What is an emerald? Properties, mining, history of the gemstone. What do emeralds look like? Types of emeralds Where is the emerald

Emerald is one of the most famous gemstones in human society. It has been repeatedly sung and mentioned in various cultures, and a large number of myths and fairy tales are associated with it.

Geologically, natural emerald is a variety of beryl that has green tones that are occasionally combined with blue. It is the color scheme of the stone that contributes to its high value, which often leaves diamonds behind. Since ancient times, this precious stone was considered a symbol of wisdom and hope. And in ancient Greece it was called the stone of radiance.

Description of the stone

The name “emerald” itself refers to a specific type of beryl - aquamarine, which has a green tint. This is where the second name of the stone comes from – “green ice”. The greenness in the structure is due to the presence of a small amount of chromium.

The characteristics and properties of emerald are largely determined by this proportion of chromium. Scientists have long established that some types of emeralds contain vanadium, which plays the “role” of chromium. Since this discovery, vanadium has been found in many deposits. The parameters of the stone depend on the location.

The density of emeralds in Colombia and Siberia is about 2.712 on average. The stones found in the Brazilian expanses have a reduced density (2.670). In South Africa, on the contrary, this figure is overestimated – up to 2,770. The high density is explained by the presence in the structure of metals such as cesium and rubidium. These alkaline compounds have a positive effect on the parameter under consideration.

It is easy to distinguish an emerald from a mass of different similar stones - its peculiarity lies in its purity and transparency. In terms of its strength indicators, it is among the leaders. Moreover, geologists believe that the hardness of the stone continues to increase. And the transparency of the structure attracts the attention of connoisseurs of natural beauty and serves as the main criterion that increases the value of the stone.

Together with diamond, emerald (also ruby) is one of the most expensive stones. Stones that are clean, faceted and free of visible defects in structure and shape are especially highly valued. The optimal weight for connoisseurs is 6 carats. The cost of such specimens sometimes goes beyond imaginable limits!

Emerald is a green variety of beryl. This gem has been known to mankind since the time of the Sumerian civilization. One of the earliest names for this mineral - the Sanskrit "marakata" - is mentioned in the ancient Indian book Bhagavata Purana, dating back to approximately 3100 BC. e.

In Latin and Ancient Greek, emerald was called “smaragdos” (Latin smaragdus, Greek oiiraubos), which literally means “green stone”.

Pliny the Elder wrote in volume XXXVII of Natural History: “There are twelve species of emerald, but the noblest of them are Scythian, named after the tribe from which they are found. No other emeralds have a more saturated color, and they also have the fewest flaws. As much as emeralds are more expensive than any other precious stones, Scythian emeralds are more expensive than other emeralds. The closest to the Scythian ones in terms of fame are the Bactrian ones. However, they say that they are smaller in size than the Scythian ones..."

Initially, in the Russian language, an unprecedented green gem appears under the name “izmagd” in the manuscript “On the Position of Jerusalem” of the 11th century. Only one document of the 16th century has survived, in which the following is written: “... on the other side of the country there are stones hanging... on the right sardia, topaz, izmragd.”

However, there is no evidence that anyone in Rus' before the beginning of the 15th century. saw an emerald or held it in his hands. The first evidence that this gem found its owner in Rus' appears only in the middle of the 15th century. This stone was first mentioned under the name “izumrut”: “Icon of gold on izumrut.” The document talks about cut gems brought from abroad.

There is evidence that the first emerald of Russian origin was found in 1669 by M.I. Pylyaev in his book “Precious Stones” refers to an article published in the “Bulletin of the Geographical Society” in 1860, which states: “In the above-mentioned year [meaning 1669], Dmitry Tumashev built above the Murzinskaya settlement on the river. Neiva blast furnace and submitted an announcement to the Verkhoturye voivode Fyodor Khrushchev that he had found an emery stone on Neiva, which is suitable for any diamond business and at the same time announced; two emeralds, three stones with purple sparks and three topazes, and that he found those stones over the river. Neiva to the proximity of the Murzinsky fort.”

At the end of the 18th century. Academician V.M. Severgin in his work “The Kingdom of Fossils” wrote: “...emeralds are found in the Verkhoturye Urals, along the Vagran River.”

