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BERYL.
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color
and transparency, it is designated the common and precious beryl: under
the first are generally comprised the greenish and blue varieties,
which are also called the aquamarine ; whereas the yellowish varieties
are exclusively called the beryl, and are genei'ally divided thus :
1. Aquamarine, pure pale sky-blue.
2. Siberian aquamarine, pale greenish-yellow, of a vivid lustre, faint color.
3. Aquamarine chrysolite, greenish-yellow, and yellowish-green, vivid lustre.
The
beryl belongs to the primitive formation, is found in quartz veins and
granite (graphic granite), and is associated with garnets, quartz,
chrysoberyl, schorl, topaz, &c. The most magnificent
beryl's come from Siberia, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Aberdeenshire in
Scotland, and Limoges in France. The common and translucent beryl
occurs all over the globe, and in the United States in great
abundance, where it is without mercantile value. The granite rocks of
New Hampshire (at Acworth), have brought forth gigantic beryls, perfect
six-sided crystals, three feet in length and four feet in
circumference, and weighing upwards of three hundred pounds, and some
with a distinct termination of the crystals. Specimens of this
description may be seen in the collection of the Lyceum of Natural
History, New York, in Mr. Gilmore's collection at Baltimore, and in
the author's collection. Large quantities of beryl crystals have also
been found in Chester county, Pennsylvania.
The
beryl is cut on a leaden plate with emery, and polished with
rotten-stone on a tin plate, and generally of the brilliant cut, on
account of its not possessing much lustre in the interior.
The foil that is required in mounting, depends upon the color of the stone: the greenish variety, for instance, is set
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