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crystals,
gems and minerals
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Emerald
(May birthstone)
Emerald crystals from Coscozz Mine, Columbia
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Scientific:
The name Emerald is of
ancient origin. The Latin or Greek name "Smaragdus"
means green stone and appears to have
referred to all green stones in ancient
times. Emeralds are now considered as a
distinct species all of their own.
Emerald is a green form of beryl. It is the
most precious stone in the beryl family.
Other stones in the beryl family include
aquamarine (bluish-green), bixbite (red),
heliodor (yellow), and morganite (pink). Not
all gem quality green beryls are called
emeralds only those stones that are green
due to the presence of chromium. Green beryl
colored by vanadium and not chromium is not
emerald but are simply green beryl.
Emerald crystallizes in the structure of
prismatic crystals, sometimes vertically
striated and terminated by small
pyramid-like faces, as well as hexagonal,
and hexagonal prisms. |
Emerald crystals from Coscozz Mine, Columbia
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Emeralds
can be light or dark green, bright green or
leaf green or slightly yellowish green.
Color distribution is often irregular. A
dark slightly bluish green is most desired.
Only the finest specimens are transparent.
The pleochroism of emeralds is definite;
from green, blue green to yellow green. Only
occasionally do emeralds fluoresce.
The vitreous luster is not outstanding and
is strongest in medium light stones with few
inclusions. All emeralds contain inclusions
although in the best quality stones these
inclusions are very faint and not visible to
the naked eye. These inclusions can be seen
using a jeweler's loupe of at least 10X.
These inclusions are not necessarily
classified as faults but are evidence as to
the genuineness of the stone as compared
with synthetic or other imitations. These
inclusions are referred to as jardin (French
for garden).
The biggest and most beautiful emeralds come
from the famous Chivor and Muzo Mines near
Bogotá, Colombia where it occurs in black
limestone. Recently quantities of medium
light colored emeralds come from Brazil.
These emeralds have very few inclusions.
Small very intense colored stones come from
the Transvaal, South Africa. Recently small
deposits have been found in East Africa,
principally in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Nigeria,
Tanzania. Emeralds are also found in the
mountains of India, Norway, Afghanistan,
Pakistan, Russia and Bavaria and Austria.
Emeralds are also found in Australia, Ghana,
Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Egypt,
Namibia and North Carolina in the USA. |
Emerald cabs
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Stones of
good color weighing more than 2 carats are
among the most highly valued gemstones and
their price may equal or exceed that of
diamonds. Stones that are too light or too
dark or slightly turbid are usually quite a
bit less.
The color of emerald is very stable against
light and heat and only alter at
temperatures between 1292 and 1472 degrees
F. Emeralds are very brittle and sensitive
to pressure because they have internal
stress. Care must be taken when heating or
setting these stones. However, they are
resistant to all chemicals that are normally
used in the household. It is common practice
to oil emeralds to disguise the tiny flaws
including fractures and inclusions.
The most common shape for gem cutting
emeralds is the step cut or trap cut, which
is also known as the "Emerald cut" although
other cuts are also used. Cameos, intaglios
and beads can make the best of a flawed
stone.
Hardness: 7.5 - 8
Chemical Composition: Be3(Al,Cr)2Si6O18 or
Al2Be3Si6O18
Aluminum beryllium silicate with traces of
chromium produce the green color of
emeralds. |
Emerald crystal from Russia
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History:
It was first found in
calcite veins and mined by the Incas. At the
time of the Spanish conquest of Peru in
1531, an Emerald Goddess, Umina, dominated
the Peruvian city of Manta. Her image was an
enormous emerald crystal. Her priests had
collected a great store of her "daughters,"
smaller emeralds offered by the faithful.
The conquistadors seized all this booty.
Their missionary priest, Fray Reginaldo de
Pedraza, encouraged the soldiers to "test"
the stones by smashing them with hammers,
for he claimed that real emeralds would not
shatter and those that broke were only
imitations, inhabited by devils and fit only
for destruction. He did not subject his own
gems to this test but sold them later for
high prices. |
Emerald crystal from Russia
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The Romans
are known to have imitated emeralds with
skillfully worked green glass.
Emperor Nero had a famous emerald through
which he watched the gladiator games.
There are many very famous large emeralds
kept in many museums around the world
including the 4.5 inch 2200 carat vase
carved from a single crystal in the Viennese
Treasury. |
emerald necklace with emerald crystal in
matrix
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Lore:
Emeralds were sacred to
the Great Goddess, symbolizing her
green-clad earth in spring festivals.
Emerald remained the stone of Venus, or
Aphrodite, to be worn on her holy day,
Friday.
Her Greek consort Hermes, who became the god
of magic because he was privy to her
secrets, was said to have composed the
famous Emerald Tablet, with the ultimate
Words of Creation written on emerald. The
Egyptians, who called him Thoth, said that
his tablet was made of "matrix emerald." |
emerald crystals in quartz from Columbia
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In the
Middle Ages, Hermes became the mythical
father of alchemy, Hermes Trismegistus. His
magical tablet became the mythical prototype
of the Koran, in Arabian tradition the
Preserved Tablet, or Mother of the Book.
The emerald's established sacredness led a
biblical writer to describe the throne of
God as surrounded by a rainbow that looked
like an emerald (Revelation 4:3).
Rabbinic legend said that emerald was one of
the four precious stones that God gave to
Solomon.
Medieval tradition insisted that the Holy
Grail was carved from a single huge emerald,
which had fallen from Satan's crown during
his descent from heaven to the underworld. |
tumbled emeralds
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Metaphysical:
The emerald symbolizes abundance and
richness. It has been said that if one
drinks emerald water for 3 days it will
manifest those things that are most desired.
Or, it is recommended that everyone should
drink water in which an emerald has lain.
This is an effective healing potion because
"Emerald is a living energy field that
represents universal intelligence."
The emerald should be worn alone for if it
is worn with other stones its power can be
diminished.
Emerald is known as a "stone of successful
love". It is said to provide for domestic
bliss and to instill sensitivity, loyalty
and harmony within the self and within
others. It can be used to open, to activate,
and to stimulate the heart chakra. It has
been used to help to quiet the emotions. It
is a stone to bring harmony to all areas of
ones life. |
emerald cut emeralds
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It can
also assist in inciting one to activity and
to facilitate intensity and focus in ones
actions. It is said to give one the strength
needed to take the positive actions needed
to accomplish ones lifework or fulfill ones
destiny.
Emerald has been used to eliminate
negativity from ones life. It can help to
bring awareness of the unknown to conscious
recognition, helping one to access the laws
of order within the universe and to
eliminate from ones life that which impedes
progress.
It has been called the "Revealer or truth".
Sometimes emerald is regarded as the enemy
of sexual passion. Therefore, this might not
actually be the stone of the goddess of
love... |
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Teresa's Rock of the Week, formerly Gail's Rock of the Week |
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