Beryl
Beryl produces more coveted gemstones than any other mineral species. The Emerald Hollow Mine in North Carolina is the only emerald mine open to the public in the US. Utah's Wah Wah Mountains host red beryl — one of the rarest gemstones on Earth, found in only one deposit in the world worth mining.
Physical Properties
Chemical Formula
Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈
Hardness (Mohs)
7.5–8
Color
Green (emerald), blue (aquamarine), pink (morganite), yellow (heliodor), colorless (goshenite)
Luster
Vitreous
Crystal System
Hexagonal
Streak
White
Cleavage
Imperfect basal
Specific Gravity
2.6–2.9
🔍 Field Identification Tips
Six-sided prismatic crystals with flat terminations (unlike quartz which comes to a point). Hardness 7.5–8. Vitreous luster. Found in granitic pegmatites. The different colors are entirely separate gem varieties but share the same crystal structure.
Varieties & Forms
📍 Where to Find Beryl in the US
Uses & Applications
Fine jewelry (emerald is May birthstone, aquamarine is March birthstone), beryllium source for aerospace alloys.
💰 Collector Value Guide
Common beryl: $5–$50/crystal. Aquamarine rough: $10–$100/ct. NC emerald rough: $50–$500/ct. Fine gem emeralds: $1,000–$100,000+/ct.
Find Beryl With Our Tools
Use the We Lick Rocks app to identify specimens, find dig sites, and connect with local rockhounds.