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Golden beryl:
Cyclosilicates (Beryllium aluminum silicate, frequently with some sodium, lithium and cesium) Be3Al2Si6O18 AKA: Beryl |
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System: Hexagonal; crystals common, usually six-sided prisms that are striated lengthwise. Appearance: Golden yellow. The prism faces are often finely striated. Vitreous luster. Often contains a great many inclusions, making it opaque. White streak. Physical properties: Hardness: (7.5 - 8.0); Specific gravity: (2.66 - 2.92); Cleavage: Indistinct, one direction; fracture, uneven to conchoidal; transparent to translucent. Similar species: Beryl is harder than apatite, quartz and the feldspars; does not have the cleavage of feldspars; and it is striated the length of the crystal, whereas quartz is striated crosswise. Occurrence: Beryl develops in pegmatites and certain metamorphic rocks. It occurs with quartz, microcline and muscovite in pegmatites, and with almandine, quartz and muscovite in schist of regional metamorphic rocks. Golden beryl has come from California, Maine, Connecticut and North Carolina. Miscellaneous: Golden beryl is faceted as a gemstone. Conventional Wisdom: Golden beryl represents purity in all aspects of all planes of being. It provides for initiative and independence in thought and action. It also supports the potential of the individual, instilling guidence from the source of all life. It has been used in the treatment of disorders of the heart and spine. Belongs to the Astrological Sign of Leo. |