Photo of Goshenite Beryl in Processed & Rough Form
Goshenite Beryl is a mineral with a hardness of 8 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness [?]. These Hexagonally structured gems are made of beryllium aluminum silicate, their full chemical compound being Be3Al2(SiO3)6.
Goshenite is a colorless sodium-rich gem variety of Beryl, a group which includes Emerald and Aquamarine. Other gem beryls include Heliodor and Morganite.
It also appears are pale-green, apple-green, to bluish. All beryls are resistant to chemicals with the exception of fluoric acid. They are brittle and therefore easily damaged by knocks, have a vitreous luster, and occur with aquamarine.
Their individual crystals are sometimes enormous, up to 30 ft long and weighing 25 tons. They appear as hexagonal prisms, often without terminations or bounded only by the basal pinacoid or by the combination of basal pinacoids and hexagonal dipyramids. The prism faces are often striated.
They are very hard, light, with imperfect basal cleavage, often contains a great many inclusions, making it opaque.
They are characteristic of granite rocks and pegmatites, where they sometimes occur in enormous crystals. They are also present in very high-temperature hydrothermal deposits (greisen) associated with quartz, spodumene, cassiterite, columbite, tantalite, and other rare minerals.
Why isn't Goshenite as popular as other Beryls?
Despite being the purest form of beryl, Goshenite's colorless nature makes it less desirable than its colored siblings (emerald, aquamarine, morganite). Its similarity to other colorless stones like quartz and topaz affects market demand.
Was Goshenite really used for early eyeglasses?
Yes! Due to its clarity and optical properties, Goshenite was historically used for eyeglasses and primitive lenses. Its high clarity and lack of color made it ideal for early optical instruments before the advent of modern glass manufacturing.
How can I tell Goshenite from other colorless stones?
Goshenite has a hardness of 7.5-8, distinctive hexagonal crystal structure, and different optical properties from similar-looking stones. It's harder than quartz but softer than topaz. Professional testing may be needed for definitive identification.
Where does the name Goshenite come from?
Named after Goshen, Massachusetts, where it was first discovered. The town remains historically significant in mineralogy, though most modern Goshenite comes from other locations worldwide.
Why do some Goshenites appear slightly yellowish?
Trace elements can cause slight coloration. Pure Goshenite is completely colorless, but minimal iron content can create faint yellow tints. Some stones are heat-treated to remove unwanted tints.
Is it true Goshenite can become other Beryls?
While Goshenite can be irradiated to produce other colors, these treatments create different varieties of beryl. Natural Goshenite is valued for its purity and lack of color-causing elements.
The specific gravity [?] for Goshenite Beryl is 2.8, its refractive index [?] is 1.58-1.59, and its double refraction [?] is 0.008.
History
Goshenite is named after a find in Goshen, Massachusetts (USA). In antiquity, eye glasses were made from colorless beryl.
Industrial Usages
Goshenite is used as imitation for diamond and emerald, by foiling the cut stone with silver or green metal foil.
Beryls are the main industrial source of beryllium, used in the nuclear industry and in light, very strong alloys in the aircraft industry. The salts are used in fluorescent lamps, in x-ray tubes and as a deoxidizer in bronze metallurgy.
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