Emerald

Information About Emerald:

Emerald is the deep green variety of the beryl gemstone family. It gets its color from chromium deposits in the stone.

Originally discovered in Egypt, "Cleopatra's Emerald Mines", it is not mined there today as the crystals in that region are generally of very low quality. Most emeralds are now mined in Colombia, but are found in many other parts of the world, most notably Russia, Australia, and parts of Africa. It is also found in some eastern U.S. states including Maine, North Carolina, Connecticut, and New Hampshire, but not in sufficient quantities to justify mining operations.

COMMON GEM COLORS: Green

HARDNESS ON MOH'S SCALE: 7.5 to 8

SHAPES FOR CUTTING: Suitable for all facet shapes, the classic "Emerald Cut" of course being the most popular.