Variety · Beryl group
Emerald
Be3Al2(Si6O18)
Emerald is green beryl coloured by chromium or vanadium, mined at Muzo and Chivor (Colombia), Kagem (Zambia), Brazil, Panjshir (Afghanistan) and historically at Habachtal (Austria) and North Carolina. Crystals in matrix from Colombia and the Chivor 'trapiche' emeralds are collector pieces; most emeralds are fractured and are oiled or resin-filled in the gem trade. Specimens should state whether they are treated.
| Formula | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
|---|---|
| IMA status | variety |
| Crystal system | Hexagonal |
| Mohs hardness | 7.5–8 |
| Group | Beryl group |
| Type locality | None (variety) |
Fakes and treatments
Oil and resin filling of fractures is standard for cut emeralds; synthetic (hydrothermal, flux) emerald is common. Green beryl without chromium is not emerald.
Elsewhere
- Wikidata: Q43513
- Wikipedia: emerald
- Mindat: Emerald
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Emerald" (Mineral). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/minerals/emerald. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-emerald,
title = {Emerald},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/minerals/emerald}},
year = {2026},
note = {Mineral article, Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21; sources: stratum, commons, wikidata. Accessed 2026-09-21.}
} Citations carry the pack version and the article's as-of date so they resolve to the same text later. The facts themselves belong to the sources listed below; cite those for the science.