9 interesting chrysoberyl facts
- The mineral or gemstone chrysoberyl, is an aluminate of beryllium with the formula BeAl2O4.
- The name chrysoberyl is derived from the Greek words χρυσός chrysos an
d βήρυλλος beryllos, meaning "a gold-white spar". But chrysoberyl is more hard and therefore different from the classical gem beryl, which is much softer. - Despite the similarity of their names, chrysoberyl and beryl are two completely different gemstones.
- Chrysolite is another name given to the light greenish yellow variety of chrysoberyl that was in fashion during the nineteenth century.
- A magnificent 47 carats chrysoberyl is listed in the catalog of the British Museum of Natural History.
- Chrysoberyl is the third-hardest frequently encountered natural gemstone and lies at 8.5 on the hardness scale, between corundum (9) and topaz (8).
- Chrysoberyl was discovered in 1789 and described and named by Abraham Gottlob Werner, in 1790.
- Two unusual varieties of chrysoberyl have their own names as gemstones: cat's eye or cymophane, and alexandrite.
- Cymophane is popularly known as "cat's eye". This variety exhibits pleasing chatoyant or opalescence that reminds one of an eye of a cat.