However, if you follow the official version, the first emerald in Russia was found in 1839 by Maxim Kozhevnikov, a peasant from the Beloyarsk volost. The discovery occurred in the Yekaterinburg district, on the coast of the Tokovaya River. The aforementioned Peasant was examining the roots of a tree that had been torn up by a storm, and accidentally found green gems in the hole underneath them.

Since the 19th century nothing changed. Until now, emeralds in Russia are mined at the only Malyshev emerald deposit, which is located near Yekaterinburg.

During the Soviet Union, this deposit was of interest mainly as a source of materials for the military industry. Beryllium, tantalum and uranium were mined there, and emeralds were a by-product that was sold abroad. This brought the Soviet Union up to four hundred million dollars a year.

After the collapse of the USSR, in the “troubled 90s,” beryllium ceased to interest anyone and the mine changed many owners. Foreigners and criminal circles tried to take over the production, and as a result, the work of Malyshevsky completely stopped. Activities resumed only after the personal intervention of Russian President V.V. Putin.

Although Russian emeralds are not considered high-quality and expensive on the world market, there is now hope that jewelry with natural Russian stones will appear in jewelry stores.

The first known emerald deposit was in Egypt. Mining of green stone has been going on since the 300s. BC. up to the 17th century. Before the Spanish conquest of America in the 16th century. Egypt remained the only country supplying emeralds to Europe.

The quality of Egyptian emeralds, the only ones known until the 16th century, was extremely low. But even the weakly saturated color and many cracks did not affect the value of these stones. Good, high-quality emeralds appeared in Europe only when the Spaniards found and took ceremonial jewelry from the Indians of South America. The country where the Indians mined emeralds is now called Colombia. Stones from there are considered the best and most expensive in the world. According to various estimates, from 75 to 90% of all modern emeralds are mined there.

In addition, large deposits of emeralds are located in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Brazil. This gemstone is found in small quantities in Austria, Australia, Bulgaria, Germany, Egypt, India, Spain, Italy, China, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Norway, Somalia, USA, Tanzania, France, Switzerland and Ethiopia.

Astrological and medicinal properties of emerald

The Jewelry Industry Council of America and the British National Jewelers Association have designated emerald as the birthstone for the month of May.

Emerald is a talisman for people born under the sign of Taurus. Since ancient times, there has been a belief that this stone grants its owner the loyalty of a loved one. There is also an opinion that green allows its owner to see the future and sharpens intuition.

Another medieval misconception from the same source states the following:

“To heal a person stung by a snake or scorpion, you should mix an emerald with rose water, chant it and apply it to the wound. Those who wear this stone are also freed from melancholy and hypochondria.”

If it is a cure for melancholy and hypochondria, then we can somehow agree. Indeed, if you give someone jewelry with an emerald, their mood will improve in any case. But you should not experiment with curing a snake or scorpion bite with rose water and emerald. Practice says that the faster you use a modern antidote that is not based on medieval recipes, the higher the likelihood of staying alive.

Marbod, Bishop of Rennes (1035-1123), wrote in the “Book of Stones” (12th century) that emerald cures fever and alleviates attacks of epilepsy, endows its owner with supernatural clairvoyance, and also develops many useful properties, such as eloquence and exceptional memory.

Saint Epiphanius of Cyprus in the 4th century. in the book “Twelve. Gems from Aaron's vestment" described the emerald as a gem that resists any magic and any witchcraft. He argued that no magic or witchcraft is possible if this stone is somewhere nearby.

The green gem has always been considered a healing stone that promotes relaxation and calm. In the Middle Ages, they believed that emerald could protect against malaria, cholera, dysentery, help newborns survive, and prevent epileptic seizures and insomnia.

It is widely believed that emerald has a positive effect on vision. One of the medieval recipes says: “...to strengthen vision (the light of the eyes), rub emerald thoroughly on porphyry and, mixing it with safran, apply it to the eyes.” Leaving this statement to the conscience of the author, it is nevertheless necessary to note that the positive effect of emerald on vision was noted by many ancient scientists.

Pliny the Elder mentions in Natural History XXXVII. 16 that Emperor Nero watched gladiator fights through a huge emerald. This emerald has haunted historians for many centuries. There is a version that this stone is still kept in the vaults of the Vatican Museum. Other scientists insist that it was not an emerald, but a huge peridot or even simple green glass.

