Red Beryl Red Beryl Pictures
Red Beryl from the Thomas Range, Utah: Topaz Mountain. Beautiful Red Beryl from Utah. Red Beryl was fist discovered here (not the Wah-wah Range) by Maynard Bixby at the "Matnard Bixby Topaz Mine". Bixby thought it was Beryl but the color Red was unknown at the time. He sent specimens to a geochemist in the early 1900's who described it as a new variety of beryl. It was later named "Bixbite" in honor of Maynard. This name is rarely used because it is easily confused with Bixbyite (also discovered by Maynard). These crystals came from "The Red Beryl Zone", about 700 feet above the Topaz Mountain cauldera floor. Quite a climb to get these beauties! The Red Beryl sometimes forms twins and occasionally forms on etched topaz. Sometimes gemmy, sometimes more opaque, it is always very rare and very beautiful!

Red Beryl for sale:

Red Beryl is the rarest form of beryl, which includes emeralds and aquamarines. The only crystals suitable for faceting are found in the Wah Wah Mountains (the Violet Claims), near Beaver, Utah. Currently, this is the only place in the world where gem quality Red Beryl is found. Red Beryl was first noted in Utah in 1905, in the Thomas Range in Juab County, Utah. The small crystals were found in a rhyolite host rock and were translucent but rarely gemmy. It wasn't until the late 1950's that larger, better quality crystals were found in the Wah Wah Mountains in Beaver County. Consistent mining of the Red Beryl in the Wah Wah Mountains has only taken place since 1978. Red Beryl occurs as hexagonal crystals which is typical of beryls. The refractive index is 1.564-1.574 and the specific gravity is 2.66-2.70. It's primary chemical composition is Be3Al2SiO3, but there are traces of many other elements. A more detailed examination including geological, chemical, physical and gemological information can be found in the magazine Gems and Gemology, Volume XX, Winter 1984. Red Beryl is thought to have formed along fractures, in cavities or within the host rhyolite from a high-temperature gas or vapor phase released during the latter stages of cooling and crystallization of the rhyolite magma. Rhyolites ordinarily lack gem minerals and beryls of any sort is extremely uncommon, therefore the presence of Red Beryl suggests some unusual conditions for gemstone formation. Red Beryl crystals range in color from orange-red to purplish-red with medium tones. The largest crystal yet recovered was 14mm x 34mm and weighed approximately 54 carats. The average faceted gemstone is .15 carats and the largest faceted gemstone to date weighed 8.0 carats.