HELIODOR, a gemstone variety of beryl

HELIODOR, the yellow variety of beryl

VARIETY INFORMATION:

VARIETY OF: Beryl , Be3 Al2 Si6 O18 .
USES: Gemstone.
COLOR: various shades of yellow.
INDEX OF REFRACTION: 1.57 - 1.60
BIREFRINGENCE: 0.004 - 0.008
HARDNESS: 7.5 - 8
CLEAVAGE: one direction, poor.
CRYSTAL SYSTEM: hexagonal
Pleochroic: weak
SPECIMENS

Heliodor is the yellow variety of beryl, the "mother of gemstones".

Heliodor does not include golden colors which are given the apt name of golden beryl. Other gemstone color varieties that belong to beryl include emerald (green), morganite (pink), and aquamarine (blue). Other colors of beryl are simply referred to by their color, such as in golden beryl and red beryl. Heliodor is found in Madagascar, Brazil, North Carolina and California in the U.S., and in Middle Eastern countries and Russia.