This family of minerals includes a wide range of gemstones in a variety of beautiful colours.  The stones I shall be addressing today are: emeralds, aquamarines, and the lesser known goshenite, heliodor and morganite.

Enchanting Emeralds

Without a doubt the emerald is my favourite stone from the beryl family, not merely because of its gorgeous intense colour, but because of the history behind it.

There is evidence to suggest that the emerald was being mined as far back as 2000 BC at the legendary ‘Mines of Cleopatra’ in Egypt.  Until well into the 18^th Century, when the supply was exhausted, these mines supplied emeralds to the Western world.  Now, however, it is Columbia that leads the way in emerald production, supplying some of the world’s best quality stones.  Other sources include India, Australia, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Israel and South Africa.

Large clear (inclusion free) stones with a good deep colour to them are extremely difficult to come by, and therefore extremely costly.

Birthstone:  May

Astral Signs:  Taurus, Gemini & Cancer

Anniversary stone for:  Twentieth, thirty-fifth and Fifty-fifth years

Awesome Aquamarine

A few years ago there seemed to be plenty of aquamarine on the market, and prices reflected this.  Nowadays however, a good quality stone with a sizable carat weight can sell for hundreds of dollars.

Aquamarine’s literal translation is ‘sea water’, and sailors used to throw the gems into the oceans in an attempt to calm the often-angry god of the seas Poseidon.

The most desirable gems come from the mining region of Minas Gerais in Brazil, although they are available in many other parts of the world including China, the former Soviet Union, India and Nigeria.

Birthstone:  May

Astral Signs:  Aquarius & Scorpio

Glorious Goshenite

This colourless variety of beryl is very hard to find, but then there is not a high demand for it.  When they are available, they usually weigh five points of a carat of less and accompany a larger coloured stone.

It was originally found in the town of Goshen in Massachusetts, hence the name, but now the former Soviet Union and Brazil are the main suppliers.

 Handsome Heliodor

Also known as the Golden Beryl, it is often confused with other stones of a similar colour such as citrine.  Ranging from a vivid golden colour to a light yellow, the gemstone is quite affordable

 Mesmerising Morganite

This gemstone ranges from a light pink to a soft peach colour, and may sometimes be confused with pink tourmaline or kunzite.  First discovered in South California in the early 20^th Century, it was named for the wealthy ‘gem fancier’ J. Pierpont Morgan.  Like heliodor it is relatively inexpensive but seldom seen.