Hardness category: hard
Hardness value: 7.5 Mohs
Chemical composition: Beryllium aluminum silicate (Be3Al2Si6O18)
Crystal system: Hexagonal
Common locations: Colombia (Muzo, Chivor, Coscuez), Zambia (Kagem), Brazil, Ethiopia, Afghanistan
Learn more: Gem-A gemstone education resources.
Beryl sits in the blues & cyans grouping here, usually reading first as blue with green appearing as a secondary note or modifier.
Optical effects: None specified in the current dataset.
Mineral species: Beryl
Mineral group: Beryl group
Chemical formula: Beryllium aluminum silicate (Be3Al2Si6O18)
Mohs hardness: 7.5
Crystal system: Hexagonal
Lustre: vitreous
Transparency: transparent
Streak: White
Cleavage: Indistinct basal cleavage
Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven
Specific gravity: 2.66-2.80
Refractive index: 1.57-1.60
Optical phenomena: None commonly reported
Colour range: Blue, Green
Common inclusions: Two-phase fluid inclusions, growth tubes, feathers, and zoning
Geological environment: Beryl occurs in Granitic pegmatites and hydrothermal beryllium-bearing veins. Its Hexagonal structure reflects the pressure-temperature conditions of those host rocks, with notable occurrences in Colombia (Muzo, Chivor, Coscuez), Zambia (Kagem), Brazil, Ethiopia, Afghanistan.
Principal mining regions: Colombia (Muzo, Chivor, Coscuez), Zambia (Kagem), Brazil, Ethiopia, Afghanistan
Important commercial sources: Colombia and Zambia are principal commercial sources, with additional production from Brazil, Ethiopia, and Afghanistan
Historical significance: Beryl varieties have been used in gems and ornament since antiquity.
Common treatments: Variety-dependent: emerald often clarity-enhanced with oils/resins; aquamarine and morganite are commonly heat treated.
Synthetic or imitation forms: Hydrothermal synthetic emerald and various glass/composite imitations are present in trade.
Common look-alikes: emerald, aquamarine, morganite
Jewellery uses: Beryl is used chiefly for A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.. In the trade it is commonly fashioned as faceted stones, calibrated cuts, and higher-clarity collector pieces, with Mohs hardness 7.5 guiding suitable jewellery applications.
Care recommendations: Beryl should be cleaned with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft brush. At Mohs 7.5 in the Hexagonal system, avoid steam cleaners, harsh chemicals, and high-impact wear. Use only gentle cleaning because treatment residues can be damaged by heat or aggressive chemicals.
Cross-check profile data with GIA Gem Encyclopedia and Mindat entry for Beryl.
Beryl is a Beryl material with chemistry Beryllium aluminum silicate (Be3Al2Si6O18). It develops in Granitic pegmatites and hydrothermal beryllium-bearing veins, and economically significant production is associated with Colombia (Muzo, Chivor, Coscuez), Zambia (Kagem), Brazil, Ethiopia, Afghanistan.
Colombia and Zambia are principal commercial sources, with additional production from Brazil, Ethiopia, and Afghanistan
Best for: Beryl is used chiefly for A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.. In the trade it is commonly fashioned as faceted stones, calibrated cuts, and higher-clarity collector pieces, with Mohs hardness 7.5 guiding suitable jewellery applications.
Ideal uses: A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.
Beryl should be cleaned with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft brush. At Mohs 7.5 in the Hexagonal system, avoid steam cleaners, harsh chemicals, and high-impact wear. Use only gentle cleaning because treatment residues can be damaged by heat or aggressive chemicals.
Need another candidate? Use advanced gemstone search or return to the identification guide.
Compare hardness (7.5 Mohs), crystal system (Hexagonal), colour profile, and lustre (vitreous) with your sample. Then cross-check related gemstones listed above.
Beryl sits in the blues & cyans grouping here, usually reading first as blue with green appearing as a secondary note or modifier.
A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.. For maintenance, follow the care guidance in this profile.
GIA: general gemstone identity (reviewed) - Reviewed as a variety profile derived from verified parent gemstone: emerald.
Gem-A: gemological education and terminology (reviewed) - Reviewed as a variety profile derived from verified parent gemstone: emerald.
Mindat: mineral species and locality index (reviewed) - Reviewed as a variety profile derived from verified parent gemstone: emerald.
International Gem Society: collector-facing gem reference (reviewed) - Reviewed as a variety profile derived from verified parent gemstone: emerald.
