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Goshenite  (variety of Beryl)
Current inventory:  1 gem
 

Goshenite

Chemistry:  Be3Al2Si6O18  [Beryllium Aluminum Silicate]

Discovered: prehistory;   IMA status: Goshenite - Not Valid; Beryl - Valid
Goshenite is named after Goshen, Massachusetts where it was first discovered on the Barrus Farm. The name Beryl is possibly from the Greek word beryllos which referred to a number of blue-green stones in antiquity.

 

Classification

   

   

Mineral Classification:

Silicates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/E.12-10

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.CJ.05

 

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
J : [Si
6O18]12- 6-membered single rings (sechser-Einfachringe), without insular complex anions

Related to:

Beryl Group: Beryl, Bazzite, Indialite, Stoppaniite, Pezzottaite. Beryl Series

 

 

Crystal Data

   

   

Crystallography:

Hexagonal - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal

Crystal Habit:

Beryl: Crystals prismatic to tabular, may be complexly terminated by pyramids, to 18 m and 180 t. Also radial, columnar; granular to compact.

Twinning:

Rarely

 

 

Physical Properties

   

 

Cleavage:

[0001] Imperfect/Fair

Fracture:

Conchoidal to Uneven

Tenacity:

Brittle

Hardness (Mohs):

7.5 - 8.0

Density:

2.60 - 2.90 (g/cm3)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

 

 

Optical Properties

   

   

Color:

Colorless

Transparency:

Transparent, Translucent

Luster:

Vitreous

Refractive Index:

1.562 - 1.602  Uniaxial ( - )

Birefringence:

0.004 - 0.008

Dispersion:

Weak; 0.014

Pleochroism:

None

 

 

Occurances

   

   

Geological Setting:

In granites and granite pegmatites, rarely in nepheline syenites. Also in mafic metamorphic rocks, low- to high-temperature hydrothermal veins.

Type Locality:

Barrus Farm, Goshen, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, USA

Year Discovered:

Prehistory

View mineral photos:

Goshenite Mineral Photos and Locations

 

 

More Information

   

   

 

Mindat.org (Goshenite)
Mindat.org (Beryl)
Webmineral.com (Beryl)

 

 


Goshenite is the colorless variety of the
Beryl family of minerals that includes Aquamarine (blue), Bixbite (red), Emerald (green), Goshenite (colorless), Heliodor (yellow), Morganite (pink) and recently, Pezzottaite (pinkish red). Goshenite is generally thought to be pure Beryl and not colored by impurities. But this may not be true. Goshenite may contain some impurity elements that inhibit color in Beryl. Goshenite is usually found in just about all Beryl localities.

Goshenite is found in many locations around the world but gem quality crystals are not that common. Some notable locations for gem quality crystals are Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil; Hunan, Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces, China; Mogok, Sagaing District, Mandalay Division, Myanmar (Burma); Erongo Mountain, Usakos and Omaruru Districts, Erongo Region, Namibia; Gilgit, Gilgit District, Northern Areas, Pakistan; and Greenwood, Oxford County, Maine, USA.
 

  
Goshenite gems for sale:

Goshenite-001

Gem:

Goshenite

Stock #:

GOSH-001

Weight:

8.5680 ct

Size:

14.20 x 8.39 mm

Shape:

Round

Color:

Colorless (very bright)

Clarity:

Eye clean, almost loupe clean

Origin:

Minas Gerais, Brazil

Treatment:

None (natural)

Price:

$257.00    [ Make an offer ]

Pictures are of the actual gem offered for sale.
Gem images are magnified to show detail.

Goshenite-001

A very bright, colorless Beryl that is almost loupe clean. A very well cut gem that wouild be ideal for a jewelry setting.


 

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