Color and price of emerald

The influence of shades and the smallest nuances of color on the price of an emerald is very significant. Color is so important that all other characteristics are often neglected, even cleanliness. High quality emeralds are considered to be bluish-green and green stones. Any deviation of the shade from this range transforms this gem into a cheaper variety - green beryl.

Russia has its own standard for assessing the quality of emeralds: TU 95 335-88. The definitions adopted in this standard are not used anywhere else in the world.

The color of emerald according to TU 95 335-88 belongs to one of five groups:

• Group 1 - dark green.
• Group 2 - medium-dark green.
• Group 3 - medium green.
• Group 4 - medium-light green.
• Group 5 - light green.

The color is determined by comparing the sample under study with a reference stone. The most expensive colors are those belonging to groups 1 to 3.

The clarity of an emerald is determined by how the gem is cut. Cabochon-cut emeralds are divided into two categories - K1 and K2, where K1 is the best clarity and K2 is the worst.

Emeralds with facets are divided into categories G1, G2, G3. Where G1 is the best purity, and G3 is the worst.

The first group is emeralds with facets:

G1 - transparent, inclusions and cracks are rare, barely visible to the naked eye;
G2 - transparent, forming condensations and a network in certain zones of the stone, visible to the naked eye;
G3 - partially lost transparency in the peripheral zone of the stone, forming condensations and a network in the volume of the stone, visible to the naked eye.

The second group includes cabochon-cut emeralds:

K1 - partially lost transparency in the peripheral zone of the stone, forming condensations and a network in the volume of the stone, visible to the naked eye;
K2 - those that have lost transparency in the central zone or in the volume of the stone, forming a dense network throughout the entire volume of the stone, visible to the naked eye.

If the characteristics of an emerald are not indicated on the jewelry tag, this means that the stone does not have the characteristics of jewelry quality and, most likely, does not have the right to be called an emerald. In this case, you have green beryl.

The characteristics of an emerald on a Russian jewelry tag are indicated as follows.

1. The inscription “emerald” must be present. If there is no such inscription, then this means that cheaper green beryl is fixed in the jewelry.
2. Further, the word “emerald” should be followed by a notation in the form of a fraction C/H, where “C” is one of the five color groups, and “H” is one of the five purity groups.

For example, the jewelry tag says: “Emerald 2/G3.” This suggests that:

• firstly, the jewelry contains a cut gem-quality emerald (as the characteristics are indicated);
• secondly, this stone has a good color - 2;
• thirdly, the emerald is partially transparent only in the center due to numerous cracks or inclusions (category “G3”);

In general, these are the characteristics of a fairly good, expensive stone.

Emeralds 1/G1-2/G1 will be very expensive. just expensive 1/G2-3/G2 and 1/G3-3/G3. Until recently, the document “Price List: Selling prices for natural perfectly cut emeralds from 02.1997 in dollars excluding VAT” was used as a price guide in Russia. The information provided there is hopelessly outdated and has nothing to do with real prices. For example, the highest price for 1/G1 quality emeralds weighing 4.00-4.99 carats is $2,835 per carat. If we translate the characteristics of the stone from TU 95 335-88 into the GIA system, then today an emerald of this quality and with this weight costs about $8,500 per carat. The whole world (except Russia) uses the GIA system to evaluate gems. It clearly determines the quality of stones, down to which specific price categories certain shades of color belong to. Below are GIA guidelines for grading emeralds.

Commercial quality emeralds

According to the GIA system, commercial quality emeralds include stones with the following characteristics.

Purity groups:

• inclusions are very noticeable (English: Severely Included);
• highly noticeable (English: Heavily Included);

Color groups:

• very strong blue-green (vstbG) with saturation/hue 4/3, 8/3, 7/4;
• blue-green (bG) with saturation/hue 4/3, 7/3;
• very weak blue-green (vslbG) with saturation/hue 7/3;
• green (G) with saturation/hue 4/3, 7/3;

Either very light or very dark, slightly saturated stones with highly visible inclusions fall into this category. The price of commercial emeralds depends on the weight of the stone; the greater the weight, the higher the price:

• from 0.01 to 1.99 carats from $10 to 120 per carat;
• from 2.00 to 3.99 carats from $30 to 600 per carat;
• from 4.00 to 5.99 carats from $50 to 800 per carat;
• from 6.00 to 15.00 carats from $75 to 1200 per carat.

