Examining the Rare Red Beryl Mineral
In the world of precious gemstones, one stands out for its scarcity and value - the red beryl. This deep raspberry red gemstone, chemically unique due to the presence of manganese, is estimated to be nearly 1,000 times rarer than diamonds.
The red beryl's rarity can be attributed to a combination of factors. Firstly, its formation requires a very specific set of geological conditions, involving the presence of beryllium combined with manganese under particular temperature and pressure environments, which occur very rarely in nature.
Secondly, red beryl crystals are typically small, often no larger than a few carats, limiting the quantity of usable gemstone material mined. This size limitation, coupled with the gemstone's almost exclusive source in the Wah Wah Mountains in Utah, USA, restricts supply significantly.
The Ruby Violet mine in Utah, the only locality in the world that reliably provides gem-quality red beryl, has been a focal point for mining efforts. In 1997, Gemstone Mining Inc. (GMI) extended the lease for this mine for another year at a cost of $10M.
The crystals of red beryl form in the hexagonal crystal system and are often found with common inclusions such as feathers, fractures, mineral inclusions of quartz, feldspar, hematite, and bixbyite. The largest known faceted red beryl is 8.0 carats, and a two-carat red beryl is considered as rare as a 40-carat diamond.
Moderate pleochroism of purplish-red to orange-red may generate confusion with ruby, but red beryl has an RI of 1.560 to 1.676 with birefringence between 0.005-0.009, which sets it apart.
The term 'red emerald' is now considered misleading by the FTC, as red beryl is the rarest variety of the beryl family, which includes emerald and aquamarine. The largest crystal of red beryl ever found weighed 54 carats.
In recent years, red beryl has been gaining attention in the jewellery world. In 2017, Singapore-based jeweller Caratell put together a high jewellery collection that included six pieces set with red beryls. The largest of these stones was a 2.20-carat emerald-cut red beryl set with 2.32 carats of diamonds in the 'Sun Ray' ring.
Despite its rarity, synthetic red beryl has been produced between the mid-1990s and 2016 by the Russian Institute of Crystallography in Moscow. However, the natural red beryl continues to captivate collectors and jewellery enthusiasts alike with its deep, distinctive colour and its status as one of the rarest and most valuable gemstones in the world.
- The diploma of gemmology, a valuable credential in the field of precious gemstones, offers courses on identifying and analyzing gemstones such as the red beryl.
- Publications on space-and-astronomy rarely features articles about the rarity and value of the red beryl, a gemstone scarcely found on earth.
- In the realm of education-and-self-development, lectures on geology often highlight the unique formation process of the red beryl, which takes place under specific geological conditions.
- Lifestyle magazines may occasionally feature the red beryl, showcasing its deep raspberry red color and its astronomical value compared to diamonds.
- The finance department of a company specializing in the mining industry would be involved in budgeting for the Ruby Violet mine, where the majority of the world's red beryl supply comes from.
- General news outlets might report on the advancements in technology, such as the production of synthetic red beryl by the Russian Institute of Crystallography between the mid-1990s and 2016.
- Sports enthusiasts may not typically encounter red beryl, but they could potentially invest in it as a rare and valuable gemstone, similar to how they collect memorabilia or trading cards.
- Entertainment channels might incorporate the red beryl into their programs, either as a plot element in a sci-fi series or showcasing it in a documentary on precious gemstones.
- Medical-conditions require the use of various instruments in diagnoses and treatment, but the red beryl isn't one of them; instead, it is a gemstone featured in jewelry workshops and cited in publications on gemmology.
