Close-up view of blue beryl on matrix.
Click on image for larger image.
Hermosa Beach, CA
GIA Gem Laboratory, Carlsbad, CA
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA
In August 2003, an unusually dark blue beryl was
discovered in Canada's Yukon Territory. The new beryl, noteworthy
for its dark blue color and strong dichroism from blue to nearly colorless, is being referred to
as "True Blue" beryl. The beryl have iron contents
ranging from 1.5 to 5.8 wt% FeO, the highest value for Fe in
beryl yet reported.
Close-up view of blue beryl on matrix.
Click on image for larger image.
The optical spectrum is
generally like other aquamarines, but the intensity of absorption
is greater.
