BERYL VAR. “AQUAMARINE”

A single, perfectly terminated, cornflower-blue crystal of Beryl, variety “Aquamarine” from the Gilgit district in the Northern Areas region of Pakistan.  The crystal has mirror-flat prism faces and a pinacoid (flat) termination, with natural, slightly etched and pitted termination edges.  An off-matrix specimen, the base is cleaved/fractured not quite normal to the vertical axis, so making the crystal sit at a slight angle to the vertical.  The crystal is translucent, with internal flaws, which gradually peter-out towards the termination, giving way to a gemmy, transparent cap.  To one side of the prism faces and immediately above the base, two clusters of silver-grey Muscovite mica grow on and in the Beryl, one of which forms good crystals to 1.7 cm across.  A beautiful example of the Beryl variety “Aquamarine”, very fit for display.