GOLDEN BERYL

SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION: Beryl is Beryllium aluminum silicate, frequently with some sodium, lithium and cesium. The chemistry is Be3Al2Si60qi. The hardness is between 7-1/2 and 8 and the streak is white. Although what we're talking about here is the beautiful Golden Beryl, remember that Emerald and Aquamarine are also Beryls. Golden Beryl ranges in color from almost canary to gold, in the best examples. Other stones are a dull yellow, sometimes with a hint of green.

ENVIRONMENT: Beryl develops in pegmatites and certain metamorphic rocks. It occurs with quartz, microcline, and muscovite in pegmatites, and with quartz, muscovite, and almandine in schist of regional metamorphic rocks.

OCCURRENCE: Beryl has been mined commercially from pegmatites in the New England states. In addition fine specimens have come from California and North Carolina. Gem quality Golden Beryl is mined in Brazil, Virginia and Madagascar.

GEMSTONE INFORMATION: These stones are usually given a mixed, oval, or sometimes round cut. Gems even 10 or more carats in weight are not uncommon. Inclusions in the form of roughly parallel bundles of narrow tubules may be clearly visible with a lens and can reduce the stone's transparency and luster.

NAME: The name is from the Greek [beryllos], indicating any green gemstone. (The majority of Beryl mined is some shade of green.)

LEGEND and LORE: In the past, Golden Beryl has been cut into spheres for scrying and was considered superior to Clear Quartz. This stone has often been confused with Topaz and used for the same types of things.

MAGICAL PROPERTIES: This stone is said to protect the wearer from being manipulated (telepathically). Almost all colors of Beryl, including the Golden are said to increase psychic awareness. With its beautiful Golden Color it would be associated with the Sun.

HEALING: This stone is recommended for ailments of the liver, stomach, glands and eyes. It is said to energize the body in a general way and to boost the immune system. Golden Beryl is a good stone to use for exhaustion or depression, nausea, diarrhea, ulcers, constipation and obesity.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: I do not have this stone in my collection. (But it is on my "list" for the future!) NOTES: Golden Beryl can sometimes look very similar to yellow Chrysoberyl, from which it is distinguished only by its physical characteristics. The Yellow-green variety of Beryl is called Heliodor.

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1. Scientific, Environment, Occurrence and Name are from (or paraphrased from) "The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals".

2. Precious and semi-precious gemstone information may come from "Gemstones" by E. H. Rutland.

3. Other Precious and semi-precious gemstone information may come from "Gem Cutting", sec. ed., by John Sinkankas.

4. Legends and Lore, Magical Properties are from "Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic", by Scott Cunningham.

5. Some of the healing information may come from "Color and Crystals, A Journey Through the Chakras" by Joy Gardner.

6. Some of the healing information may come from "A Journey Through the Chakras" by Joy Gardner.

7. Personal Experience is from MY personal experience, journals and notebooks, by Tandika Star.

8. Birthstone poem from "The Occult and Curative Powers of Precious Stones" by William T. Fernie, M.D.