You can see that the price range is very large and, therefore, we should expect a big difference in the quality of the stones. The main feature of the commercial category is that it includes stones that are almost always refined using the method of filling cracks (fracture filling).

Premium quality emeralds

According to the GIA system, the group of premium quality emeralds includes stones with the following characteristics.

Purity groups:

• inclusions are moderately noticeable;
• Slightly Included inclusions.

Color groups:

• very strong blue-green (vstbG) with saturation/hue 6/4;
• blue-green (bG) with saturation/hue 674;
• very weak blue-green (vslbG) with saturation/hue 4/4;
• green (G) with saturation/hue 6/4.

Premium stones include stones of medium-dark and medium-light tones and medium-high saturation. Emeralds in this category weighing from 1 carat are almost always sold with a certificate from a gemological laboratory.

The prices for premium emeralds are approximately in the following ranges:

• from 0.01 to 0.09 carats from $90 to 600 per carat;
• from 0.10 to 0.99 carats from $200 to 1000 per carat;
• from 1.00 to 2.99 carats from $500 to 4500 per carat;
• from 3.00 to 4.99 carats from $1000 to 5500 per carat;
• from 5.00 to 15.00 carats from $1500 to 7500 per carat.

Top quality emeralds

According to the GIA system, the highest quality emeralds include stones with the following characteristics.

Cleanliness group

• inclusions not visible to the naked eye (English: Eye-clean).

Color groups:

• very strong blue-green (vstbG) with saturation/hue 5/5;
• blue-green (bG) with saturation/hue 5/5;
• very weak blue-green (vslbG) with saturation/hue 6/4, 5/5;
• green (G) with saturation/hue 5/5.

Emeralds of the highest quality category are extremely rare on sale. These are medium-tone stones with strong or bright color saturation, without inclusions visible to the naked eye. The complete lack of refining makes the stone 10-50% more expensive, depending on the weight of the stone. The larger the emerald, the more expensive you will have to pay for the lack of refining. Top quality emeralds weighing 0.5 carats or more are always sold with a certificate from a gemological laboratory.

Below are the price ranges for the highest quality stones:

• from 0.01 to 0.09 carats from $700 to 1000 per carat;
• from 0.10 to 0.49 carats from $1100 to 2000 per carat;
• from 0.50 to 0.99 carats from $2000 to 3500 per carat.

Unrefined emeralds of the highest quality category weighing from 0.01 to 0.99 carats are valued at 10-20% more expensive:

• from 1.00 to 2.99 carats from $4000 to 7000 per carat.

Unrefined emeralds of the highest quality category weighing from 1.00 to 2.99 carats are valued at 20-30% more expensive:

• from 3.00 to 5.99 carats from $6,000 to 9,500 per carat;
• from 6.00 to 15.00 carats from $8,000 to 13,000 per carat;

Unrefined emeralds of the highest quality category weighing from 3.00 to 15.00 carats are valued at 30-60% more expensive.

To understand how important the nuances of color are for an emerald, let's take two stones with the same weight of one carat. Let the color of these emeralds according to the certificate be the same “very weak blue-green” (vslbG), but the saturation and tone are different. Suppose the first gem is vslbG 7/3, its expanded description reads: “Dark very slightly greyish very slightly bluish Green”, and the second vslbG 5/5, expanded description reads: “Medium strong very slightly bluish Green” . If the first one will cost the buyer no more than $300, then for the second one he will have to pay about $4000-6000, depending on how he can negotiate with the seller.

Sometimes the color is named after the deposit of the stone. From emerald sellers, you may hear about colors such as Colombian, Zambian, Zimbabwean and Brazilian. The Colombian color is considered the best. Most often it means the vslbG color group, 5-6 tones and 5-6 saturations. When people talk about Zambian color, they mean bluish green (bG), with 6-7 darker tones. It should be noted that, compared to Colombian emeralds, Zambian emeralds contain significantly fewer inclusions.

