The discovery of red beryl crystals (bixbite) in volcanic rhyolite in the Wah Wah Mountains of Utah created a stir in mineralogical circles during the late 1970s. These white effusive igneous formations, found there and in the Thomas Mountains of Utah, and also in the tin districts of Catron and Sierra Counties within New Mexico, are still the only known source of bixbite. The same formations contain opaque bixbyite, an unrelated manganese-iron oxide, which causes confusion between the two minerals. It is noteworthy that Walter Schumann states in Gemstones of the World that scientists do not accept bixbite as a separate variety of beryl. However, no explanation for this conclusion is presented. Dr. Joel Arem states that the name bixbite honors Maynard Bixby of Utah. The small bixbite crystals, none over two inches in length, seldom yield material suitable for cutting gems larger than one carat, although some two or three carat stones may exist. Nearly all the crystals contain numerous internal cracks, partially healed fractures, tiny bixbyite and quartz crystals, two-phase inclusions, and growth banding. Damage can be inflicted easily because of its brittle nature. In Gemstones (an Eyewitness Handbook), Cally Hall indicates that the refractive indices for bixbite, like morganite and goshenite, are relatively high for beryl. Also, red beryl, heliodor, goshenite, and morganite all show greater specific gravity characteristics than those commonly exhibited by either emerald or aquamarine. The best color for bixbite is a clear, rich red with some blue tones. John Sinkankas attributes the red color to the oxides of manganese and cesium. According to Dr. Joel Arem in his Color Encyclopedia of Gemstones, the chemical make-up of bixbite also includes boron, lithium, lead, niobium, rubidium, tin, titanium, zinc, zirconium, "and traces of other elements".
Early efforts to capitalize upon the uniqueness and rarity of red beryl led to the practice of labeling it in the commercial gem market as "red emerald". Even today, bixbite is marketed as such. These misnomers, including "pink emerald" for morganite, only serve to misinform and further confuse the buying public. Such tactics are the bane of reputable members of the gem and jewelry industry who strive to serve the public and their clients.
The fragility, small size, and extreme rarity of bixbite precludes its use in items of jewelry except by avid collectors. Crystal specimens of any size are prized items in anyone's collection.