Red beryl
Variety Be3Al2Si6O18
Also called Bixbite and Red emerald
About it
Raspberry-red beryl coloured by manganese, growing as small crystals in rhyolite cavities. Gem crystals come almost only from the Wah Wah Mountains of Utah, which makes it one of the rarest gems.
- Type
- Variety
- Group
- Beryl variety
- Formula
- Be3Al2Si6O18
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 7.5–8
- Specific gravity
- 2.66–2.7
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy)
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Colours
- raspberry red, red
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- imperfect basal; conchoidal to uneven fracture
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.