Zimbabwean emeralds are distinguished by their spectrally pure, intense green color (G). As a rule, these stones are rarely found larger than 1 carat.

All less saturated emeralds are called Brazilian.

When assessing the value of an emerald, one should be guided by a verbal description with great caution. The name of the area of ​​origin does not say anything about the exact color characteristics of the stone and its value. Moreover, in the same deposit you can find emeralds of completely different colors. For example, Afghan emeralds are very similar in color to Colombian emeralds, and Ural emeralds are very similar to Zambian emeralds.

The magic stone emerald is a talisman for sailors and mothers. Strengthening memory, relieving tension, relieving stress and maintaining chastity - this is just a small list of the properties inherent in emerald. Jewelry with emerald stones is considered a luxurious gift. However, when purchasing accessories with a gem for yourself or as a gift, it is worth considering that emerald is not suitable for everyone.

Description of emerald and its properties

Description of the stone

Emerald is a stone of the beryl variety with igneous origin. This is a fairly rare stone of high value. The green mineral has in its structure chromium impurity crystals with a slight replacement of aluminum ions. Sometimes the presence of vanadium and iron is observed in impurities. An untreated crystal has many defects and flaws, so to give the stone sophistication and beauty, it must be cut.

The main and surprising feature of the processed material is its ability to change its shade, if you turn the stone at a certain angle. Having different saturations, stones can vary in price: the most expensive specimen has a deep green tint and crystal transparency. There are stones that have a more saturated color in the central part than in the peripheral part. Emeralds over 5 carats are more valuable than similar diamonds.

Green gem is a rather fragile material, its hardness is slightly lower than that of diamond.

History of emerald

Emerald is translated from Greek as “green stone”. Since ancient times, the emerald gem has been highly popular among people, bewitching and attracting the eye. However, earlier the stone had a different name - smaragd(more details - emerald, Wikipedia). The gem has always been revered by many peoples, being a sign of prosperity and stateliness.

Many believe that the mineral has strong mystical and healing properties; in addition, it has incomparable beauty, for which it has become one of the most revered gems in many countries. The emerald is the most valuable among Muslims, as its color is believed to belong to Islam.

The Aztecs and Incas considered the gem sacred. The stone was attributed many mystical qualities, he was respected and worshiped. That is why it was a particularly valuable gift; the emerald was presented as a sign of fidelity and love. It was believed that owning an emerald meant happiness and luck. Women who possessed the gem claimed that their births were quick and, most importantly, without pain.

Emerald deposits have been developed since the times of the Egyptian pharaohs, but today they are practically depleted. But thanks to modern technologies, artificial emeralds are actively being produced, which are practically no different from the natural mineral.

It is impossible to distinguish natural stone from artificial stone with the naked eye. The characteristics, composition and other parameters of the artificial material are identical to the natural one.

Today, the gem is actively used in the creation of jewelry. Bracelets, necklaces, rings and earrings decorated with emerald stones are given by lovers. Having such an accessory is still very prestigious these days.

Emerald: colors and varieties, photos

We all know that this crystal has a deep green color. However, natural stones may differ slightly from each other depending on their shade. There is the following variety of emerald minerals:

• stones of high value are mined in Colombia - they have grassy green color;
• minerals are mined in the same place deep green shade Trapiche having a distinctive characteristic - 6 rays extending from the center of the stone;
• The emerald mined in Zambia is the most transparent - it has pure green tint, slightly darker than the Columbia mineral;
• sometimes minerals mined in Zambia may have a bluish tint;
• the gem mined in Zimbabwe is different presence of a yellowish tint. Thanks to the amazing combination of green and yellow shades, this stone is highly valued in the jewelry industry.

Varieties of emerald

Emerald can be smooth, however, more often the mineral has microscopic cracks. Despite the fact that the material is quite hard, it chips very easily. For this reason, making jewelry with emeralds requires compliance with certain rules.

Properties of emerald - mystical and healing

A stone such as emerald not only has an excellent and unique appearance, but also a number of healing, and sometimes even “magical” properties. People have been using the unique functions of the mineral for the benefit of their health for several millennia.

It is believed that it promotes healing from many diseases. The main fields of activity of the magical mineral are the head, joints, stomach and bladder. Sometimes it is used to purify drinking water; it is enough to dip the mineral in a glass of water for one hour.

