Posted by Dakota Stones on 10/19/2020 to

We’ve recently introduced new emeralds to Dakota Stones, and briefly mentioned the gem family they come from. 

Beryl has a long history of use in jewelry, because they tend to be significantly clear. This is especially the case for emerald and aquamarine, which are two very well known birthstones. This gemstone is commonly found in rocky areas like the Ural Mountains, and mountains in Peru. Strains of morganite are especially common in Europe and Scandinavia, which are valued for their soft, pastel tones that go with feminine designs. 


Emerald is a form of green beryl, and the green has to be a specific mix of blue and yellow to be considered a true emerald. “Yellow emeralds” and “blue emeralds” are two examples of inaccurate naming conventions for less green types of beryl, and are not to be confused for actual emeralds. The green coloring is caused by chromium, which can also be found in stones like hydrogrossular garnet. 


Morganite most commonly comes in oranges and pinks, but there are gorgeous forms of yellow, blue and white morganite. Recently, it has been prized as an alternative to diamonds in engagement rings, especially clear, pink versions of the stone. The pink color is caused by manganese, which is also responsible for colorings in stones like thulite. 


Aquamarine is the blue form of beryl, and the birthstone of March. It is often flawless, and can come in massive quantities. Like emerald, this stone has been prized for thousands of years, as the bright blue is not often found in clear stones. One thing to note for aquamarine, like many gemstones, does often fade in the sunlight, so make sure to store these beads when they are not being worn! The blue color is caused by the presence of iron in the mineral. 


Beryl was mostly prized as a gemstone until the 1920’s, which included all strains of pink, white and yellow beryl. However, it has other uses in industry. It was crucial in the discovery of the element beryllium, which is found in trace amounts at the heart of stars.