Red Beryl
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Archaeodontosaurus" title="User:Archaeodontosaurus">Didier Descouens</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameRed Beryl
Chemical FormulaBe3Al2Si6O18
Mohs Hardness7.5
Crystal Systemhexagonal
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavageimperfect basal
Fractureconchoidal to uneven
Specific Gravity2.66
Colorsred, purplish-red, magenta
Transparencytransparent
Type LocalityWah Wah Mts, Beaver Co., Utah, USA
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usesjewelry, collector
Associated Mineralstopaz, pseudobrookite, hematite, bixbyite
Rarityvery-rare
Description
This specimen features vibrant purplish-red, prismatic crystals of Red Beryl embedded in a light-colored, granular matrix. The largest crystal is approximately 1.7 cm long, displaying good crystal form and transparency.
Geological Context
Red Beryl forms in rhyolitic volcanic rocks, specifically within lithophysae (gas cavities) in topaz rhyolite, under high-temperature, low-pressure conditions. Its formation is linked to hydrothermal activity in these volcanic environments.
