• Variety: Emerald is the green variety of the mineral beryl.

• Chemical composition: Beryllium aluminum silicate (Be3Al2Si6O18), colored green primarily by traces of chromium and sometimes vanadium.

• Crystal system: Hexagonal.

• Color: Ranges from light to deep rich green, with the finest stones showing a vivid, saturated bluish-green.

Optical Properties

• Transparency: Transparent to translucent.

• Luster: Vitreous (glassy).

• Refractive index: 1.57–1.60.

• Birefringence: Weak, but contributes to the stone’s character.

Physical Properties

• Hardness: 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale (relatively hard, but brittle due to internal inclusions).

• Specific gravity: 2.7–2.8.

• Cleavage: Imperfect; emeralds can be fragile under stress.

Inclusions (“Jardin”)

• Emeralds almost always contain inclusions, often described as a “jardin” (garden) because of their mossy appearance.

• These inclusions are considered part of the gem’s identity and help distinguish natural emeralds from synthetics.

Sources

Major emerald deposits are found in:

• Colombia (Muzo, Chivor, Coscuez – famed for the finest emeralds)

• Zambia (deep bluish-green tones)

• Brazil

• Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and Pakistan

Symbolism & Uses

• Long associated with love, rebirth, and wisdom.

• One of the traditional “Big Four” gemstones (along with diamond, ruby, and sapphire).

• Used in fine jewelry such as rings, pendants, and royal regalia.