Since ancient times epilepsy was treated with crystal, he did an excellent job with insomnia, getting rid of nightmares and other sleep disturbances. The stone helps stabilize blood pressure, relieves headaches and tension, promotes stress relief and peace.

Surprisingly, the gem improves vision. To do this, you need to look at it every day for a certain time.

In ancient times, there was a belief that an emerald placed at the head of the bed would get rid of bad moods, bad thoughts and nightmares. Thanks to its powerful magical properties, the mineral still maintains its reputation as an assistant in getting rid of life’s problems and troubles. It miraculously relieves its owner from unnecessary obsessive thoughts: for example, it helps a criminal take the path of reform and helps spouses remain faithful.

Magic crystal brings success and good luck to its owner. However, he is not favorable to two-faced and evil people, attracting illnesses and failures to them. He will protect people with a pure soul and a kind heart and protect his entire family. Emerald promotes the birth of a healthy child.

Who is the stone suitable for?

A healing and amazing stone will be an excellent companion and talisman for people who prefer creative activities. It perfectly tunes its owner to inspiration and creativity, and contributes to the emergence of interesting and creative ideas.

It is believed that a certain stone is suitable for each zodiac sign in terms of energy. Emerald belongs to the following signs:

• Sagittarius The stone helps to assert oneself. Militant in nature, Sagittarians strive to succeed in all areas of their lives. It is the emerald that will become a good companion and assistant in achieving your goals.
• Gemini with the help of a magic crystal they will be able to acquire the confidence and composure they lack. It will help lonely Geminis arrange their personal lives. Geminis, in addition to emerald, are recommended to wear jewelry with amethyst, alexandrite, carnelian, rock crystal or pearls.
• Cancer emerald will help you gain peace, endurance and self-confidence. An amazing emerald stone in combination with sapphire, adularia and jade will help these people get rid of constraint and loneliness.

Regardless of your zodiac sign, it is worth remembering: green crystal is only suitable for pure and kind people. Those who live in discord with their own feelings and honor should not seek help from a magic stone.

Emerald is a stone that belongs to the grassy-green variety of beryl and is valued extremely highly. A green and sometimes bluish tint appears in colorless beryl due to chromium impurities.

The color of emerald is unique and represents the calling card of the stone.

The name of the mineral comes from the Persian language, and the deposit is considered to be Colombia, East Africa, and India. The magical properties of emerald and its healing functions are issues that have been hotly debated for several centuries. The description of the emerald worries researchers even now, since the functionality of the stone is amazing.

Characteristics of the mineral

It is not difficult to recognize a green emerald among other precious stones - it stands out for its elongated prismatic crystal shape, bright color and glassy luster. It is believed that complete information about the gem has not yet been revealed, and the knowledge of emerald stones continues.

Finding a pure green gem with an ideal shape is difficult, so cut minerals with bright colors and beautiful appearance are highly valued and are not available for purchase by most people. The cost of an emerald is comparable to the price of a diamond, since the mineral is one of the most expensive precious stones. At the same time, prices for pale emeralds are low. The uniqueness and originality of a precious mineral depends on its bright shine and the place of extraction.

Thus, the mineral found in Colombia is distinguished by its beautiful grassy color and bright shine.

Emerald is a soft mineral with an easily erasable surface that is susceptible to scratches. A damaged stone, lacking shine, is estimated to be 10 times cheaper than a polished one. Despite its softness, the mineral is considered durable, although inferior in hardness to rubies and diamonds. A detailed description of the stone plays a key role in determining its price.

Determining the cost of a stone

To find out how much an emerald costs, it is not enough to determine it by eye. The ideal stone is one that combines rich, bright color and transparency.

The brighter the color of the mineral, the more valuable it is

To calculate the price, special criteria are used:

1. With fewer cracks, the price of emeralds will be higher. To treat splits and damage, cedar oil, thermal or vacuum installations, and epoxy resins are often used.
2. The value of a stone directly depends on its color. The bright green shade is characterized by the highest cost. There are cases when stones with less bright colors are highly valued, but after cutting they turn into sparkling and brilliant gems. The advantage of emeralds among other jewelry is that the price does not depend on the number of inclusions. On average, the cost is several tens of hundreds of dollars for one carat of emerald, the color of which is rich and deep.

