Beryl

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Beryl
Chemical composition Be3Al2(SiO3)6 Beryllium aluminum silicate
Crystal system Hexagonal
Habit Prismatic
Cleavage Very difficult in one direction, rarely seen
Fracture Conchoidal
Hardness 7.25-7.75
Optic nature Uniaxial -
Refractive index 1.577-1.583
(+ or - 0.017)
Birefringence 0.005-0.009
Dispersion Low, 0.014
Specific gravity 2.72
(+0.18,- 0.05)
Lustre Vitreous to resinous
Pleochroism Weak to moderate

Beryl is a beryllium aluminum silicate that occurs in every color of the rainbow. When green, it's an emerald. When blue, it's aquamarine. When pink, it's morganite. There is a raspberry red variety found in Utah called Bixbite. Yellow is heliodor and colorless is goshenite. There is a very rare and costly variety termed riesling beryl, that can be described as pale green colour, with a warm golden yellow flash. Beryl had been used as a physician's tool and gazing stone since ancient times. Those beliefs persist today. Beryl is metaphysically attributed with the ability to cure a number of intestinal and stomach ills, such as nausea, ulcers, and seasickness.