The value of the mineral directly depends on the cutter.

A cut called “emerald” was developed specifically for the gem, which is a rectangular or square shape with slightly blunted corners.

This design gives exceptional jewelery and prevents the effects of mechanical damage.

The healing properties of emerald

Natural emerald is valued not only because of its beautiful appearance and the status it gives to the owner. Since ancient times, the crushed mineral was considered a powerful antidote, a means of combating night blindness and an eyesore. Ancient healers believed that by holding a natural stone in the mouth, you could get rid of dysentery, psoriasis, and diabetes forever.

Shades of emerald

The following medicinal properties are now attributed to the gem:

• decrease in temperature;
• treatment of burns, inflammation and infectious diseases;
• decreased blood pressure;
• improved vision;
• fight against epilepsy;
• treatment of restless sleep and insomnia;
• eliminating depression, groundless fears and increased fatigue.

The emerald mineral fights high blood pressure, headaches and joint pain, gastrointestinal diseases, and inflammation in the bladder.

If you put the stone in a container of raw water and leave it overnight, the liquid can be consumed without further purification.

It is believed that you can get rid of melancholy, strengthen your memory, gain peace of mind, and calm nervousness thanks to the green, soothing glow of emerald: the properties of the stone for a stressed person are revealed with exceptional power.

The magical powers of emeralds

Several centuries ago, there was an opinion about the ability of emerald to provide protection to warriors and make them braver. The magical properties of the stone amazed with the power of healing and giving happiness. If you believe ancient legends, then with the help of the mineral you can achieve universal recognition and success.

Esotericists believe that emerald affects the sphere of feelings

The characteristics of emerald as a magic stone connect it with the ability to influence feelings, love, and fidelity. Because of the mineral's enlightening abilities, it can be used during meditation, prayer, or confession.

The magic of stone in modern life extends to many areas. So, it will be useful:

• when ensuring material well-being;
• if adultery is detected, in this case the stone will split into pieces;
• in the fight against the owner’s deceit and tendency to engage in scams;
• in case of disagreements in the family;
• for problems with procreation.

The mineral gives the owner health, good luck, dispels negative energy, and warns a person’s home against dangers. Thanks to emerald, you can get in touch with dead people and decipher the mysterious signals of the Universe.

Finding out who suits emerald is easy. Due to the delicate properties of the stone, it will not be able to take root with a rude and aggressive owner who constantly demonstrates these aspects of character.

But the mineral will correct the character of young people, rid them of bad habits and cheeky inclinations. The stone will have a special positive impact on nursing mothers, creative individuals, artists, and researchers.

Only an emerald can attract inspiration and go in search of a muse with a subtle nature, the magical properties of which attract good luck, blessings, success and the creative spirit from all sides. There is a legend that to create works known throughout the world, Goethe used a small amulet interspersed with a magical mineral.

Emerald for zodiac signs

When can you wear emeralds and who are they suitable for? The gem is not only an attractive jewel with magical properties for every person, but also a talisman for individual signs.

The strong energy field of the stone can positively influence the lives of Leo, Aquarius, Cancer and Pisces.

This is due to the proximity of the signs to nature. Strengthening the family hearth, seeking peace, love and respect is the purpose of emerald; The meaning of the stone for the listed signs is also manifested in the ability to find the necessary support, friendship, and cope with attacks of anger.

This stone is most effective in jewelry

The most effective talisman is in the form of a ring with the inclusion of emerald stones. Each sign must wear a talisman on a specific finger:

1. Taurus - average.
2. Cancer and Pisces - on the little finger.
3. Leo and Sagittarius - on the index.
4. Aquarius - on the nameless one.

The energy that emerald conveys to the zodiac signs is not suitable for everyone. According to the horoscope, the mineral is contraindicated for Aries, Virgo, Libra, Capricorn and especially Scorpio. Gemini requires a separate reservation, for whom the stone can become a guide to the afterlife or a thread connecting the owner with the spirits.

When choosing jewelry with a natural component, you should take into account its detailed characteristics. Despite the attractiveness of stones, sometimes purchasing them may be unnecessary. This can be seen by looking at emeralds, the color of which attracts everyone, but is not suitable for everyone due to individual characteristics.

Emerald- a mineral, a transparent variety of beryl, colored with an admixture of Cr 3+ or vanadium oxide with an admixture of iron oxide (South African emeralds) in a beautiful grass-green color. It is found in crystals and their intergrowths, usually grown into mica rock (mica), quartz or feldspar. The crystals are fissured, usually ranging in size from 2-5 mm to 0.5-2 cm, rarely larger. Emerald is a 1st class gemstone; large, defect-free stones of a thick, cold tone weighing over 5 carats are valued more than diamonds.

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STRUCTURE

Emerald belongs to the hexagonal system of the dihexanal-bipyramidal symmetry class. Impurities of chromium 1-2%, sodium, potassium, lithium, cesium, rubidium, iron, vanadium are noted. The main motif of the framework structure of beryl is represented by the six-wheel structures of the SiO 4 ring - tetrahedra - Si 6 O 18, connected to each other by BeO 4 - tetrahedra in hexagonal columns with large channels inside such columns. These columns are connected to each other by BeO 4 - tetrahedra and AlO 6 - octahedra.

PROPERTIES

Emerald is a transparent variety of beryl colored grass-green by chromium oxide or vanadium oxide, sometimes mixed with iron oxide (South African emeralds). Emerald easily loses color at temperatures above 700 °C, but is resistant to acids and other reagents.

Natural emeralds are rarely flawless, they usually have cracks and splits, often dissected by a complex network of fine veins and fissures. Increased fragility is a characteristic feature of the stone: its hardness is 7.5-8 units on the Mohs scale (diamond has 10), in combination with thin transverse cracks, this makes it very sensitive to compression and heat.

The color distribution of emerald is uneven: usually the free end of the crystal is brighter colored than its base; there are also zonal crystals with a longitudinal change in color intensity (often with a brighter core) and with transverse alternation of light and dark green zones. In brightly colored stones, dichroism is noticeable even to the eye - a change in color from yellowish to bluish-green when the crystal is rotated.

MORPHOLOGY

Emerald occurs in various species in nature. Brazilian emerald has a transparent green tint. Quite a rare name Trapiche, emeralds of this type have the shape of a carriage wheel with spokes. They are usually found in Colombia.
Another type is called emerald - malachite or eurohit. The next variety of emerald is called Vilyuisk or Vesuvian. There are also copper emerald or dioptase, Ural or demantoid and nickel emeralds.

ORIGIN

Emeralds are formed by the interaction of acidic magma with host ultramafic igneous rocks, so their deposits are represented by greisenization zones. Occasionally, small emeralds are formed in the exocontacts of pegmatites.

In most deposits of the world, emerald is associated with phlogopite mica, formed as a result of greisenization - the impact of high-temperature aqueous solutions on ultrabasic rocks. As a result of this process, the original rocks, due to the feldspars of granites, are transformed into complex rocks containing quartz, light mica and often valuable ore minerals in the form of inclusions. The presence of greisen is a leading search indicator for deposits of rare metal ores and precious stones, including emerald.

The best quality emeralds are confined to hydrothermal veins located in carbonaceous shales. Colombian emeralds occur in low-temperature carbonate veinlets cutting through black bituminous limestones.

APPLICATION

The main use of emeralds is in the production of jewelry. The quality of jewelry stones is assessed in accordance with international requirements. The most valuable are bright green crystals with minor inclusions. Bright color is the main factor influencing the price.
The world's largest processed emerald crystal, weighing 7.5 kg, was shown at the IV National Gem Fair of Brazil. Its owner is Lebanese Salim el Awar, who bought the gem in 1973 in the Brazilian village of Carnaiba, where there are over 6 thousand emerald mines.
The largest emerald crystal was mined in 1974 in Brazil, its weight is 28 kg.

Emeralds are also used to create solid-state lasers.

Emerald - Be 3 Al 2 Si 6 O 18

CLASSIFICATION

Strunz (8th edition)	8/E.12-10
Nickel-Strunz (10th edition)	9.CJ.05
Dana (8th edition)	61.1.1.1
Hey's CIM Ref.	16.6.1